Design Topic ____________________________ Subject(s) ______________________ Grade(s) _______ Designer(s) ___________________________

Design Topic: Virginia: The Physical Geography and Native Peoples Subject: Virginia Studies Grade 2
Designer: Rebecca Jones
STAGE 1 – DESIRED RESULTS

Unit Title: Virginia: The Physical Geography and Native Peoples

Established Goals:
(Virginia Studies SOL: The Physical Geography and Native Peoples VS.2 a.-e.)

The student will demonstrate knowledge of the physical geography and native peoples, past and present,
of Virginia by a) locating Virginia and its bordering states on maps of the United States; b) locating and
describing Virginia’s Coastal Plain (Tidewater), Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Valley and Ridge, and
Appalachian Plateau; c) locating and identifying water features important to the early history of Virginia
(Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, James River, York River, Potomac River, Rappahannock River, and Lake
Drummond and the Dismal Swamp); d) locating three American Indian language groups (the Algonquian,
the Siouan, and the Iroquoian) on a map of Virginia; e) describing how American Indians related to the
climate and their environment to secure food, clothing, and shelter
Understandings: Students will understand that… Essential Questions:

 Maps and physical geography are
important
 Virginia has a rich history regarding the
native peoples, past and present.
 Climate and environment affect how people
live
 The geography and climate of Virginia are
shaped by its water features the Blue Ridge
Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay
Students will know:
 Why do you think maps and physical
geography are important?
 Why are Virginia’s water features
important? it important to learn about
Virginia’s history?
 How does the geography and climate affect
the American Indians survival in terms of
what they ate, the clothing they wore, and
the shelter they lived in?
Students will be able to:

 The location of Virginia on a map of the
United States is on the Southeastern and
Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States
between the Atlantic Coast and the
Appalachian Mountains.
 What all eight of Virginia’s important water
features are and where they are located
 The Algonquian are located on a map of
Virginia-
 The Siouan American Indian language
group are located on the map of Virginia
 The Iroquoian American Indian language
group are located on the map of Virginia-
 
 Where the three American Indian language
groups (the Algonquian, the Siouan, and
the Iroquoian) are located on a map of
Virginia
 The American Indians used the animals,
water, and land from their environment for
food, clothing and shelter. They survived
Source: Understanding by Design, Unit Design Planning Template (Wiggins/McTighe 2005)
 Locate and describe Virginia’s physical
geography including Virginia’s Coastal
Plain (Tidewater), Piedmont, Blue Ridge
Mountains, Valley and Ridge, and
Appalachian Plateau, as well as all eight of
Virginia’s important water features such as
the Atlantic Ocean, Chesapeake Bay, James
River, York River, Potomac River,
Rappahannock River, Lake Drummond, and
the Dismal Swamp.
 Describe what life was like for the native
peoples, past and present, of Virginia
Find and label Virginia and its bordering
states on maps of the United States.
 Identify, label, and describe Virginia’s eight
water features that were important to the
early history of Virginia.
 Explain how American Indians survived
and how their climate and environment
affected their way of life
1
Design Topic ____________________________ Subject(s) ______________________ Grade(s) _______ Designer(s) ___________________________

on crops such as corn and squash in the

summer and wild animals in the winter.
 ate- , wore, lived in, and their environment
 The five states that boarder Virginia and
their locations such as North Carolina, to
the south, Tennessee, to the southwest,
Kentucky, to the west, West Virginia, to the
northwest, and Maryland, to the north.

STAGE 2 – ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE

Performance Tasks: Other Evidence:

 Think Pair Share- Why do you think maps

 GRASPS Activity- Let’s Explore Virginia:
and physical geography are important?
King James needs you to create a map of
Virginia and a full report about its
 Multiple Choice quiz (5 questions)- Facts
inhabitants
about Virginia’s Physical Geography and
Native Peoples
 Life as an Indian Presentation- Dress up
as an American Indian and share a
 Homework- Research information about
presentation of what it was like being an
the five states that boarder Virginia and
American Indian from one of the three
where they are located
language groups living in Virginia. Choose
between the Algonquian, the Siouan, or
the Iroquoian. Describe how Virginia’s  Map It Virtual Quiz- Label a blank map by
physical geography, climate, and European identifying the location of its eight water
colonization has affected your way of life. features, five boarder states, and its
physical geography.
 Rap it out- Pretend you are a colonist and
you create a fun song using the facts that
you have learned about Virginia that you
would share with a friend who lives in
England and will be coming to Virginia.

Source: Understanding by Design, Unit Design Planning Template (Wiggins/McTighe 2005) 2

Design Topic ____________________________ Subject(s) ______________________ Grade(s) _______ Designer(s) ___________________________

Student Self-Assessment and Reflection

 Entry Ticket- What do you know about Virginia and its geography?

 KWL Graphic Organizer- Self-Assess and reflect on your lesson about Virginia

 Daily Journal Entry- Write about life in Virginia

 Exit Ticket each day- Write one question that you have regarding something you would like to
know about Virginia.

Source: Understanding by Design, Unit Design Planning Template (Wiggins/McTighe 2005) 3