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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.