South America: Geography's Effect on People's Lifestyle and Work
Created By:
Patricia Louis
Title/Role:
School Librarian
Organization/School Name:
Aliamanu Elementary School
Location:
Hawaii
Grade Level:
3 Type of Lesson:
Lesson in a unit Type of Schedule:
Combination Collaboration Continuum:
Moderate Content Area:
Social studies Content Topic:
Landforms and their influence on societies. Scenario:
This lesson is part of a larger unit on students’ investigation of countries on different continents and how landforms influence and impact how people interact with their environment. In this instance, they are introduced to a new digital tool, Google Earth, to identify key features of the landforms represented in different countries of South America. The students define and explore the geographical concept of landforms in the classroom with the teacher. In the library, the LMS has the students use Google Earth and Britannica Online to explore and research how landforms in South America impact how people live and work. The fixed/flex library schedule allows the teacher and the LMS to schedule the lessons and complete the unit within a two week period. Overview:
The essential questions are: What are landforms? Which landforms do we find in South American countries? How do landforms determine how people live and work in South American countries?
Final Product:
Students produce maps of different South American countries that combine physical and topographic characteristics along with notes on economic features of the country. Students will be assessed using a physical, political and topographic map of South America and economic country summaries from Britannica Online. Library Lesson:
Students in grade three use Google Earth and Britannica Online to (1) draw and label the major landforms on a map of a specific South American country, (2) provide information on how landforms influence people’s lifestyles and work in that country using a note-taking sheet, and (3) cite information sources used. Estimated Lesson Time:
60 minutes Have you taught this lesson before:
Yes Strategies for differentiation:
The teacher and LMS allow students to team and assist one another with technical aspects of the work.