#2957. Metric

Science, level: Middle
Posted Fri Oct 17 21:23:25 PDT 2003 by Robn Cole (Robin.Cole@cobbk12.org).
Lost Mountain Middle School, Georgia, USA
Materials Required: ruler, tape measure, or meter stick
Activity Time: 1 block
Concepts Taught: Metric System

Procedures:
(Please number your procedures.)
Whole Group:
1. Before the students can begin their journey, they must decide on a country their group would most like to visit. Therefore, begin this lesson with a list of countries for students in the class to choose from.
2. Next, pass around a sign up sheet and have students to sign their name beside the country they would most like to visit. Do not let students have the same country because all the reports will be the same. Also, if every student has a different country, this makes it easier to put students in groups for the next step of the project.
3. After every student has chosen and decided which country they will research, allow them the rest of the class to use the internet to collect data about their country. To begin the first part of the task, students will research a country. First, they will observe as the teacher demonstrates how to use the different search engines to locate information for their research project.
4. Next, the teacher will be giving students a copy of the Individual Country Data Sheet. The teacher will have gone go over the directions with the students during the introduction of the software. Therefore, students are to use the URL's listed above to complete their data sheet or the teacher could bookmark the search engines and sites to be used by the students. Students will have one class period to collect data on their country.
5. Day 2 - Complete small group activity. This should take one class block to gather data and complete the Individual Country Data Sheet when students have finished the whole group activity, they will be placed in groups of 4's. In each group, members must decide on a country they would most like to visit by completing the Country Data Comparison Sheet.
6. Job Assignments: 1) Recorder --writes down group decisions. 2) Proofreader of information on sheet, 3) Quiet Captain/Manager reminds everyone to talk quietly--takes information to be approved by teacher, 4) Coach-keeps group in control and in agreement & make sure everyone participates and 5) material keeper-collects and puts away all materials used by the group. Ex: picks up forms from teacher & turns in forms to teacher for approval.
7. Therefore, each member will use the Country Data Sheet to complete the task of Comparing and Contrasting Countries.
8. When students have finished the Country Comparison Sheet, the Material Keeper must give the groups' decision to the teacher before beginning the next step of the research project.
9. This project is based on three activities: activity one is to collect data on a country that you would most like to visit. Activity two is to compare and determine the country the group would most like to visit. Activity three is to collect information on the group's country based on the 5 themes of geography and presenting them in a PowerPoint presentation.
10. The Teacher will complete the individual rubric for each student.
11. The Teacher & group members will complete the group rubric for each group.
12. The Teacher will complete the power pt. presentation rubric for the group.

Small Group: Each group will compare the data of each member's country to decide which one a country their group will visit. Each member will be assigned a role. Role assignments are as following: Job Assignments: 1) Recorder --writes down group decisions. 2) Proofreader of information on sheet, 3) Quiet Captain/Manager reminds everyone to talk quietly--takes information to be approved by teacher, 4) Coach-keeps group in control and in agreement & make sure everyone participates. 5) Material Keeper- distributes and picks up materials needed for the group.
Each student in the group will have researched the country they would most like to visit. Next, each group member will bring the data they collected on their country and complete the group country comparison sheet. Then, use the Group Country Comparison Sheet to decide on the country that the group will research by completing the data sheet and comparing the information to decide on a country your group would most like to visit. Next, turn the name of the country into the teacher along with each member's country data comparison sheet. The teacher will have final approval of each group's country so not to duplicate the same country in another group. Once the teacher has given the okay, each group is ready to begin researching the 5 themes of geography on the group's country! The teacher will give directions on how to implement this lesson so students can begin the next step of your journey.
Cooperative Group:
Each group will receive a Group Country Comparison Sheet to be completed by the group
Then, as a group, everyone will decide which country the group will visit to discover the 5 themes of geography for that country.
Students will be complete this form and turn it into the teacher for a group grade.
Also, each student will receive a group evaluation sheet from the teacher.
This group evaluation sheet needs to be completed by each member and returned to the teacher that day.

Individual:
For the 1st part of this activity - Before students are put into groups, each student will individually complete the Individual Country Data Sheet on a country they would most like to visit.
Second Part of This Activity:
Each student will individually research one of the 5 themes of geography. Drawing numbers from a box numbered 1-5 will decide assignments. Each number is corresponds with the numbers of each themes listed below:
Theme:
1. Location
2. Place
3. Regions
4. Relationship within the Places (human interaction & environment)
5. Movement
Once students have learned which theme they will research they must see the teacher to pick up a list of information they need to collect about their group's country.
The teacher will give each member their theme assignment questions and each member must research on the internet to find the answers to their questions.
When they have completed the questions, they must see their teacher for approval to start the next activity of this lesson. Students will have 45 minutes to complete this part of the lesson.
After the teacher has approved the data sheet on each member's theme questions, the group will use this information to complete a PowerPoint presentation for the class. The Material Keeper will pick up a Storyboard from the teacher.
Each group will complete & discuss the storyboard at their table. The Materials keeper will bring the storyboard to the teacher for approval when the group has finished this part of the lesson.
When the teacher approves the storyboard, the group may begin making the powerpoint presentation of the 5 themes of geography about their Country.

