Direct Instruction Lesson Plan Template Grade Level/Subject: 3rd/Social Studies Central Focus: United States Regions

Essential Standard/Common Core Objective: Date submitted: Date taught: 3.G.1.6: Compare various regions according to their characteristics. Daily Lesson Objective: Students will be able to create an informational poster on one of the six United Sates regions that includes six facts about the region, information on the regions economy, and all of the states in the region. To be successful, students must include each of the components in the poster. 21st Century Skills: Academic Language Demand (Language Function and Vocabulary): Language Function: Create Vocabulary: United States, states, regions, economy, facts Prior Knowledge: According to the NCSCOS Essential Standards, students should already be able to use and understand maps, basic elements of geographic representations, and knowledge of the vocabulary terms United States, states, regions, and economy in order to complete this lesson.

Activity

Description of Activities and Setting The teacher will say, Today, we are going to go on a journey across the United States! Weve already traveled to the Northeast Region. Do you remember what we learned about it? Teacher will call on a few students for a review. Get out your travel journals because we are headed to the Midwest and Great Plains and the Mountain West Regions! Teacher will say, Today, we are going to continue learning about the different regions in the United States. We will learn about the Midwest and Great Plains Region and the Mountain West Region in todays lesson. After we practice together, you will create an informational poster about one of the regions we have learned about this week! It is important to learn about the different regions of the country we live in so we can become well-educated citizens. Teacher will say, As you know, in order for us to remember what we learn when we travel to the different regions, everyone needs to make sure they are taking notes in their travel journals! Please copy down and use the following format to take notes while watching the videos: Name of Region: 6 Facts: 1. 2.

Time 3 min.

1. Focus and Review

2. Statement of Objective for Student

2 min.

3. Teacher Input

20 min.

3 4. 5. 6. Economy Information: All States in the Region: Teacher will either display this format on a document camera or Smart Board or write it on the white board for the students to copy in their travel journals. Teacher will play videos from Discovery Education on the Projection Screen or Smart Board, pausing at certain points to point out important information that the students should be writing down in their travel journals. First play the video on the Midwest and Great Plains Region. Next, play the video on the Mountain West Region. Summary Midwest and Great Plains Region video: The Midwest and Great Plains Region is located in the north, central portion of the United States and is known as the heartland because it supplies the nation with food. The land is flat without mountains and touches many bodies of water. The states in this region are North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. Several states in this region share borders with the Great Lakes. Summary of Mountain West Region video: The Mountain West Region is located in the western part of the United States between the Great Plains and the Pacific West. The region gets its name from the Rocky Mountains. The region has tall mountains, deep canyons, winding rivers, and even deserts. The region is made up of seven states including Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. The Rocky Mountains spread across the entire region, with the tallest peak in Colorado called Mt. Elbert. Two characteristics are shared by every state in the region: they all have relatively dry climates and they all have tall mountains. Tourism and recreation make up a major portion of this regions economy today because of its natural scenic beauty. In case technology fails, be prepared to show students printed out pictures of the regions, as well as provide them the essential information orally and/or using the white board. Students should still fill out their note-taking guides. Pictures of Midwest and Great Plains Region (print out):

http://ak.picdn.net/shutterstock/videos/2392046/preview/stock-footage-largeamerican-buffalo-in-the-plains-of-the-midwest.jpg http://www.mnrinc.us/images/slider_img6.jpg Pictures of the Mountain West Region: http://www.dianescreativebookmarks.com/Western%20Mountains%20postcards.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/29/Germany-valley-villagebelow-north-fork-mountain_-_West_Virginia_-_ForestWander.jpg Students will share with their table groups (or teacher decided groups of four to five students if students are not organized in tables) what they learned from the videos. Teacher will walk around the room and listen to the student groups share to check 10 for understanding. After sharing, students will draw a picture for both the Midwest min. and Great Plains Region and the Mountain West Region that will help them visualize and remember it. Students will share their pictures amongst their groups as well. Students will individually complete an informational poster on one of the six United 20 States regions that includes six facts about the region, information on the regions min. economy, and all of the states in the region. Students may choose the region. Criteria for evaluating students independent practice: Full Mastery: Student created a poster on one of the six United States regions and successfully included all of the necessary components. Partial Master: Student created a poster on one of the six United States regions and successfully included two out of the three necessary components. No Mastery: Student did not create a poster on one of the United States regions and/or included one or less of the necessary components on the poster. Rubric: Poster includes all states in the region - _/3 Poster includes information on the regions economy - _/3 Poster includes six facts about the region - _/3 Student included his or her name on poster - _/1 Total points - _/10 Teacher will allow a few students (2-3) to have their poster pre-approved and share it with the whole class. Teacher will say, Great job working hard on your posters and learning about the different United States regions! What are the six regions? What are some things that are the same about them? What are some things that are

4. Guided Practice

5. Independent Practice

6. Assessment Methods of all objectives/skills:

7. Closure

5 min.

different? 8. Assessment Results of all objectives/skills: Targeted Students Modifications/Accommodations:

Student/Small Group Modifications/Accommodations: Struggling Students: During guided practice, students who are struggling will be in a small group with the teacher or teacher assistant. The teacher will provide them with explicit instruction about the different aspects of the regions that they need to remember and write down.

Materials/Technology: (Include any instructional materials (e.g., worksheets, assessments PowerPoint/SmartBoard slides, etc.) needed to implement the lesson at the end of the lesson plan.) Document Camera/Smart Board or White Board and Expo Marker Smart Board or Projection Screen Internet Sheet of White Construction Paper for each student Crayons, Colored Pencils, or Markers for students Access to Discovery Education Pictures of regions printed out References: Teacher-made note taking format: Amanda Mohler Discovery Education: http://www.discoveryeducation.com/ Reflection on lesson: