LESSON PLAN

Grade/Subject: Grade 4 Social Studies

Unit: The Parkland Region - Landforms
Lesson Duration: 30 minutes

OUTCOMES FROM ALBERTA PROGRAM OF STUDIES

Overview of Lesson: Students will be learning about the Landforms in the Parkland Region,
specifically focusing on Okotoks Big Rock. Students will begin the class with aerial footage of Big
Rock. This will be followed by a reading of the First Nations legend of NAPI and the ROCK. Finally,
students will spend the reminder of class working through a Parkland Region Landforms
worksheet, in which they may find their answers from the textbook (pages 80-81).

General Learning Outcomes: 4.1 Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of
how elements of physical geography, climate, geology and paleontology are integral to the
landscapes and environment of Alberta.

Specific Learning Outcomes:

4.1.1 Students will value Albertas physical geography and natural environment:
o Appreciate the diversity of elements pertaining to geography, climate, geology and
paleontology in Alberta
4.1.2 Students will examine, critically, the physical geography of Alberta by exploring and
reflecting upon the following questions and issues:
o What are the major geographical and natural vegetation regions, landforms and
bodies of water in Alberta?
4.1.3 Students will examine, critically, how geology and paleontology contribute to
knowledge of Albertas physical geography by exploring and reflecting upon the following
questions and issues:
o What geological features make Alberta unique?

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will
1. Recognize the types of landforms in the Parkland Region
2. Learn how oil and gas came into be in the Parkland Region
3. Define the meaning of a moraine and its significance to the Parkland Region
4. Identify the Okotoks Big Rock as a unique feature of the Parkland Region
5. Understand how the Okotoks Big Rock came into existence
6. Learn the First Nations Legend behind the Okotoks Big Rock

Inquiry Question: What types of landforms are in the Parkland region?

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Guiding Questions:
What is a moraine?
How were oil and gas created?
How did the Okotoks Big Rock come into existence?

ASSESSMENTS

Formative #1:
Observation and discussion with students Formative #2:
throughout their Parkland Region Landforms Parkland Region Landforms worksheet
worksheet activity.

Summative: N/A

LEARNING RESOURCES CONSULTED

Resource #1: : Alberta Social Studies (K-6) Program of Studies

Resource #2: Grade 4 Social Studies Textbook Our Alberta: Book 1
Resource #3: http://www.olsn.ca/fnplw/content/2015/The_Legend_of_Napi_and_the_Rock.pdf
Resource #4: https://douglaswinnipeg.wordpress.com/2012/04/02/napi-and-rock-feat-the-fox-a-
blackfoot-childrens-story-4/

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Parkland Region PowerPoint, The Legend of NAPI and the Rock, YouTube,
Parkland Region Landforms worksheet

PROCEDURE
Introduction (5 min)

Hook/Attention Grabber: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtQ_i9h2FHk

As soon as class begins, play the video without saying a word. Allow the video to capture the
students curiosity, and thus, their attention.

Assessment of Prior Knowledge:

Does anyone know what that giant rock was?
A: Okotoks Erratic or Okotoks Big Rock
Has anyone actually seen it in person?
How did that rock get there? Its basically in the middle of a field!

Advance Organizer/Agenda:
So today were going to find out how this Big Rock ended up in Okotoks!

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Expectations for Learning and Behavior: Students will be expected to engaged and participating in
any classroom discussion, and respectful of others and the teacher (listening). When working
through the Parkland Region - Landforms worksheet, students will be working quietly either
independently or with their desk partner.

Transition to Body: The First Nations people often came up with stories to explain how things in
nature came to be like this Big Rock! So Im going to read this story, its called the Legend of NAPI
and the ROCK, and I think youre all going to really enjoy it!

Body (23-25 min)

Learning Activity #1:

The Legend of NAPI and the ROCK
Read the attached Legend of NAPI and the ROCK to the class
Have PowerPoint slide of the Big Rock up during story

Assessments/Differentiation: Instead of students taking notes, they can commit this Parkland
Landform to memory through narrative. Moreover, this activity will incorporate and integrate
FNMI culture into the classroom.

Learning Activity #2:

Parkland Region Landforms worksheet
Students will complete activity either independently or with desk buddy
Use textbooks pages 80-81 to complete the activity

Assessments/Differentiation: Students have to go through the textbook material, but at their own
pace. Students can also choose whether or not they would like to work independently or in
collaboration with their desk partner. The worksheet is composed of a variety of questions, such
as fill-in-the-blank, define, true or false, and short answer. There is also a section for students to
draw a picture of Big Rock. Thus, activity has included a type questions that students should feel
comfortable answering.

Closure (2 min)

Consolidation/Assessment of Learning:
How did Big Rock get to Okotoks?
A: A big glacier picked it up and then dropped it off in Okotoks

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Reflection

How did the lesson go? What was successful? What needs to change or be enhanced. Did
students achieve learning objectives?

Not all students finished the worksheet, and for some, it was difficult. The Big Rock section
was the second half of the worksheet, and so slower students did not even get to it
though it was the focus. Next time I would either eliminate the first half of the worksheet
altogether or put the the Big Rock section first.

As students have the Aboriginal explanation for the appearance of the Okotoks Big Rocks,
they must now find the other explanation provided (the scientific one found in their
textbooks). It would be fun to make the worksheet/activity detective themed.

The kids loved the Legend of Napi and the Rock! However, it might be fun to try and
include some visuals to go along with the story.