Lauren's Lesson Plan 1

Target Audience of the Lesson: 5th grade students

Big Idea of the Lesson: Students will discover the different regions of the United States and classify the states in these areas, defining how their land is used and the ways in which the use for them has changed.

Overall Goal for the Lesson: I want students to be able to learn about other states that make up our country and the specific things that each is known for. Through incorporating a fun activity in which the students have to research their state and also get a chance to do more hands-on work, I hope they will enjoy the project more. Also, using video cameras to share their project with the class is a new way for the students to become comfortable with using technology in class.

Objectives:
-Students will use the internet to research their chosen states
-Students will create a script for their newscast using the information collected
-Students will work together as a group to make sure all research is accurate
-Students will learn about other states in our country and their land uses
-Students will identify the agricultural regions and see how land use has changed over the years

Indiana Content Standards Addressed:

5.3.7. Describe the major ways that land was used by American Indians and colonists in each region and explain how land use changed in the past and continues to change.

5.3.8 Identify the major manufacturing and agricultural regions in colonial America and cite ways that agriculture and manufacturing have changed in the past and continue to change.

Time: The students will conduct their research, create and record their newscast, and present to the class within a three week period.

Schedule of Activities:

First, teachers will have the students form groups of 4 students. While the students are forming groups, the teacher will be assigning a state to each group. Next, students will fill out a form that asks who the group members are, what state they were assigned, and who is responsible for which tasks. The students will be given approximately 3 weeks to do all of their research using computers and books from the library and to also record their presentation as a newscast using video cameras. Each group will be required to type out a script that they will use during the newscast. The script will contain all of the information they have gathered that they wish to share with their classmates. Each group will record their newscast during their lunch period, one group every day of the week. Students will be given time to eat their lunch in class after they record their presentation. Finally, students will be asked to sign up for days they wish to share their project. Along with the video tape being shown with their presentation, the students will be asked to give a brief in-class presentation stating the most interesting facts they learned.

How will these activities be assessed?

Students will learn about the states that make up our country and what each is known for: It is helpful for the teacher that all of the presentations are videotaped because they can be watched as many times as it is necessary to hear all of the information that the students gathered.

Students worked well as a group: Throughout the research process, the teacher will be taking notes on which students are working well together and which are using their time wisely.

Creativity: The teacher will grade their presentation’s creativity based on how they chose to record their newscast.

**Each student will have the chance to fill out a brief rubric for each of their group members. This will count towards a portion of their final grade.

Adaptations: Students with special needs will be able to do most of the things in this lesson. One part they may have trouble with is the newscast, but even that, they will be sitting behind a table.

Technology standards:
-Examine the interaction of human beings and their physical environment, the use of land, building of cities, and ecosystem changes in selected locales and regions.
-Explore ways that the earth’s physical features have changed over time in the local region and beyond how these changes may be connected to one another.
-Describe how people create places that reflect ideas, personality, culture, and wants and needs as they design homes, playgrounds, classrooms, and the like.

Materials Needed: A video camera, A video tape for each of the groups, useful/accurate collection of books on the different states, websites that are appropriate for the project and provide accurate information.