Concept to Classroom: Lesson Plan

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Community Treasures (Rivers and Trees): An Integrated Curriculum Unit

Grade: 3

Unit Length: 6 weeks

Standards:

National

From the National Council for Teachers of English http://www.ncte.org/standards/standards.shtml, the National Council for Social Studies http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/toc.html, and the National Council for Geographic Education http://www.ncge.org/publications/tutorial/standards/. Students should know:

how to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information (NCGE Standard #1)
the patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface (NCGE Standard #11)
how human actions modify the physical environment (NCGE Standard #14)
how physical systems affect human systems (NCGE Standard #15)
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people create and change structures of power, authority, and governance. (NCSS Standard #6)
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ways human beings view themselves in and over time. (NCSS Standard #2)
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic. (NCSS Standard #10)
Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, classic and contemporary works. (NCTE Standard #1)
Students employ a wide range of strategies as they write and use different writing process elements appropriately to communicate with different audiences for a variety of purposes. (NCTE Standard #5)

Local:

Students should be able to:

demonstrate an understanding of geography and its effects on lifestyles and culture
apply basic economic terms and principles
understand United States government and history
understand and apply principles of citizenship
read with understanding and accuracy
write effectively for different purposes and audiences

Local Benchmarks:

Students should be able to:

understand that people in the United States make the laws and rules they follow
use map skills to locate and distinguish among varying land forms and geographic features
know how people depend on natural resources and make decisions about them
understand that there are three branches of government with different responsibilities
understand factors that influence community development
pronounce, use, and understand vocabulary from all subject areas
read content area materials to gain and apply information
recall main ideas and details, sequence events, predict outcomes, draw conclusions, and classify them
write short narrative, descriptive, and expository works with a main idea and supporting details
write for real-life purposes, including memos, letters, and reports

Source: Standards and benchmarks were written and provided by the Hamilton County Schools.

Essential Questions:

Assignments:

Activities:

Collect various maps in a data bin several weeks before beginning unit.
Post essential questions in the classroom.
Brainstorm the word concept "community" with students. Create a web of responses.
Discuss urban, rural, and suburban communities.
Play SimTown as a class, focusing on elements of a community. Allow kids to play individually or in groups.
Send kids on a "treasure hunt" in the school using a map with written directions to model the map performance task.
Give a didactic lesson on types of maps and map symbols.
Conduct a shared reading of A RIVER RAN WILD and SONG OF THE TREES.

Conduct an author/artist study of Lynne Cherry.
Compare/contrast illustrations in A RIVER RAN WILD with a map.
Administer vocabulary activities for both books.
Give a didactic lesson on narrative paragraph and friendly letter.
Write narrative paragraph about A RIVER RAN WILD.
Write friendly letter to characters in SONG OF THE TREES.
Conduct seminar discussions about both books.
Review process of bill becoming law. Show "I’m Just a Bill" from SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK.
Use student maps (from performance task) to complete treasure hunts.
Hold Congress sessions and have a "signing ceremony" to sign bills into law.

Learning Behaviors:

Materials:

Equipment:

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