Social Studies Lesson, 10.22.12

Grade Level and Unit: Grade 4, Social Studies Alive! (adapted)

Session Description of Lesson Tasks:

Exploring Regions of the United States

Materials needed:

-laminated special purpose maps of the U.S.; pencils; paper

Grouping Decisions:

-Whole group, mixed-ability partners

Learning goals & Essential Question How do geographers study regions of the U.S.? Objective(s) All students can identify the 5 regions of the U.S. All students can use the features of various special-purpose maps to identify areas and places on the map.	Language Objectives? ¨  Scale ¨  Line of latitude ¨  Global grid ¨  Coastal plain ¨  Plateau ¨  Levee ¨  Map key ¨  Line of longitude ¨  Special-purpose map ¨  Inland ¨  Basin **Not all vocabulary will be used in this particular lesson.  Some have been already introduced, some will be introduced later on.
MA Frameworks: History and Geography, 4th Grade 1. Use map and globe skills to determine absolute locations (latitude and longitude) of places studied. 2. Interpret a map using information from its title, compass rose, scale, and legend. 3. Observe and describe national historic sites and describe their function and significance.
Connect: A brief introduction to the lesson. Let students know that in this lesson, they will practice basic map skills as they learn about the five regions of the United States. Anticipate: What are some map/geography vocabulary we have used before? Possible answers: -latitude -longitude -equator -Prime meridian -NSEW -hemisphere  These are some other key words we will encounter: scale, map key, special-purpose map, coastal plain, inland, plateau, basin, and levee. Each term is discussed prior to activity and then reviewed again with students as they arise in the activity.
Implementation Introduction Focus Questions/hook/launch: How do maps help us better understand geography and our world? We are going to explore different regions of the United States using some special purpose maps. Let’s take a look at the first map all together as a group. What are the five regions of the United States labeled on the map? In which region is our school? Explore: Each pair will get a series of questions that can be answers using the maps and their map keys. Children are each given 4 maps that highlight elevation, annual rainfall, population density, and the regions of the United States.  They are given some or all of the following questions written separately: Question 1: What region has the highest elevation? Question 2: Which state has the highest elevation? Question 3: Which state has the most area at the highest elevation? Question 4: Which region has the most area at an elevation of less than 1,000 feet? Question 5: Which region receives the most annual rainfall? Question 6: Which region receives the least annual rainfall? Question 7: Which state receives the least annual rainfall? Question 8: Which region has the highest population density (most people per square mile)? Question 9: Which two regions have the lowest population densities (fewest people per square mile)? Question 10: Which three states have the lowest population densities (fewest people per square mile)? Summary: Whole group share out of the answers to the question.  Each child or pair can share.

Evidence: Geography card answers

Differentiated instruction

ELL n/a

IEP/modification/accommodation

Students are given questions that require focus on one aspect of the required map skills, like questions 1,2, 5, 6, and 7.  Once they have mastered the ability, they are given questions that require them use multiple map skills, like 3, 4, 8, and 9.

Extension

Students are given more if not all of the 10 questions.

Notes and Reflections

I felt pretty confident at the end of this lesson.  Children were proficient in using the map key and the scale to elicit information about the regions of the North East.