Thematic Unit Description Paper MaryHannah Shaw

Course-Section

I. Unit Context

1. Write a description of the unit theme detailing what the students will be learning.

Students will be learning how to use the computer and books to research a topic
on Ancient Egypt of their choice. The students will incorporate the research that they
have found into a paper. The paper should have no more than ten mistakes in spelling
and grammar. They will also do a short presentation on their paper to the class.
The theme of the paper is Egypt and they pick a topic about Egypt to write about.
They will make a map of Egypt with a specific landmark located on the map correctly.
They will also make a 3D pyramid for the math side of this.

2. What is the target subject area/class?

The target subject area is third grade language arts as well as a cross over into
math and geography.

3. How does this unit fit into the whole learning experience of the students?

During this unit, students will learn how to research properly and learn strategies
that they will later need in their educational career. Some of the skills will be
learning how to do peer editing and how to catch common errors in spelling and
in grammar. They will also learn how to give a small and simple speech to a
class. Students will also learn how to use computer skills and better their reading
skills while they are researching their topic.
They will also learn how to use maps and make a map on their own. They
will also learn about pyramids and how they are made and be able to make a 3D
pyramid on their own.

4. What is the setting or situation? Describe the classroom as you see it. Include information
on what computers and other equipment are available to the students.

The start of the unit will be done in the classroom using the projector screen to
show them Egypt and the maps. The research for the paper will later be done in
the computer lab and in the library. I will have books pulled about Egypt in the
library for easy access. The geography assignment will be done in the classroom
at first to show them maps from Google Maps. Then, we will utilize the
computers in the lab for them to research their own map. For the math 3D
pyramid, I will show them pictures of pyramids and show how to make one. I will
provide the cardstock for the students to make their 3D pyramid in the classroom.

II. Audience
 1. General characteristics: Describe the learners, including the size of the group, their age,
interests, experiences, and aptitudes.

In my classroom I have 20 students. 4 of the students are considered gifted and

can excel at a project like this; while others are average and 6 have a learning
disability of some sort.
The demographics in the class are:
~ 9 white students
~ 6 black students
~ 5 Latino students

2. Entry competencies: What specific knowledge and assumptions can you make about
them? Remember to describe their computer competence.
The students know that the computer labs are available to them and the library as
well. But most of them do not know or posses the correct skills to use them as a
tool for research. The students know how to get on a computer and use it to write
papers in word. They are also aware of the Internet and how to get on it and use
it. They are not fully aware on how to use it to look for information for their
papers and research. The students are aware of maps but may not know about the
key that is used on a map to explain different features. With the pyramids, they
know what they are and where they are but may not know about mathematical
aspects of it.

III. State Objectives

1. State Goal
The goal of this unit is to teach students how to find a topic of their choice on Egypt and
then learn how to incorporate the research into a minimum of 2 page paper. They will
learn how to write a paper with correct grammar and spelling. They will also learn how
to give a short speech about their paper.
2. State Objective 1
A) Third grade students will C) research a topic on Egypt using the internet and
books provided B) they will then write a minimum to two pages and talk about
their paper to the class D) with no more than 10 mistakes in grammar and in
spelling.
3. State Objective 2
A) Third grade students will C) research a specific landmark in Egypt using
Google Maps B) they will create a map of Egypt that includes the landmark
that they researched D) and have completed in 2 days with 95% accuracy.
4. State Objective 3
A) Third grade students will B) will create a 3D pyramid C) using the materials
that are provided by the teacher D) in the time provided with 100% accuracy.

IV. State Methods

1. Instructional Strategy: Identify the instructional strategies you might use to deliver this
unit with. These are as follow:
- Presentation – Tells, dramatizes, disseminates information to learners – is one
way.
- Demonstration – Learners view example of skill or procedure.
- Discussion – Exchange of ideas and opinions between all parties.
- Drill-and-practice – Learns are led through a series of practice exercises.
- Tutorial – Through the use of a person, software or printed materials learners are
given problems the mechanism then requested to respond, analyze the response
and gives appropriate feedback to a predetermined level of competence.
- Cooperative Learning – Centered around an activity, discuss, topic, or computer
students work as a group to resolve a given learn exercise or challenge.
- Gaming – A playful environment that allows students with rules while striving
to attain a challenging goal.
- Simulation – A scaled-down version of a real-life situation, allowing for realistic
practice and mastery.
- Discovery – Uses inquiry (inductive) by presenting problems to be solved in a
trial-and-error manner.
- Problem Solving – Lifelike starting point to learning. Real world challenge
provides students with knowledge and skill as they grapple with the learning
process.

Explain how the methods and media will be used to create the learning environment.

a. Method(s) for objective 1

I will use presentation and discussion and practice in teaching this to them.
I will use the smart board to show them how to properly research a topic
and give them strategies on how to successfully find information. I will
also show them a book that could be used and teach them on how to take
specific notes from the book to write a paper. We will discuss as a class
what type of keywords would be helpful to use for the research on the
internet. I will show them how to write a research paper by writing a short
one myself and as a class and talking about what aspects in the paper stick
out and how to find common errors in spelling and in grammar. We will
talk about speeches and what makes a good speech. We will listen to a
speech online and talk about what made it good.
b. Method(s) for objective 2
I will use presentation and discussion in teaching this objective. I will use
the smart board and get on Google Maps and show them how to use it and
the cool things that we can do with it. We will discuss different landmarks
that are famous in Egypt. A list will be made as a class and we will decide
who gets which landmark. We will also look at maps and talk about what
a key is on a map and what it is used for.
c. Method(s) for objective 3
 I will use presentation, discussion and problem solving for this objective.
We will look at real pyramids on the internet using the smart board and
discuss what we see with a pyramid. I will also show them how a 3d
pyramid is made with cardstock. I will use problem solving by giving
them a pyramid and talking about right angles and how to make one on
their own. Then we will discuss as a class our findings.

3 Websites that can be used

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/egypt/

http://interoz.com/egypt/kids/history.htm

http://egypt.mrdonn.org/maps.html