InTASC Standard #4: Content Knowledge. The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline accessible and meaningful for learners to assure mastery of the content.
The picture above is a snapshot of one of the many different lessons I have created during my time as a student teacher. For this lesson, students were learning about the Indian Removal Act and westward expansion during Jackson’s presidency. They would then debate in a switch-side debating format whether or not the benefits of westward expansion were worth the costs. We looked at many different benefits from manifest destiny in a smartboard sort as well as many of the costs. Students then went on to further research these costs and benefits. They would then come to their own conclusions of whether or not westward expansion was worth the costs in exchange for the benefits. This overall unit met the different standards set forward by the State of New Jersey. The NJ Common Core Standards are connected to and included in each of my lesson plans just as exemplified above.