Social Studies Lesson Plan Template –Indirect Instruction / Discovery Learning

Name: Ashley Fuentes

Lesson Strategy: Critical Cartography Lesson Title: 5 Themes of Geography,

Grade Level/Subject: 3rd grade, Geography Big Idea/Central Focus:

Big Idea: Learn about directions, and learn about
visualizing as well as seeing geography.
Central Focus: 5 Themes of Geography,

NC Essential Standard: Identify ​NCSS Theme(s)​ Connected to Lesson

3.G.1 Understand the earth’s patterns by using the 5 TIME, CONTINUITY, AND CHANGE
themes of geography: (location, place, human
environment interaction, movement and regions). PEOPLE, PLACES, AND ENVIRONMENTS
3.G.1.1 Find absolute and relative locations of places
within the local community and region.

Daily Lesson Objective:

Students will be able to write one characteristic of each of the Five Themes of Geography through Scavenger Hunt with
80% accuracy.

21​st​ Century Skills​: Academic Language Demands

Collaboration
Communication ● Language Function:
​Understanding

● Content/Academic Vocab:
Location
Place
Geography
Human Environmental Interaction
Movement
Region

● Discourse possibilities:
During explore and extend stages, students will use
questions on graphic organizers to guide their
discussion and articulation of lesson concepts about 5
Themes of Geography.

● Syntax possibilities: ​Compare/Contrast, writing

Prior Knowledge:
Activity
1. ​Engage​ - ​warm up or review;
activate individual background
knowledge (may serve as
preassessment of concepts or
vocabulary)
2. ​Explore​ - ​hands-on activity to
go more in-depth on concepts.
collaborative (small groups or
pairs) with opportunities for
Students have previously worked with 5 themes of
geography.
Description of Activities and Setting Time
“ Okay guys! Today we are going to be working with the five
themes of geography that you guys have been learning about.
Can someone remind me what the five themes are?
Students response: The five Themes are
location,movement,place,Human Environmental interaction, and
region
What are the definitions of the five themes?
Student answers may vary of the definition of each of these five
themes:
location meaning the longitude and latitude of a place, or where a
place is located in relation to another place
place meaning characteristics created by humans such as
languages, buildings, food, and transportation as well as physical
characteristics such as animals, plants, and landforms
region meaning an area that has certain characteristics in
common,
movement meaning how people and ideas get from one place to
another
human-environment interaction meaning how humans and the
environment affect one another.
“ Now that we know what the five themes are of geography We
are going to be watching this ​video ​to refresh our memories. I am
going to pass out a graphic organizer and want you guys to jot
down the definition as well an example of each theme we are
going to be using this graphic organizer later on with are activity”.
“ Now that the video is over I want you guys to turn and talk with
your group. I want you to compare your definitions of each theme
and work together to create one solid definition with an example
on the back of your graphic organizer. We will share out loud as a
peer-to-peer discussion; T elicits
student thinking
class.
Group answers may vary
“ Using your definitions I am going to hand you a flip book with
the five themes of geography and your flip book will contain 4
sheets of the same graphic organizer because there will be four
scenarios posted around the room. It is your job to understand
what is going on in the scenario and identify at least 3 of the
themes as a table group. The other two themes you will work on
independently.
Scenario 1:
OMG! I am having an amazing time in New York. I have visited
beautiful lakes and gorgeous mountains. We then went to the
south and rode on the subway which cuts right under the city! We
went to Ellis Island today and learned all about how New York has
such a diverse population because about twenty five million
immigrants entered the United States from here. Wish you were
here!
Scenario 2:
After driving all night we have finally arrived in Atlanta (the GPS
says we are at (33.7489° N, 84.3900° W). It is hot here... so hot
some people call it Hotlanta! Being from the north I find it so
interesting that almost everyone here speaks with a southern
accent. It is so much different from New England! Can’t wait to see
you again!
Scenario 3:
Hello there! I am writing to you from fabulous Los Angeles,
California. There are soooo many people here. I did some research
and found out it’s the second most populated city in the United
States. So many of these people aren’t originally from California;
they traveled from all over the world to come here to try to be
successful in the entertainment industry. Los Angeles lies south of
San Francisco. Cool, huh? I can’t wait to go to the beach.
Scenario 4:We are having an amazing time taking our road trip
through New England. Although there are six different states, they
are all connected by a similar historical background. Most of New
England was founded by British colonists. Since it is January and
really cold here, people tend to wear a lot of layers and even their
roofs are slanted so the snow falls off. The region of New England
 is located east of New York state. While we’re here, I think I’m
going to go skiing!

Teacher Question Possible Response

What is this sentence in Longitude

scenario 2 describing “Atlanta Latitude
(the GPS says we are at north
(33.7489° N, 84.3900° W)” and west
why Can be used to help you read a
map

How is a subway a human Constructio

interaction? How does it disruption of natural habitat
change the environment man-made underground
around it? tunnel

What is the difference Both can have description like

3. ​Explain​ - ​whole class
discussion for students to share
ideas gleaned from Explore
activity; T facilitates understanding
through questions, note-taking
(anchor charts, visuals, etc.).
between region and location. east and south
How can they be similar but location is place in a region
different?
https://www.education.com/lesson-plan/finding-the-five-themes/
https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/cms/lib09/NC01910456/Centricit
y/Domain/2836/Five%20Themes%20of%20Geography%20Project.
pdf
The teacher will have a virtual flipbook on display. Each group will
come up and write down what they wrote. The teacher will ask
students to justify their answers. Students will work as a class to
create a unanimous flipbook.
Teacher Question Possible response

Do all four scenarios describe Scenario 4 and 1 both have

a Human interaction.which
ones do and why?
characteristics like slanted
roof and subway that cuts
underground. Both are man
made because… answers may
vary

Could one of these four Blue line

scenarios be similar to where east, south, west location,
we are located similar region

How are all these scenarios Some scenarios contain

similar and different? certain themes: region, human
interaction, movement.
 Answers may vary.

Key ideas to be sure are introduced and discussed:

The five themes of geography
How they vary depending on location
The importance of being able to recognize details that go with
previous definition learned.

4. ​Elaborate/Extend​ - ​follow-up
activities; differentiated tasks to
remediate or extend learning. May
be authentic assessment task
https://www.education.com/lesson-plan/finding-the-five-themes/
https://www.cabarrus.k12.nc.us/cms/lib09/NC01910456/Centricit
y/Domain/2836/Five%20Themes%20of%20Geography%20Project.
pdf
“ Independently you guys will have to create the last two themes
for each scenario and using your definition organizer justify your
answer.

5. ​Evaluate​ (Assessment methods) Informal (opportunities for assessing student understanding):

group discussion during scavenger hunt.

Formal (task that serves as evidence of student learning - rubric

can be added below)
Scavenger Hunt Flip Book will be graded

Differentiation:

● Enrichment for Gifted Students: students will be challenged to find examples that fit in multiple categories.
Students should be able to explain how these examples show the different themes of geography.
● Support for ESL Students: Some examples will be written on the worksheet for students before having them
start the scavenger hunt.

Materials/Technology:
Five Themes of Geography video, 5 themes of geography organizer and finding the the five themes flip book, pencils,
flip book pdf