Lesson Plan Guide

Teacher Candidate:

Kaylor Bright

Grade and Topic:

3rd Grade Social Studies

Mentor Teacher: WEAVER

Date: 4/27/16
Length of Lesson:

1 45 min. Class period

School: University of Memphis

UNIT/CHAPTER OBJECTIVE/GENERALIZATION/BIG IDEA:

- This lesson plan is part of a unit on geography.
LESSON OBJECTIVE:
- Student will identify different cardinal directions and states when given a map with 100% accuracy.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED:
3.2 Interpret maps and globes using common terms, including country, region, mountain,
hemisphere, latitude, longitude, north pole, south pole, equator, time zones, elevation, approximate
distances in miles, isthmus, and strait.

MATERIALS:
- Computer access
- Access to ToonDoo website.
- Technology will be used by having students access the ToonDoo website and creating their own
comic.
BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:
After this lesson, students should be aware of state locations and aware of the cardinal directions. They should
be able to point out where states are and be able to locate them on a map.
Basic geography terms will be needed to be successful in this activity.
This lesson will correspond with previous lessons because it will allow the student to become more comfortable
when working with a map.
To build on this lesson, I will take this to a greater scale and instead of just focusing on The United States of
America, we will look at world maps.
It will be important that the student can differentiate between different types of maps and their locations.

PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE:

Introduction: I will allow them to use computers and create a comic to keep the students interested in the
content.
Procedures: First, I will introduce students to the activity. We will discuss that they are to use Google to look
up maps of The United States of America and fill out the handout that has been given to them. They will then
go to the website ToonDoo and create their own comic strip that relates to the mapping skills they have learned
in this lesson.
ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE:
Students will be graded on their comic strip and the effort they put into it along with the accuracy of the content.
I will grade them 25% on effort and participation and 75% on how accurate their information is in their comic.
It will be out of a 100 grade scale.

MODIFICATIONS:

Students who are not comfortable with using online maps will be given a chance to do this activity by hand,
using a textbook map and creating their comic strip on paper.
Students who have excelled with this activity will be given the option to create a longer comic strip, and expand
on more than just state location and incorporate the states and their capitals.

A Closer Look at the Americas!

1.

Go to Google, click on images. Look up maps

of The United States of America.

2.

Find the compass located near the map key and

find the state that is the farthest west in the U.S.A.
and write your answer below.
ANSWER:
CALIFORNIA

3.

Find a state that is farthest on the east side of

the U.S.A and write your answer below.

ANSWER: Answers may vary. (NORTH/SOUTH

CAROLINA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS)
4.

List 2 of the biggest states in the U.S.A.

ANSWER: Texas, California

5.

List 5 of the smallest states.

ANSWER: Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maryland,

Massachusetts, West Virginia

6.

Once you have answered these few questions,

lets go to ToonDoo.com and make a comic about
the states of America!

7.

Go to Create toon, choose your comic layout and

have some fun! Be sure to make your comic about
the maps and states of America and add your
favorite characters!