Standards Based Unit of Study

 

Unit Planning Template

 

Teacher(s): Jennifer Mueller                                                                                                                    

Subject(s)/Course(s):  Social Studies

Grade/Level:  3rd

Number of Students: 24

Special Needs Students: 1

Advanced Students: 1

Unit Topic/Focus:  Maps and Navigation

Integration with other Content Areas (if applicable): Math,Science,Reading and Writing

Estimated time for implementation:  6 hours

Connections to previous/future learning: Degrees, Distance, Continents, Bodies of water

 

Standards .

 

Academic Expectations

Program of Studies

Core Content for Assessment

·   2.19 Students recognize and understand the relationship between people and geography and apply their knowledge in real-life situations.

 

 

·   Geography: Understandings, Skills and Concepts

·   SS-P-G-U-1 Students will understand that the use of geographic tools and mental maps help to locate places, recognize patterns and identify geographic features.

·   SS-P-G-S-1 Students will develop an understanding of patterns on  the Earth’s surface using a variety of geographic tools:

a.)                                locate and describe familiar places.

b.)                                Create maps that identify the relative location of familiar places and objects

c.)                                 Identify major landforms and bodies of water

 

·        SS-EP-4.1.1 Students will use geographic tools to locate and describe familiar places at home, school and the community.

·                                                        SS-EP-4.1.2 Students will use geographic tools to identify major landforms, bodies of water, and natural resources on Earth’s surface and use relative location.

·   SS-EP-4.1.3 Students will describe how different factors influence where human activities are located in the community.

·        SS-EP-4.3.2 Students will describe how technology helps us move, settle and interact in the modern world.

 

 

Interdisciplinary, Meaningful and Authentic Connections

The standards are met in this unit not only through daily lessons but also through the extended activities that allow the students to get a real grasp on the material.  This is brought about by the students connections to their own lives by using the information they are given to process maps of their own homes and neighborhoods.  The ability to make, read and use a map will be something they use for the rest of their lives

 

Essential Questions (3-5 questions that guide lesson planning/focus and demonstrate):

·        What are the different kinds of maps?

·        How do we use maps in our lives?

·        Why do we need navigational tools?

·        How does the study of maps and technology effect our view of the world?

 

Culminating Activity/Assessment, A product or performance that:

Formative

Summative
  • Daily checklist of skills
  • Classroom discussion
  • Teacher lead scavenger hunt
  • “Millionaire”
  • Student design and completion of scavenger hunt
  • Student completion of globe

 

 

 

 

Resources / Technology: Resources to be used that support teaching and learning within the unit of study.

 

 

Outline of Daily Plans

Day 1

Introduction to Maps

            Brief history

            Different types of maps

            Reading a legend

Connections to text(s):

            Maps and Globes by: Jack Knowlton

Activities:

            Make a map of  the classroom and create a legend

 

Day 2

Navigators

            Tools used in navigation

            Google Earth Locator

            Looking at globes, Latitude/Longitude

Connections to text(s):

            Finish Maps and Globes by Jack Knowlton

 

Activities:

            Create a compass in groups of four, locate and mark directions in the classroom

Connections to assessment:

            Looking at the globe is the introduction to the students completion of their own globe with continents placed and major bodies of water labeled.

            The use of the compass will prepare students for the scavenger hunts

 

Day 3

The many different maps

            Different types

            Uses of maps

Connections to text(s):

            Reading: There’s a Map on My Lap by: Tish Rabe

Activities:         

            Webquest USA

            Creating maps of rooms, homes, or neighborhoods

 

Connections to assessment:

            Preparation for the final assessment of creating and following a map.

 

Day 4

Playground Treasure Hunt!

            Treasure Hunt

                        Class searches for teacher hidden treasures following a map in groups of six

                        Items are found with map and compass provided by teacher

                        Each student must lead one leg of the hunt to locate all six hidden pieces.

Connection to text(s):

             

Activities:

            Interactive Homework: take the VFT with family

            Treasure Huntt

            Millionaire

 

Connections to assessment:

            Practice run for their completion of school scavenger hunt

 

Day 5

            Reading

            Create search

                        Class is divided into groups of two

                        Each student designs a map to a public location of the school

                        The partner than has to find the treasure at the end of the map

            As part of assessment , as well as teacher observation, maps made by students will be turned in for grading

Connection to text(s):

            Reading: Mapping Penny’s World by: Loreen Leedy

 

 

*Social Studies theme will be extended in centers.  There will be a globe-making center during math/science and a mapping table with several books at read/write centers.  Among the books will be those read as a class and Geography From A-Z by Jack Knowlton

 

*This unit will build past this week.

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

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