Paper #2: Using the Teacher Edition

Submitted By: Jessica Solomon

EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social Science Nevada State College Spring 2013 Instructor: Karen Powell

Paper #2: Using the Teacher Edition

submitted by: Jessica Solomon

A. Summary of the Lesson Plan: This social studies lesson focuses on the land and climate of the West. This lesson uses the 4th Grade Houghton Mifflin Social Studies Textbook States and Regions (p. 246-251) B. Target Population: Grade Level: 4th Grade Skill Level: students at all learning levels Grouping: whole group reading and discussion, independent for activity and assessment C. Materials: Vocabulary and Study Guide (Unit Resources p. 70) for each student- see last page of lesson plan for sample Houghton Mifflin 4th Grade Social Studies Book: States and Regions (p. 246-251) Paper and pencils D. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards o G5.4.2 Identify spatial patterns on a map of Nevada, i.e., deserts, mountains, population.

Student-Friendly Standards G5.4.2 I can find landforms and bodies of water on a map of the West.

E. Procedure: 1. Refer to notes on TE 246 Get Set to Read. Explain the Study Guide students will complete as we read. Call students attention to the map on p. 247. Identify & discuss what the students know about the land and climate of the West. Introduce vocabulary (geothermal, irrigation, hydroelectric power, arid).

2. As a class, read p. 246-249, stopping to ask questions as indicated in the margins of the TE. 3. Students should take notes and record information on their Study Guide while we are reading. They can continue working on it when we finish reading. 4. Ask questions listed in the margins of the TE as an ongoing check for understanding. Focus on these questions about Western Geography: (TE 247) What three regions is the West divided into? (TE 247) Describe the land and climate of the West?
EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2

Nevada State College

Paper #2: Using the Teacher Edition

submitted by: Jessica Solomon

(TE 247) How were the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade Mountains formed? (TE 248) How does the Pacific Ocean affect climates in the West? (after paragraph 2 on p. 249) What three factors affect temperatures in the West? (review question #4) Why is the land so varied in the West?

5. CLOSURE: Discuss the three statements in the Review and Assess section of TE 249 F. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? Diagram Desert Plants and Animals (TE 248) Working in pairs, students will identify a plant or animal common to the desert region of the West. Each pair will learn more about how that plant or animal adapts to the environment. Students will draw diagrams showing how the plant or animal adapts to the desert environment. They will also draw a map of the West and label the regions where that plant or animal lives. Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. Students will be able to identify spatial patterns on a map of the West by drawing and labeling a map of the desert regions and the plants or animals that live within that ecosystem. G. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? I think the group discussion aspect will be the easiest part of the lesson. The group discussion would allow students to learn from each other and hear things from a different perspective. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? I think the most difficult part of this lesson as far as teaching goes would be to ensure my students grasp the concept. I would have to make sure all of my students understand what a desert is. Some students may be new to the area and not know anything about a desert. I will need to make sure they all understand each type of land and climate in the West. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? In order to extend the lesson, as a class we will do the Extend Lesson 1 Readers Theater on p. 250-251. 4. What can you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? I would pull any students that did not grasp the concepts aside and we would work on the Reteach Mini Lesson described at the bottom of TE 249. We would work together to make a web of the land and climate of the West.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor page 3

Paper #2: Using the Teacher Edition

submitted by: Jessica Solomon

5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? I think the only change I would make to the lesson would be within the contents of the lesson itself. The standards for this grade level all have to do with Nevada so I would make this lesson more directed towards Nevadas land and climate rather than the entire West. In order to do this I would create a packet of information rather than use the textbook. 6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? I have written many lesson plans in the past. I think the most difficult part of this particular lesson was in choosing the standards. The standards for the grade level did not completely match up with the objectives of the lesson.

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 4

Paper #2: Using the Teacher Edition

submitted by: Jessica Solomon

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 5