Lesson Plan Guide

Teacher Candidate: Kathryn Hughes

Grade and Topic: Grade 3 Geography
Mentor Teacher: Mrs. Townes

Date: 11/21/2015
Length of Lesson: 1 Hour

School: University of Memphis IDT 3600

UNIT/CHAPTER OBJECTIVE/GENERALIZATION/BIG IDEA:

This lesson plan is part if the unit plan on North America

LESSON OBJECTIVE:

List the states and their capitals of North America

Describe FIVE important facts about THREE states in North America.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED:
Tennessee Standards

Identify and locate on a map: Canada, Mexico, Central America, Cuba and the 50 states of the U.S. (G)

Identify on a map major cities of the continent (Charleston, Chicago, Knoxville, Los Angeles, Memphis,
Mexico City, Miami, Montreal, Nashville, New York, Seattle, Washington D.C.). (G, TN)

Locate the states that comprise the regions of the United States

Compare and contrast different maps to show the location of Alaska and Hawaii as outside of the
contiguous United States, using a globe to refine understanding of the location of the two states.

MATERIALS:

One computer per child

Map of North America. One per child.
A video of states in North America.
Access to brainpop.com

Technology will be integrated by the use of computers and Internet access. Student Sample is on the last page.
BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:
The student will demonstrate a clear understanding of the different states in America and their location in
America. They will do this by providing visual representations and writing reflections on states and their
capitals in America.
Academic language is not addressed in IDT 3600
This lesson is a continuation of TN Geography standards
We will refer to the summary created here as we continue to explore the States in North America

I am aware that the lesson will be differentiated for students who didnt master the objectives and for those who
are ready to move on to a harder task. Modification is not covered in this course and is not part of this particular
lesson.
PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE:
Introduction: To begin with I will discuss the States and their capitals in North America. I will then get the
students to work in groups to discuss together and work on a quiz regarding the states in North America.
Procedures: Provide a sequential (step by step) description of the procedures and activities for the lesson.

Talk about States and their capitals in North America. Examples of the questions that will be covered are. How many
States are there in North America? Which is the biggest State in North America? Which is the smallest State in North
America. There will be a PowerPoint going along with this discussion.
There will be a short video on States in North America. 5 Minutes. This video will reiterate the questions we had just
discussed.
Students will then work in groups to label a map of the States in North America for 15Minutes.
Another video will be watched on the capitals of the states in America. Covering questions such as, Does every state have
a capital? What is the most famous capital in North America?
In the same groups they will add the capitals to the map with a list of the capitals to help them.
The Assignment that the students will have to carry out for homework is researching THREE states in America of their
choice and provide FIVE important facts of each State they have chosen. They will make this document on the computer
on a word document.

Closure: To finish the lesson I plan to have a interactive quiz for the whole class to join in with together. The
students will have a piece of paper in front of them with the questions and the multiple-choice answers. When
we have completed each question on the interactive board they will then circle the correct answer or their quiz
paper.

ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE:
I will monitor the students progress in class whilst the students work individually and in groups. They will
complete all of the procedures above before complete the homework assignments, which will be marked using a
rubric.
Rubric:
Criteria

There are five Facts of each

State.

There is 2 or less facts for

each State provided.

There is 3 or 4 facts for

each State provided.

There are five facts for each

state provided.

They have researched three

states.

They have researched 1 or

less states in North America.

They have researched 2

states in North America.

They have researched

3states in North America.

The Paragraph reflection

The Paragraph does not

demonstrate an
understanding of the chosen
states

The paragraph demonstrates

a somewhat vague
understanding of the choses
States

The paragraph demonstrates

a clear understanding of the
chosen States

MODIFICATIONS:

I am aware that the lesson will be differentiated for students who didnt master the objectives and for those who
are ready to move on to a harder task. Modification is not covered in this course and is not part of this particular
lesson.
Student Sample (As a Student Sample all of the facts were taken from 50states.com)

Colorado:
1. Colorado means colored red and is known as the Centennial State.
2. Colorado has 222 state wildlife areas.
3. At 14,110 feet above sea level over 400,000 people ascend Pikes Peak
each year.
4. Denver is the capital of Colorado
5. The Colorado Rockies play at the 50,000 seat Coors Field, located in downtown Denver

Tennessee
1. Tennessee has more than 3,800 documented caves.
2. Elvis Presley's home called Graceland is located in Memphis.
Graceland is the second most visited house in the country.
3. The nation's oldest African-American architectural firm, McKissack
and McKissack, is located in Nashville.
4. When Tennessee became a state in 1796, the total population was 77,000.
5. The name "Tennessee" originated from the old Yuchi Indian word, "Tana-see," meaning "The Meeting
Place."

New York
1. The first international sports hero, boxer Bill Richmond of Staten Island, was born August 5, 1763.
2. European settlers who brought seeds to New York introduced apples in the 1600s.
3. New York has over 70,000 miles of rivers and streams.
4. New York State is home to 58 species of wild orchids.
5. The first public brewery in America was established by
Peter Minuit at the Market (Marckvelt) field in lower
Manhattan.