The 5 Themes of Geography
Group#_______
Directions:
Group members will find listed below their theme and the questions they need to answer about their part of this project on their country. Answer your questions on your own paper.
Please put your name beside your job.

Location - Recorder-__________________________________________ (name)
1. What is the latitude and longitude coordinates of this country?
2. Where is this country located in relation to other countries, continents, and landforms?
3. Where are the country's resources?
4. List 5 major cities and their locations.
5. Where are the most populated areas of this country?
6. Where are the major mountains, rivers, lakes located?
Place -- Proofreader-_______________________________________________ (name)
1. What are the country's official name, size, and population?
2. What customs, religions, languages, and ethnic groups are found in this country?
3. Describe this country's schools, homes, music, art, foods and national holidays.
4. Describe this country's landforms, natural resources, major plants and animals.
5. Describe the climate.
Regions-Quiet Captain-______________________________________________ (name) _
1. What kind of government does this country have and how was it formed?
2. What political regions are located within the country?
3. What are some of the unique characteristics of these regions?
4. What are some of the major tourist attractions found in this country?
Relationship within the Places (human interaction & environment) -- Coach
____________________________________________ name.

1. How have the people in this place adapted to the climate?
2. How has the climate affected the settlement of people within this country?
3. How do the people of this country use their natural resources?
4. How do people and industries treat their environment?
5. What forms of energy do people of this country use?
6. How do people of this country make a living?
7. What economic issues face this country?
8. Describe some of the important people and events in the history of this country.
9.

Movement-Material Keeper-____________________________________________ (name)
1. Where do the majority of people live in this country?
2. How are goods, services, and people transported within this country?
3. How are people, goods, services, and ideas moved to and from this country?
4. What methods do people use to communicate ideas and information?
5. How have traditions and customs passed from one generation to another?

Classroom Management:
Technology Management Strategy: ok/help signs:
Signs that read ok on one side if there is no problem(s) and Help on the other sign if student has a problem. Turn off monitor during teacher instructions. Train a student in each group to be a technology expert.
Instructional Groups: The teacher wills demonstration the format of all three activities.
Activity One:
Teacher will demonstrate the format of the lesson and demonstration how to use the different links.
Next, students will collect data about their favorite country on the internet using the different links listed above.
The teacher will give each student an Individual Country Data Sheet so that they make collect information about their Country.

Activity Two:
Students will complete the comparison of each country data sheet and turn into teacher for a grade.

Activity Three:
Each student will be given a geography theme to research about his or her group's country. Each person will complete the theme questions that accompany each theme. Next, students will complete a PowerPoint presentation for the class using the slide layout presented below.

Individual Country Data Sheet

Name: _________________________________________________
Block: ____________
Date: ___________

Complete the following information listed below. Use this sheet to record all needed information about the state you would like to visit. You will use this sheet to complete the compare and contrast graphic organizer with your group. This sheet will also be turned into your teacher for one of your project grades. Click on the following links to find information about your state.

http://www.factmonster.com/countries.html
http://askjeeves.com
http://dogpile.com
http://google.com

I. Name of Country:

II. Areas of comparison
a. Major Cities in Country:

b. History of Country:
c. Tourist Attractions:
d. Weather
e. Country Flag:
f. Sports & Recreation:
g. Museums & Art Galleries:
h. Major exports and imports:
I. Name four Points of Interest: ex: famous landmarks, lakes, rivers, oceans, buildings.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Please check your spelling and grammar as you prepare this sheet to be graded by the teacher. Also, please write neat and legible.

Names_____________________________, _______________________________________________, __________________________________________, __________________________________________.

Block ______________________ Date_________________
Group Country Comparison Data Sheet
Group #____ Member 1 Member 2 Member 3 Member 4 Member 5
List the
Names of Each Country

List the
Major Cities

List the average
Weather/
Climate
List Popular
Sports & Recreation
List the Popular
Tourist
Attractions

Country's Flag

List
Famous Landmarks
(Lakes, rivers,
mountains)
Other Important
Facts
*Each Members Rating for each
Category

Write the Name of the Country your team as chosen here:_________________________________________ (see teacher for approval).
* On a scale of 1 to 5, rate each attribute of each member's country. Use the scale weight of each Country to determine which country your group will research and present to the class. Every group will have a different country.

