Initial Learning Environment Plan

Member(s) of the Design Team:
Laquimah Bush

Metaphor/Theme being used in the Learning Environment:
Geography

Targeted grade level for the Learning Environment:
Third Grade

Initial idea of the overall goal for creating the Learning Environment:
Students will have an increased learning about the geography of Earth and increased Map and Globe skills.

Sample QCC’s to be addressed in the Learning Environment:

v 12 Topic: Map and Globe Skills
Standard: Determines the purpose of a map by examining title and content.

v 15 Topic: Map and Globe Skills
Standard: Explains the purpose of a map scale; and calculates distance between points using map scale.

v 18 Topic: Location
Standard: Names the Earth's seven continents, four hemispheres, and four oceans.


Initial ideas 4 Activities:

v Students will explore the use of map scales after putting together their own map. They will work in groups to assemble a large map and use the map scale at the bottom to determine the distance between points on the map. The groups will share their answers and the teacher will record students' responses on a class chart on the overhead.

v Students will be introduced to the concept of map scales and will measure using centimeters and inches to determine the distance from one place to another on two maps. They will then create their own map and questions for a classmate to solve.

v Students will work within a group to research each of the seven continents using resources in the Media Center. They will then write a "chapter" in a book about their continents and put their chapters together to create their own Social Studies textbook about the continents.

v Students will learn the meanings of the terms hemisphere, equator, continent, and ocean through an online picture dictionary. They will then demonstrate what they've learned as they label a world map and locate where coastal communities can be found.