Kindergarten Fall History — Family, School, Community Helpers, and the First Sense of Past, Present, and Future
Lesson 4 25 min hist.gK.f.lesson_04

My name has a story — self in time and place

Skills targeted
Objectives
  • Students can state full name, approximate age, home location (near/far from school), and school name.
  • Students can share one fact about their name (who chose it, what it means, or who they are named after).
Vocabulary
nameagehomeschoolnearfarnamed after

Lesson plan

Warm-up

3 min

Daily yesterday-today-tomorrow chant; then 'My name is ___ and I am ___ years old.'

Teacher moves
  • Greet each child by full name
  • Affirm pronunciation of every name; model 'tell me how to say it' if uncertain

Direct instruction

8 min

Today we'll listen to a story about a girl named Unhei who comes to a new school. She isn't sure if she should keep her name or pick a new one. Listen for what her name MEANS and who chose it. Then we'll learn the story of YOUR name.

Key examples
  • Every name has a story. Some are big stories. Some are small. All count.
    model Teacher shares own name story: 'My name was chosen because ___'
    prompt Read The Name Jar — pause when Unhei reveals her name means 'grace'
Checks for understanding
  • Why did Unhei almost change her name?
  • What is one thing you learned about Unhei's name?
Sourcework
Source type
picture book for cultural context
Routine
Read-aloud -> notice the name's meaning -> connect to own name story
Details
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi (2001) — anchor for the 'name as family heritage' move.
Media
M-K-F-CUL-04-A Illustration
Reproduction of Yangsook Choi's cover art — Unhei in front of a glass jar of name slips, with a school setting behind. P

Reproduction of Yangsook Choi's cover art — Unhei in front of a glass jar of name slips, with a school setting behind. Plus the key interior spread showing Unhei's grandmother gifting the name stamp (this is the cultural anchor of the read-aloud).

Guided practice

8 min
Tasks
  • Fill in 'My Name' worksheet: my name, my age, my home is NEAR / FAR from school, my school is ___
    scaffold Sentence frames on the worksheet; teacher circulates
  • With a partner, share one thing about your name (who chose it, what it means, or anything you know)
    scaffold 'My name is ___ and ___' frame
Media
M-K-F-CUL-04-B Manipulative Physical / non-image

8.5x11-inch worksheet, four boxes. Box 1 'My name is ___' (large lines plus space for child to draw self-portrait). Box 2 'I am ___ years old' (numeral box). Box 3 'My home is NEAR / FAR from school' (circle one, two options each illustrated). Box 4 'My school is ___' (school name pre-filled or written by child).

Formative assessment

2 min
Exit ticket
  • Say your full name, your age, and whether your home is near or far from school.
scoring 3/3 = mastery snapshot; 2/3 = practicing; 1/3 = re-teach with peer-buddy

Closure

Moves
  • Add wonderings about names to the I-Wonder chart
  • Take-home: ask a family member 'why did you choose my name?'

Homework

5 min
Tasks
  • Ask a family member: 'Who chose my name?' and 'Does it mean something?' Bring an answer tomorrow.

Exercises in this lesson

hist.gK.f.geo.self_in_place.ex_01
Complete the My Name card: full name, age, and whether home is near or far from school.
 complete self card · diff 1
hist.gK.f.cul.family_structures.ex_02
Draw a picture of your family. Label each person with one word (mom, dad, sister, grandma, etc.). It is OK to use invented spelling.
 draw and label · diff 2

Differentiation

Scaffolds
  • Pre-printed name card on each desk
  • Picture choice for near/far
  • Sentence frame card
Extensions
  • Write the name story in 1-2 sentences with invented spelling
  • Find a family member whose name shares a meaning
English Learners
  • Affirm the home-language pronunciation
  • Bilingual 'name story' worksheet
Ieps 504s
  • Allow pre-printed name to be pointed to
  • Provide age-card to select
  • Extended time

Teacher notes

Names are sacred — get the pronunciation right and ask the child or family if you are unsure. The Name Jar models this. Be particularly careful with names that have been Anglicized at the family's request — follow the family's lead, never override. The 'home is near/far' question gives early geography vocabulary; do not press for specific addresses for safeguarding reasons.