Passport

Lesson Plan: "Passport to the Continents" Class/Course: Social Studies Unit: Geography Lesson Topic: Continents Grade: Third Instructional Materials: ▪ GPS Receives ▪ 7 Plastic Containers for Geocaching ▪ Passports (mini notebooks for students to record information) ▪ *Optional: SMART Board & SMART Response System Prior Experience: Use GPS receiver to locate waypoints and program waypoints. Use traditional and electronic search tools. Use presentational tools (i.e., SMART Board, PowerPoint, Keynote).

Specific Objectives: ▪ The student will locate and identify the continents and oceans on a map and globe. ▪ The student will research information about the continents using traditional and digital content. ▪ The student will demonstrate an understanding of the continents through a collaborative presentation.

Anticipatory Set: Teacher Preparation: Place 7 containers in the school yard. Each container will have clues about a specific continent (i.e., animal figurines, pictures of famous landmarks, country flags, latitude and longitude positions). Mark the waypoint of each container's location.

As an introduction to the continents, students will locate the continents and oceans of the world using a SMART Board activity with world map and continents. You may download the Notebook lesson at this site: http://www.cysd.k12.pa.us/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectiondetailid=11718&fileitem=16300&catfilter=1295&cms_mode=view (Option - Use globe and/or world map to identify and locate the continents.)

Students will be placed in small groups and given a specific waypoint location of one of the container's location. Each group will use their GPS receiver and locate their container. Group members will discuss their findings.

Procedures: 1. Each group will identify the objects in their container to a specific continent. They will work collaborative to find information about their continent (countries, location, animals/plants indigenous to the area, landmarks, rivers/deserts). 2. The students will use various research tools to find information. The teacher will model specific websites and demonstrate how to locate information. Students will identify important facts about the continent they will incorporate into their presentation. 3. Each group will creatively share their information with the class. Options: PowerPoint/Keynote Presentation SMART Board Presentation Visual Presentation (poster, bulletin board display) Video Presentation / Travelogue / Commercial 4. Each group will develop quiz questions about their continent for the class quiz. 5. Each group will create a cache about their continent. Inside the cache will be facts and pictures about the continent. They will place the container out in the school yard. Using the GPS receiver, they will locate the container's waypoint and share it with the class.

Closure: "Trip Around the World" The students will locate all of the continent containers. Inside they will find information, objects and a stamp. In their passport (notebook) they will write important information about the continent and stamp their passport.

Assessment: Student Created Quiz: Using the Response System the students will answer questions about each of the continents that were developed by their classmates. (Option - Students write their quiz questions and place on a Moodle or Wiki page for students to answer.)

Adaptations: Students with reading difficulty will work collaborative with peers and teacher help. Students with mobility difficulty will need help if the school yard has a difficult terrain.

Pennsylvania Standards: 7.1.3 Basic Geographic Literacy A. Identify geographic tools and their uses. ▪ Characteristics and purposes of different geographic representations ▪ Maps and basic map elements ▪ Globes The students will be able to compare maps, globes and atlases. The students will be able to use a compass rose and the four cardinal directions. The students will be able to distinguish longitude and latitude and find a waypoint using a GPS receiver. B. Identify and locate places and regions. ▪ Continents and Oceans The students will be able to name and locate the continents and the surrounding oceans using geographic tools (globes, maps, atlases).

1.8.3 Research A. Select a topic for research ▪ Locate information using appropriate sources and strategies. The students will locate resources to learn more about a specific continent B. Select sources ▪ Use traditional and electronic search tools. The students will use traditional resources (books, atlases). The students will use various websites (http://mlehman.pbworks.com/Third+Grade?l=S) and geographic tools (Google Earth) to find information. C. Organize and present the main ideas from research. Once the students found their continent cache, they will work together to research their continent. The students will find specific information about their continent (location, countries, interesting facts) and present their information to the class (SMART Board presentation, Powerpoint Presentation, video commercial, etc.), create questions to be used in a Response System (i.e., Senteo), and create a hidden cache for the class to locate about their continent.

National Technology Standards (NETS) ▪ Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity Students will be involved in an exciting exploratory learning environment using technology tools to help them understand and apply concepts of geography. Students will be able to reflect upon their learning experience and share their knowledge in a creative manner.

▪ Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments Students will be able to demonstrate what they have learned and share it with their peers using a variety of digital tools and resources.