Amy Barber: Lesson Plan

North, South, East, West

Grade(s) 3rd
Subject(s) Social Studies
Length of 1 hour
Lesson
Lesson The student will be able to use the compass rose as a tool to
Overview/Ratio distinguish where the location of an object/city/ocean/lake is
nale located in classroom or on a map.

Curriculum 3 G1.0.1 "Use cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) to

Framework/Sta describe the relative location of significant places in the
ndard immediate environment."
Social Studies Grade K-8, Page 28

Learning o Students will be able to recall each direction (north,

Objectives south, east, west) in reference to a specific location in
classroom and on a map.
o Students will be able to describe where a city, state,
ocean or lake is using north, south, east, west directions.

Technology Internet access to maps of Michigan, major cities, and its

Uses surrounding lakes as well as a map of the United States with
neighboring Oceans.

Materials o Pencil/Markers
o Paper Plates
o Scrap paper
o Scissors
o Internet Access to maps of Michigan/United States

Procedure 1. Begin lesson by labeling the front board with a compass

rose: north, south, east and west.
2. Students will be given paper plates/scrap paper and asked
to label the plate with north, south, east and west as seen
on front board adding self-made arrows to resemble a
compass rose.
3. The teacher will find specific objects around the room and
ask students one by one to identify which direction the
object is in.
4. Students will use their compass rose as reference to
direction.
5. Once each student has successfully named a direction of
an object given by the teacher, a map of Michigan and its
surrounding lakes will be displayed on computer for
student to view.

1
 Amy Barber: Lesson Plan

6. With map of Michigan, its major cities, and surrounding

lakes displayed; the teacher will ask each student which
direction each lake or city is located in comparison to
another city or lake.
7. With map of United States and Oceans displayed, the
teacher will ask each student which direction each Ocean
is located.
8. Teacher will ask students to distinguish which state is
located where using cardinals.
Assessment o Teacher will be able to recognize which students need
extra help distinguishing between north, south, east and
west during class participation session.
o Students will be given a worksheet to test skills learned
from lesson with map of Michigan, its major cities and
lakes as well as Map of United States and Oceans.