Lesson Plan Template - Teaching American History - Social ...



Social Studies Lesson Plan Template

1. Title: Geography, Mapping and Explorers during the Colonial Period/5th grade

2. Overview - Big Ideas:

Enduring Understandings –

It is important for students to :

*recognize and read a variety of maps (political, resource, physical...)

* learn about explorers and conquistadors from the 1500-1700's and the permanent mark they made on society and geography

*identify and be able to distinguish between various symbols used on maps

Essential Questions –

*Why did European countries support exploration?

* What were the positive/negative outcomes of such explorations?

*What are the differences between different types of maps?

*Do various types of landforms play a role in weather?

3. Lesson Objectives and Key Vocabulary:

Standards - (Next Generation Sunshine State Standards for Social Studies)



Fifth Grade NGSSS Benchmarks

Social Studies: SS.5.G.1.5, SS.5.A.1.1, SS.5.A.4.5, SS.5.G.1.1, SS.5.G.1.2, SS.5.G.1.3, SS.5.G.1.4, SS.5.G.1.6, SS.5.G.4.1,

Science: SC.5.E.7.5, SC.5.E.7.6, SC.5.N.1.6

Language Arts: LA.5.1.6.3, LA.5.4.2.2

Math: MA.5.G.5.1

Vocabulary: quadrant, primary source, secondary source, geography, physical feature, modify, region, location, human feature, adapt, economy, economics, civics, government, culture, heritage, society, chronology, Triangular Trade, Import, Export, Industry, point of view, frame of reference, astrolabe, sextant, chronometer, cartographer

4. Evidence of Student Understanding (Assessment) in this Lesson:

What key knowledge and skills will students acquire as a result of this lesson?

Once finished with these geography, mapping and explorer lessons, the students will be able to understand when to utilize and how to read different types of maps and how to use map keys. Students will also be able to explain why explorers existed during this time and how their explorations had both a positive and negative consequence on different cultural groups.

What will students be able to do as a result of such knowledge and skills?

Students will be able to utilize and create mapping and explorer activities assigned for these lessons. They will be able to identify various land forms available in the regions of the 13 original colonies.

Both formative and summative assessments are included

5. Materials Needed: Harcourt 5th grade Social Studies textbook, workbook and test prep workbook, a plain composition notebook that will be used throughout the 4 lessons Colonial Times Unit) pertaining to Geography and the Colonial Period (end of the 1st Nine Weeks and all of the 2nd Nine Weeks), maps and outlines of the United States , Classroom World Map and current USA map, Globe, Primary source maps from Chapter 2, Paper to create 3d foldables and interactive maps and organizers, clay, paint and art supplies, any map activity books, and any other reader or short novel that will introduce mapping or worldly explorers either before or during the time of Colonialism, for example Who is Ferdinand Magellan? Or information on other explorers such as Cabeza de Vaca, Verrazzano, Vespuci… These books or stories can be used in the beginning of the lesson each day or during the Reading/Language Arts block. Be sure to incorporate your Reading/LA task cards!

6. Steps to Deliver the Lesson:

• Using a small notebook (Interactive Notebook, AKA INB) , students will be introduced to how the notebook will be used throughout the entire unit of Geography, Mapping and the Colonial period. The front cover will be a collage that students can add to it during the entire unit. Have magazines, photos, newspapers available throughout the unit for students to be able to use in order to be able to create the colonial collage. The first page will be a map of the 13 original colonies which students will label and color according to regions (Northern, Middle and Southern Colonies) and will refer to the key in Chapter 3 Test Prep workbook (make a copy for each student). This will be colored and glued directly into the book, and will set the stage for the entire unit.

• Use a book or a story on explorers that will hook the students. I use Who Was Ferdinand Magellan? It is also an AR book (5th grade level). It's a great book to entice students, but feel free to use whatever book you have or what's available in your media center.

• USE this primary source excerpt and map to discuss the colonization of the 13 original colonies to show British impact on the colonization of America:

• Use this next primary source painting to discuss the impact in the colonization of America by the Native Americans: This also shows how other cultural and ethnic groups contributed to the colonization of America.

7. Specific Activities: (From Guided to Independent)

* Read Chapter 3 of the Harcourt textbook throughout this portion of the lesson. Use the map and geography skills worksheets from the Test Prep and the Activity book. The information provided about the explorers is invaluable for the next activity. Feel free to use any of the workbook pages and glue or staple them into the INB.

* After reading about the explorers, give students the opportunity to choose one explorer from the book or another that interests them through research, and hand out a stamp for students to recreate either a scene or picture of their explorer. This too will be glued into the INB.

* Using the classroom map or any other maps you have, introduce quadrants and directions using the compass rose. On a grand scale using either chalk or tape, create a grid and label the x and y axes. On index cards, write out x,y numbers, for example (3,8). Students will have to all begin at 0, and move along horizontally to the 3, then vertically up to the number 8. This reinforces map reading skills as well as 5th grade Math standard G.5.1.

* Have students create their own grid using free websites such as: or any graph paper you may have. They should create their own symbols, use a key and a compass rose. Use this in the INB and create general questions that students should be able to answer no matter what the grid, or have students create their own questions, and have students peer share their grids.

*In small groups (3-5) students will be assigned a different region of the 13 original colonies. After learning about geography and mapping skills, they will then learn about the colonies and the different weather and topographical features. As they continue on with their journey to colonial times, they will discover more information in order to piece together an interactive map using art supplies and clay. Included in this map, students can include flora, fauna, cultural groups and various land forms native to that particular region. This can be part of a culminating activity.

8. Differentiated Instruction Strategies:

* Students who don't normally have success with book learning and test taking will enjoy these map and explorer lessons because they invite all types of creativity. Students will also find success working in small groups and/or the hands-on activities such as the outdoor grid exercise, or creating their own grids and testing other students. Language learners might feel more secure working with their peers and having a story read to them.

Technology Integration:

*If you have a username and password, there are numerous mapping, explorer and weather (biome) videos for you to use (which also come with quizzes for a grade!)

*Technology includes weather tools such as a barometer, hygrometer and even a thermometer. Introduce these to students, allow them to use them and use textbook Chapter 2 to learn about different types of tools used on the explorers expeditions.

9. Lesson Closure:

The best part of the first lessons in the Colonial Times unit is that mapping and geography continues on as the students learn about each of the colonial regions: Northern Colonies, Middle Colonies and the Southern Colonies. Closure will happen at the end when students finish and present their interactive maps of the regions they are representing.

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