Rochester College Lesson Plan Template: Social Studies-Geography
Rochester College Lesson Plan Template: Social Studies-Geography
Date
10/8/15
Lesson Summary
In this lesson the students will be able to formulate clues based on the knowledge they know of their
community. They will then be given clues from another class in a different part of Michigan, this is through
a paid program. After the clues are posted they will be working together to form an investigation to find the
answer to Where in Michigan is this class. They will be researching their hypothesis using a varied of
safe sources. In the end we will telecommunicate the class to find the answer. The students will then be
able to ask question to the other class and answer theirs.
Subject Area
formats
2c- Develop cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with learners of other cultures
3a- Plan strategies to guide inquiry
3b- Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of
sources and media.
3c- Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific
tasks
3d- Process data and report results
4a- Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation
4c- Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions
Student Objectives/Learning Outcomes
The students will be able to work together to devise clues that will go into the presentation about their
town. They will then use the clues given to them from the other class to form an investigation to try and
answers the question of where this class is in Michigan. The students will use the internet, text books,
maps, and any other approved sources to research the answer.
Curriculum-Framing Questions
Essential Question Where in Michigan?
Unit Questions
Content Questions
Assessment Summary
Assessment will be given informally it will be based on the effort the students put into their investigation. It
also will be based on participation and the clues they write.
Lesson Timeline
Start of the Lesson
Where is Ms. Jackson
Then content review
Then our community clue making
Mid-Lesson Activities
Researching in groups their
investigation question they came
up with.
Prerequisite Skills
The children will need a firm understanding of their community and the county they live in. They will need
to have mastered G1 and G2 in social studies.
Instructional Procedures
Day one: Introduction- Hook- Where is Ms. Jackson in the community?
Read the students three clues have them discuss in groups where they think Ms. Jackson is. Have them
come together and share their ideas. Before giving them the answer review what is a community? Also
review key concept of maps and directions, and what the regions of Michigan are. This review will be
done with a class discussion and then a prezi presentation of the facts they are forgetting. After I will give
the students the answer to the riddle.
After this I will explain to them that they will be playing a game with other schools in Michigan, not ones in
their own community, like the one they did with me. I will explain that they will be engaging with each other
to explore the clues given to them by the other class. They will then help me make up clues for their
community.
Techniques and activitiesDay Two: Have the students independently come up with clues using their previous knowledge of
themselves and their community. Have them turn in the clues and review them together. Have them find
similar ones to their own and new ones they did not think of. The students will then help categories the
clues. They will also help to narrow down the clues to the ones we want to use in our presentation by
voting.
Day Three: Group the student, then introduce the clues. Have them in their groups come up with an
investigation question they feel they can research from the clues. I will walk around at this time making
sure the students are on task and coming up with researchable questions.
Day Four-five Give the groups time to research their investigation, give the students websites they that
are safe and reliable that they may use to find their answers. Have tablets ready for them to use for
internet research. I will also help them find other appropriate sources to use. I will walk around asking
questions and making sure they are on task. The children will be free to work anywhere in the classroom
as long as they are engaging each other and staying on task.
Day Six- I will have the groups check in with me. At this time I will see if they need more time or if they
have found their answer. If no more time is needed, I will have them share their investigation with the
class.
Day Seven- Teleconference with the other class. Find the answer to the clues and ask/answer questions
to/from the other children.
Day Eight- Review the information and get the childrens feedback.
Closure- 1. Design a hook that show the children what they will be doing and gain their attention. (Ex.
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?)
2. Review key information they will need to complete assignment with a class discussion and presentation
on key information they do not understand.
3. Have them come up with clues to give the other class.
4. Set up groups and give them time to discover an investigation question.
5. Have them research question/clues.
6. Share their investigations with the class.
7. Teleconference
8. Share their views on the project:
Gifted/Talented Student
Special Needs: I will have the students work with a higher achieving
student for help.
I will let them come up with one clue for their community.
They can also work with teacher on project.
Have them work with a lower level student to help them out.
Have them walk around and help other groups with their investigations.
Have them research something of interest in community they think the
class is in then present that with their investigation.
VCR
Video Camera
Video Conferencing Equipment
Interactive Responders
Other IP ISDN connection.
Database/Spreadsheet
Desktop Publishing
E-mail Software
Encyclopedia on CD-ROM
Image Processing
Internet Web Browser
Multimedia
Printed Materials
Supplies
Internet Resources
Other Resources