Download Lesson Plan Format – MSSE 570/470/571/471

Geography of Virginia
Teacher’s name: Rachel Hof Date: November 1, 2007
Subject: Social Studies
Grade Level: 6th Topic: Geography
Essential Questions/Big Ideas: Location
How does geographical location effect and influence history?
How are geographical features important in location of cities and civilizations?
General Objective[s]:
NCSS Standard III People, Places, and Environments. Sub-strands include:
a) elaborate mental maps of locales, regions, and the world that demonstrate understanding
of relative location, directions, size, and shape
b) create, interpret, use, and distinguish various representations of the earth, such as maps,
globes, and photographs
c) use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools such as aerial photographs,
satellite images, geographic information systems (GIS), map projections, and cartography to
generate, manipulate, and interpret information such as atlases, data bases, grid systems,
charts, graphs, and maps
e) locate and describe various landforms and geographic features, such as mountains,
plateaus, islands, rain forests, deserts, and oceans, and explain their relationships within the
ecosystem
f) describe physical system changes such as seasons, climate and weathers, and the water
cycles and identify geographic patterns associated with them
i) describe ways that historical events have been influenced by, and have influenced,
physical and human geographic factors in local, regional, national, and global settings
SOLs:
USI.1
USI.2
The student will develop skills for historical and geographical analysis, including the
ability to
f) analyze and interpret maps to explain relationships among landforms, water
features, climatic characteristics, and historical events;
The student will use maps, globes, photographs, pictures, and tables to
b) locate and describe the location of the geographic regions of North America:
Coastal Plain, Appalachian Mountains, Canadian Shield, Interior Lowlands, Great
Plains, Rocky Mountains, Basin and Range, and Coastal Range;
c) locate and identify the water features important to the early history of the United
States: Great Lakes, Mississippi River, Missouri River, Ohio River, Columbia
River, Colorado River, Rio Grande, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Gulf of
Mexico.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand that:
Geographical features and location effect where and how people live
Geographical features and location influence the outcome of historical events
Students will know:
The climate and environment of a geographical region effect peoples lives
The climate and environment of a geographical region effect the outcome of historical events
Geographical features and resources dictate where civilization is established
Students will be able to:
Define new geographic features such as coastal plains, fall lines, and plateau
List specific geographical features such as mountains, rivers, lakes, etc.
Write a letter explaining how geographic area effects their life
Students will attain the attitudes/values of:
Respecting and understanding that geography effects culture
Assessment: Methods of Evaluating Student Progress/Performance:
The main form of assessment with this activity is the letter/brochure/postcard that the students
will be doing in class and completing for homework if they don’t finish. This assignment will be
graded based on the following criteria. Student has completed the assignment by including all
required material. Student has completed the assignment in a neat and presentable fashion, and
finally, student has completed the assignment on time. The only other form of assessment for
this lesson is the exit card. I will be able to read the responses after class to assess the
understanding my students have of the material presented.
Content Outline:
Geographic features such as mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, plateaus, and plains play a
huge role in the formation of cities and civilized life. The climate of different regions along with
the natural resources available dictates the lives of all who live in the area. Some key geographic
features of include the coastal plains—a large area of flat or gently rolling land that is bordered
by a large area of water; fall line— an imaginary line where rivers descend from highlands to
lowlands marked by waterfalls and rapids; plateau—a relatively level land area that is elevated,
adjoining land on at least one side; ports—where water meets land in a sheltered location. Other
features that do not need to be defined are mountains, valley, lakes, and rivers.
Virginia has five geographical regions, the costal plains region, the piedmont region, the
Blue Ridge Mountain region, the ridge and valley region, and the Appalachian Plateau region.
Students will gather information along these lines as they research their specific region:
Virginia's Coastal Plain (Tidewater) Region is part of the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
Virginia's Coastal Plain extends inland as far as the fall line. Wide areas of Virginia's Coastal
Plain are flat and low-lying. Tidal swamps and marshes border the rivers as far as the Fall Line.
The Piedmont Region is mostly rolling hills country, which rises above sea level along
the fall line at the eastern foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Blue Ridge Mountains Region is located between the Piedmont and Valley and
Ridge regions. This region is part of the Appalachian Mountain system. The Blue Ridge
Mountains Region consists of a long narrow string of thickly forested mountains, which form a
ridge that runs from Harpers Ferry in West Virginia southwestward across Virginia to the
Carolinas. The Blue Ridge Mountains Region of Virginia reaches an average elevation of about
3000 feet above sea level in the northern sections to more than 4000 feet in the southern sections.
The Valley and Ridge is the most rugged area of the state. This region has many rocky
peaks. It consists of parallel ridges and knobs that run in a northeast-to-southwest direction.
These ridges are separated by lowlands and river valleys.
The Appalachian Plateau Region is located in Virginia's southwest corner and is known
for its coal deposits. Most of the Appalachian Plateau Region is about 3000 feet above sea level.
Student and Teacher Activities with Estimated Time Blocks:
Teacher
Introduce Hook
Lecture on geographic
features.
Map activity
Student
Hook—students will assemble a map of
Virginia. Each student will be given a baggie
with the state of Virginia cut into 5 pieces.
They will have to put the pieces in the correct
order to make Virginia.
Notes in interactive notebook
Time
5 mins
20 mins
Students will be paired in groups of 3-4 and
30 mins
each group will be assigned a different region
of Virginia. Students will look at a series of
maps and pictures including a United States
map, a Virginia map, and regional maps.
Students will also use a website to get more
information on their assigned region.
Students will study each map and the website
in order to come up with a list of
geographical features that are present in the
assigned region. Students will need to make
note of the characteristics of each feature they
notice. After students have studied these
maps and come up with the features they will
write a letter or brochure (with pictures) to
travelers or explorers to the area or students
can choose to write a letter or postcard (with
a picture) to someone at home from the point
of view of an explorer. In these letters
students will need to describe the physical
features, identify human needs, and explain
Exit Card
the impact of the physical geography on
peoples’ lives.
Pick one of the geographic features present in
Virginia, how has this feature
effected/influenced the formation of a city or
played a role in a historic event.
5 mins
Total: 60 mins
Materials Needed for the Lesson:
The maps are attached below.
Activity website: Scott County Schools. (2007). Virginia Focus. Retrieved October 31, 2007
from http://scott.k12.va.us/martha2/VirginiaGeography.htm
Lesson adapted from:
Harlow, Keith. (1994). The Influence of Physical Geography and Climate. Retrieved October
29, 2007 from http://www.eduref.org/cgibin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Social_Studies/Geography/GGR0018.html
Differentiation:
This lesson is differentiated by interest in terms of the assignment to be turned in. All students
are assigned to write a letter, brochure, or postcard and they are allowed to pick based upon their
personal interest. Also, visual and artistic learners are given a chance to meet their needs in this
assignment as some of the options include drawing. The drawing part of this assignment is also
designed for ELL students and students who have trouble writing or spelling. Even if I have a
hard time understanding the written part I will be able to assess students based upon the
drawing/s they have done.
Subject Matter Integration/Extension:
This lesson would fit into a whole geography unit. Because this lesson is mostly about Virginia
geography it could be one of many lessons about landforms and geographical features. This
lesson could go later in the unit, after students have learned about what all the landforms are and
other places in the United States where they are located. Taking Virginia as a very specific
example would not allow students to see all the landforms or geographical features they learned
about. This Virginia lesson would be a great example of relating this information to places
where these landforms are actually present.
Reflections on Lesson Plan:
This lesson fits in with my philosophy of teaching in that I believe in creating a safe and friendly
classroom environment. I think by the differentiation I used in this lesson all of my students will
be able to meet the objectives I have set. I believe that this lesson is student centered and a tight
nit classroom community is being formed. Each activity is carefully planned to ensure that
student needs are met.