What do alligators have to do with social studies? : a thematic unit for third grade deaf students based on the book There's an alligator under my bed by Mercer Meyer : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

The challenge of teaching any student is discovering what they already know and understand and then using this base knowledge to help them learn new information. This learning process is especially important when applied to a deaf child who may not have the previous experiences due to the inconsistencies between spoken English and American Sign Language. When designing lessons, it is important for the teacher to know her student and her student's experiences. If the child does not have the background, it is up to the teacher to provide the base on which her student can build his bridge of knowledge.This series of lessons is designed around a common theme, the children's book There's An Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Meyer. By having this common idea, the child can continually look back and relate everything that he is learning. This is a way to give the child the experiences he needs for his learning to make sense.