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Grade: 3-5
Subject: Social Studies
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LESSON PLAN
The Wonderful, Resourceful State of MichiganStudent Teacher's Name: Kristina McGrath Date: December 11, 2008
Grade Level 3 Topic/Unit: Social Studies School: Hillcrest Elementary District: Crestwood
Content
By researching Michigan's regions, students will be able to:
a. state the importance of the state's natural resources and people's
uses and adaptations for them
b. work in groups to find the natural resources located in each of
Michigan's regions
c. create a map/map key labeling Michigan's natural resources
d. work in groups on a certain region of Michigan and use a digital
camcorder to tape a commercial that they put together about their
region's natural resources, particularly how people in that area adapt
to, use, and modify themBenchmarks
I will focus on meeting the following benchmarks:
State of Michigan Social Studies Standard 3-G5.0.2.
Michigan Educational Technology Standard 3.b.1.
Learning Resources and Materials
Students will need the following materials:a. a printable, blank map of Michigan for their labeling of the natural resources in our state.
b. a booklet made by me with chapters for each of Michigan's regions in which each student will write the natural resources found in each region, as well as how people adapt to, use and modify them.
c. access to the Webquest "That Resourceful Upper Peninsula!!!" by Eric Johnston.
d. small group access to a computer with internet and search functions to research their regions and the natural resources in that region.
e. small group access to a digital camcorder to record their commercials on the uses of the natural resources in their region of Michigan.
Development of Lesson
Introduction
To generate interest in the subject of the natural resources of Michigan, I will begin by asking what natural resources are and what natural resources the children think might be in our state. I will then ask the students to think about the uses people have for these resources. Does the use of these resources always benefit our state?
Methods/Procedures
After the introduction and expected enthusiasm, I will give each of the children a booklet made by me with a chapter for each of Michigan's regions. As a class, we will research the natural resources in these regions using both the internet and library books. They will need to write sentences and draw pictures of the natural resources and the way people modify and use them. For extra clarification, I will have the children view the webquest by Eric Johnston, "The Resourceful Upper Peninsula" and complete the treasure hunt activity found on the site. After reviewing the webquest and completing the activity, we will discuss the most important natural resources in our state and talk about their use. I will give each student a blank map of Michigan and they will create a map key using different symbols to represent Michigan's natural resources. We will then work on placing the natural resources in their correct location. Of course, each child's map will have a new home on our wall. The next day, I will explain to the children that they will be working in small groups to create a commercial which they will tape using a digital camcorder and show to their families at an upcoming evening event. They will play the part of a travel agent who is trying to convince people to visit their region because of all of the great resources located there. In their groups they will have to research further the importance of the natural resources in their particular regions. I will group the children equally amongst Michigan's regions in the Upper Peninsula, Southeast Lower Michigan, Southwest Lower Michigan, Northwest Lower Michigan, and Northeast Lower Michigan. They will need to address the natural resources in their region as well as how people adapt to, use and modify those natural resources.
Accommodations/Adaptations
I am fully aware that some students may need additional assistance and if so, I am prepared to offer that. I will walk around continuously to make sure that the students understand what is expected of them. I will help those children who need assistance locating their region's natural resources on the internet or in print. As a class, we will learn and become familiar with the natural resources of all of Michigan's regions, completing the booklet together, as well as the map. They will be able to work with their groups to complete the tourism commercial of their region's natural resources. If they have additional trouble, I will help them. I also understand that I may need to allow for additional time to complete this assignment, but feel it will be worth it.Assessment/Evaluation
I will assess the students at the middle of the assignment with their completion of their chapter books on the natural resources of Michigan's regions. I will use a rubric to assess if they have appropriately identified the natural resources in each region and identified how people adapt to, use, and modify those resources, using both words and pictures; or they have identified some natural resources in each region, although not completely and have used either words or pictures; or they have not identified the natural resources in each region and not used both words and pictures. I will assess the students at the end of the assignment with their completion of their tourism commercial using a rubric to assess if they have appropriately identified their region's natural resources and people's uses, adaptations, and modifications for them; identified some of their region's natural resources, although not the most important and given some of the people's uses, adaptations, and modifications for them; or not identified their region's natural resources and not given the people's uses, adaptations, and modifications for them.
I will be able to determine if students met the benchmarks by studying their maps and chapter books, along with viewing their commercials to see if they have understood the information that was needed.Closure
The students will be able to show their tourism commercials to their families at an evening school event at which time they can explain their region and reflect on what they have learned.
This lesson will impact my future curriculum decisions because I would like to utilize technology in the classroom more often.
Teacher Reflection
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