Unit Title: Human and Physical Characteristics

Essential Question of the Unit:

How are human and physical characteristics related?

Guiding Question of the Lesson:

What are human characteristics?

Standards:
3.G.1.2- Compare the human and physical characteristics of places

Objectives:
Student will be able to-
Identify human characteristics
Explain the change in a human characteristic over time

Resources:
Photos of human characteristics
The internet/textbooks

Lesson Development:
Intro- Ask students to brainstorm how they might describe the environment around them.
When sharing, ask if the object was man made or naturally occurs. After a few shares, you
should have been able to distinguish objects humans created and object that are part of the
earth. Scaffold if needed. Tell students that today we are talking about human characteristics of
places.
Identify and discuss the major types of human characteristics (bridges, houses, parks, cities,
government, religion, architecture, roads). Provide pictures for students to discuss and allow
opportunity for students to identify famous human characteristics they might know (ex: Golden
Gate Bridge).
Talk with students about the uses and purposes of human characteristics.

Activity- In groups, students will choose a human characteristic and study its evolution over
time.
I do- I will model for students my perspective on how roads have changed over time. Mostly
using prior knowledge, but using the internet as a resource when I do not know (previously
researched). I highlight how they used to be dirt, then gravel, and now pavement.
We do- Together, we will choose a characteristic, such as houses, and go through the process of
how houses have changed over time.
You do- In groups students will choose a characteristic we have not covered to research how it
has changed over time.

Closure- Groups will share the characteristic they researched.