Download Social Studies Unit 1: Geography of America

Social Studies Unit 1: Geography of America
Duration: 3-4 weeks
What the Standards Say:
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I can explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their environmental
characteristics using maps, satellite images and other models.
I can use geographic tools (e.g., maps, charts, graphs) to identify natural resources and other
physical characteristics (e.g., major landforms, major bodies of water, weather, climate, roads,
bridges
I can use geographic tools to locate and describe major landforms, bodies of water, places and objects in
the United States by their absolute location.
This means:
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What do I need to know?:
o I can name and locate the major US geographic regions on a map.
o I can name and locate major US landforms (Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, Great
Plains) on a map.
o I can name and locate major US bodies of water (Mississippi River, Atlantic Ocean, Pacific
Ocean, Ohio River, Missouri River, Rio Grande, The Great Lakes) on a map.
o I can name and locate all 50 US states on a map.
o I can name and locate major US cities (New York City, Chicago, Sacramento, Philadelphia,
Boston, Houston, Phoenix).
o I can explain latitude and longitude.
o I can define absolute location and relative location.
o I can find the Equator and Prime Meridian on a map.
o I can label the hemispheres.
o I can identify and describe the three different types of maps.
o I can explain what would make a region a good place in which to settle.
 What can I do with what I know?:
o I can compare the climate, resources, and landforms of different US regions.
 What will I do to show what I know?:
o I can use latitude and longitude to find a location on a map.
o I can tell a location’s absolute location.
o I can read a map to describe an area.
 What can I make to prove what I know?:
o I can create a new, fictional region that combines what I think is best about the other
regions.
Lessons, Activities, Resources, and Assessments
Pretest Score: __________
Exploratory Project: Create a fictional country. Give it a name. Give it a capitol
city. Draw a picture of what it looks like. What landforms does it have? What bodies
of water? What kind of climate does it have? What kinds of natural resources are
available?
Lesson 1: Landforms and Bodies of Water (about 2 weeks)
o Video Lesson
o 3 Types of Maps ppt and quiz
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o Promoting and Restricting Settlements flipchart
 Extended Response
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o Reading
o Chapter 1 of History Alive
 Quiz over reading
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o Worksheets
o Atlases- answer questions about US Phys. Char.
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o Landforms and Water Sheet
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o Products in California/Locating the Continents and Oceans______
o The Southern States/Getting to Pirate’s Island
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o SS-Reading Connection
o Read pgs 28-31 in gold SS book and answer comprehension questions
on page 31
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o Read pgs 14-19 in gold SS book and answer comprehension questions
on page 19
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o Hands-On Activity
o Interactive Desk Map Activity
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o Use topographical maps to explore US landforms
 How did this add to your understanding of geography?
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Lesson 2: US Regions (about 1 week)
o Video Lesson
o Flipchart over US Regions
 Make US Regions flipbook
(Teacher Initial) _______
o Reading
o Reading from KY book over regions
 Make KY Regions flipbook
(Teacher Initial) _______
o Worksheets
o US Regions Matching sheet
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o Space Ship Search/Acorn Park
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o Label the 50 States
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o SS-Reading Connection
o Read Pages 22-25 in Gold SS book and answer comprehension
questions on page 25
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o Hands-On Activity
o US Regions matching game
Lesson 3: Latitude and Longitude (about 1 week)
o Video Lesson
o Absolute Location Flipchart and *Quiz
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o Worksheets
o Casey’s Island/It’s Raining! It’s Pouring!
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o Latitude and Longitude Lines/Street Map/Using a Compass Rose
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o Location, Location, Location/State of Confusion
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o Hands-On Activity
o Whole Class Latitude/Longitude
o Use desk maps and dry erase markers to practice latitude and
longitude
o Latitude and Longitude Task Cards
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o Computer Activities
o Pick 3 geography activities off my website. Complete reflection
sheet.
(Teacher Initial) _______
End of Unit Reflection:
1. How will understanding the US Regions help you in life?
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2. How will knowing how to read a map help you in life?
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3. How will knowing the major US landforms, bodies of water, and cities help you in
life?
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*Make changes to your fictional country based on what you’ve learned.
Early Finishers:
o Make something that will help teach this concept to other students. Ex- newscast
reporting on civil war from Union side and from Confederate side, video diary of
colonist viewing NA culture for the first time, comic book, animoto, sock puppet
reenactment, etc.
Geography Mini-CMA Score: _______
Online Games Reflection Sheet
1. What did you work on? __________________________________________________________
What did you learn? __________________________________________________________________
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How did this add to your understanding of Geography? Use at least 3 of these key terms in your answer: landforms,
bodies of water, regions, latitude and longitude, absolute location, states, maps, natural resources, or hemispheres.
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2. What did you work on? __________________________________________________________
What did you learn? __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
How did this add to your understanding of Geography? Use at least 3 of these key terms in your answer: landforms,
bodies of water, regions, latitude and longitude, absolute location, states, maps, natural resources, or hemispheres.
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3. What did you work on? __________________________________________________________
What did you learn? __________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
How did this add to your understanding of Geography? Use at least 3 of these key terms in your answer: landforms,
bodies of water, regions, latitude and longitude, absolute location, states, maps, natural resources, or hemispheres.
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