Lost Mountain Middle School
Group Research of Countries - Cooperative Learning Rubric
Name: _____________________ Teacher: Mrs. Cole

Date: ______________________ Title of Work: ______________

Skills Criteria Points

1 2 3 4
Helping
The teacher observed the students offering assistance to each other. None of the Time Some of the Time Most of the Time All of the Time ____
Listening
The teacher observed students working from each other's ideas. None of the Time Some of the Time Most of the Time All of the Time ____
Participating:
The teacher observed each student contributing to the project. None of the Time Some of the Time Most of the Time All of the Time ____
Persuading:
The teacher observed the students exchanging, defending, and rethinking ideas. None of the Time Some of the Time Most of the Time All of the Time ____
Questioning:
The teacher observed the students interacting, discussing, and posing questions to all members of the team. None of the Time Some of the Time Most of the Time All of the Time ____
Respecting:
The teacher observed the students encouraging and supporting the ideas and efforts of others. None of the Time Some of the Time Most of the Time All of the Time ____
Sharing:
The teacher observed the students offering ideas and reporting their findings to each other. None of the Time Some of the Time Most of the Time All of the Time ____

Total Points ____

Teacher Comments:

Instructor: Mrs. Cole
Group Rubric for Power Point Presentation
Group #______
Member's Names:_____________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________

Objectives Low Performance At or Below Average At or Above Average Exemplary Performance Earned
Points
Complete a Story Board for Group Project. 5 points 10 points 15 points 20 points

Identified each question in Theme. 5 points
One or two themes identified and no details. 10 points
Some questions were answered with little or no detail. 15 points
All theme questions answered but, not with great detail. 20 points
All theme questions identified with explanation of each very detailed.

Neat and no spelling errors on powerpoint presentation. 5 points
4 or more spelling errors and project was completed hastily. 10 points
3 or more spelling errors and neatness was not great. 15 points
Somewhat neat and only 2 or less spelling errors. 20 points
No spelling errors and project was done perfectly.

Were 6 slides, correct font size, & number of sentences per slide used correctly in presentation? 5 points
Number of slides was less than 3, incorrect font and number of sentences per slide. Bibliography page was incomplete. 10 points
Use 5 or less slides and didn't include bibliography page or font size was incorrect. Also, number of sentences per slide was wrong. 15 points
Use 6 slides, correct font, but not correct number of sentences. 20 points
All slides were shown and correct font size and number of sentences per slide were used.

Cited all references used to complete presentation. 5 points
No slide completed. 10 points
Most of the information was misspelled or incomplete. 15 points
Somewhat done to the correct standards. 20 points
All references were cited on slide 6 and spelled correctly.

Score:

Power point Presentation Slide Layout

Name:
Country:
Class color: Purple
Directions for Group Power point Presentation/slides
You will create each slide before you and your team can start working on the computer to make your entire power presentation. Each slide should have a title/heading labeled in 44 font and the main body of information should be in 40 font. Your make use different fonts= styles, but it must be approved by a teacher. Follow the directions in each box as to what information should be placed on each slide. You make insert clip art into your presentation.

Slide: 1
Name of Country
Presented by:
(Type ach group members' name)
Date
(save your work to Cole's Literacy File)

• Details
• Details
• Details Slide 4: Theme 3 - Location
Answer questions up to 4 lines. Use 44 font for title of your theme and 40 for information.
(Save your work) click file-click save.
• Details
• Details
• Details
Slide 2: Theme 1 - Location
Answer all questions up to 4 lines.
(save your work) click file-click save.
• Details
• Details
• Details Slide 5: Theme 4 -- Place
Answer questions up to 4 lines. Use 44 font for title of theme and 40 for information.
(save your work) click file-click save.
• Details
• Details
• Details
Slide 3: Theme 2 - Region
answer questions up to 4 lines. Use 44 font for title of theme and 40 for information.
(save your work) click file-click save.
• Details
• Details
• Details Slide 6: Theme 5 -- Relationship within the Places (human interaction & environment)
Answer questions up to 4 lines. Use 44 font for title of theme and 40 for information.
(save your work) click file-click save.
• Details
• Details
• Details
Slide 7: Bibliography Page
You must document your sources for information and pictures. Follow your how to prepare a bibliography page worksheet.
• Details
• Details
• Details Check list for presentation:

___Did you save your work?
____Did you include clip art in your presentation?
___ Did you use 44 font for the heading/theme of every slide?
___ Did you use 40 font for theme information written on your slide?
Your presentation should only include 7 slides. Please add clip art! Remember to use spell check, save your work after each persons completes their slide, have fun! __ Did you use spell check?
___ Did you proofread again for errors that spell check may not have picked up?
___ Did you document your sources for sources for your text information?
___ Did you document your sources for clip art (if applicable)?