Unit Plan: Letter/Number Grid System

Lesson Plan for Friday

Grade: 2
nd
grade
Social Studies Strand: Geography
Submitted By: Neo Sequeira


EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social Science
Nevada State College Spring 2014
Instructor: Karen Powell
Lesson Plan for Friday Strand: Geography submitted by: Neo Sequeira

Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2
B. Summary of the Lesson Plan:
This lesson is designed for 2
nd
grade students to learn how to use grid systems to find
locations on a map. This lesson uses grid system maps to model, to complete and to use
for an activity on an outdoor hunt.
C. Basic Information:
Grade Level: 2nd grade
Time to Complete this Lesson: approximately 50 min.
Groupings:
o whole class- teacher will model a grid system map
o independent- Neighborhood Grid Map Worksheet
o groups of 4- grid system map activity
D. Materials:
Grid system map of school yard (teacher makes it)
Grid system map to model- (online interactive grid system map
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/books/applications/imaps/maps/g2_u1/)
Neighborhood Grid Map Worksheet (attached)
Objects to hide (in a specific location according to grid)
Pencil
E. Objectives:
o NV State Social Studies Standards
G5.2.5 Use a simple letter/number grid system to find a specific location.
(strategy #7)
o Student-Friendly Standards
(G5.2.5) Students will develop map skills by using a simple letter/number
grid system to find a specific location where an object is located.
F. Vocabulary
Grid system a system that is numbered and lettered in columns and rows in a way to
find a location on a map.
Location a place or position.
Column- a vertical division; one above another
Row- a horizontal division; side by side
Lesson Plan for Friday Strand: Geography submitted by: Neo Sequeira

Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 3
G. Procedure:
1. Teacher will begin lesson by introducing grid system maps by explaining what a grid
system is and defining columns and rows.
2. Using the interactive grid map, show students that the map has a map key and go
over it. Since the map doesnt have a title, ask students what would be a good title for
the map and explain their choice.
3. On the interactive grid map as a whole class, complete activities 1-3. Add a number 4
and have students locate which building is in E1 (library).
4. On the interactive grid map, click on the audio symbol for Learn More About It.
5. Now students will work independently on their own grid map. Read over the
instructions on the Neighborhood Grid Map Worksheet. Do the first one together as a
class to review and have them complete the rest independently.
6. When students are finished, they will turn in their worksheets and will be divided into
groups of 4 (less or more depending on class size). Students will be going outside in the
school yard to play a game.
7. Each group will be given a grid map of their school yard and they will follow their
specific given location to find an object. The first group to come back to the teacher
with their object wins (give a small prize like a sticker, pencil, or candy). Each group still
needs to find their object even after winner has been declared. Give instructions prior
to heading out. (Students grip maps should be the same, but with different locations
for their objects. Maps will look like the grid map on Neighborhood Grid Map
Worksheet and below will have their location written out like, Your groups object is
located at D6.
H. Assessment:
What will you use to measure student understanding?
I will use the Neighborhood Grid Map Worksheet to measure students understanding
on grid systems.
Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson.
Students will be able to use a simple letter/number grid system to find a location. I will
know that they understand grid systems by the worksheet because it will show that
they know how to use one to find locations on a map.
I. Closure:
The class will head back to the classroom and share the location of their groups
object. They will put their maps on a projector and guide the class to the location on
the map using their location letter/number and saying the name of the place (ex. Our
object was at D6 and that is the baseball field).
J. Reflection:
1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach?
Lesson Plan for Friday Strand: Geography submitted by: Neo Sequeira

Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 4
The easiest part of the lesson will be the modeling of the interactive grid map.
2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach?
The most challenging part of the lesson will be when I take the students outside. I
will have to keep a close eye on them all to make sure they dont get hurt or
distracted.
3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson?
Groups could hide their own object and have another group find it. Students will
use the same map, but give a different location number/letter than what they had.
4. What can you do for students who dont grasp the concepts?
For students who do not grasp the concepts, I could work with them on the
worksheet instead of independently and for the group activity I could group them
with other who understands it better.
5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change?
If there is any part to the lesson that needs to be changed, it could be the activity
required to go outside, if permission to go outside is either not granted or the
weather isnt suitable, an indoor hunt will be needed.
6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part?
I knew a great activity to do for this lesson, but the hardest part trying to find
another activity so the lesson would last for about 50 minutes.















Lesson Plan for Friday Strand: Geography submitted by: Neo Sequeira

Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 5

Neighborhood Grid Map Worksheet

Name: __________________________________________________________________



Use the above grid map to answer the following questions.

1. What is located at D1? _____________________________________
2. The shopping mall is located at ___________.
3. What 2 buildings are located at B3? _________________________
4. What street is located at A3 and A4? ________________________
5. The school is located at __________.
6. The apartment building is located at ____________.