Unit Plan: Lewis & Clark: The Oregon Trail

Lesson Plan for Friday Grade: 3 Social Studies Strand: Geography

Submitted By: Kellie Thompson

EDEL 453: Teaching Elementary School Social Science Nevada State College Spring 2014 Instructor: Karen Powell

Lesson Plan for Friday

Strand: Geography

submitted by: Kellie Thompson

B. Summary of the Lesson Plan: Students will learn to buy land as the pioneers did when they arrived out west in their new territory. The lesson uses The Oregon Trail: Adventures Along the Oregon Trail 5th Edition textbook (p. 71-72). C. Basic Information: Grade Level: 3rd grade Time to Complete this Lesson: 50 minutes Groupings: Whole group discussion and individual worksheet

D. Materials: The Oregon Trail: Adventures Along the Oregon Trail 5th Edition (p. 71-72) Starting a New Life, Claiming the Land Activity sheet, one per student, p. 72 Pencil Blank paper E. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards o G5.3.5 Construct a simple map including a title, symbols, and directions from a birds eye view. I can make a map with symbols, directions, and a title.

Student-Friendly Standards

F. Vocabulary symbols an object that represents or stands for something else land claim - claiming land as your own construct to build something

G. Procedure: 1. Review Lewis and Clarks journey along the Oregon Trail and the lessons from this week. 2. Explain to students as a whole group that purchasing land was one of the first things that pioneers did upon arriving in the West. Pioneers needed to file claims so that new settlers would not settle on their land. Land was about $2 an acre. After buying the land, they had to clear portions for homes and crops. 3. Introduce the vocabulary (land claim, symbols, construct). 4. Pass out the Claiming Land activity sheet to all students.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2014 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2

Lesson Plan for Friday

Strand: Geography

submitted by: Kellie Thompson

5. Give students 30 minutes to read the Starting a New Life, Claiming the Land worksheet and draw maps of their new homestead individually. 6. Allow students to present their homestead and why they choose this piece of property. H. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? Their land claims, and their mapping of the homestead. Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. I will assess their understanding by how well they present their land claim to the class and their explanation for choosing that piece of property. I. Closure: Review how early settlers claimed land upon arrival out west to Oregon.

J. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? The easiest part of the lesson to teach will be the process of claiming the land. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? The most challenging portion of the lesson to teach would be drawing a land claim map. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? We will research the different types of materials used to build homes, including sod, logs, bricks, or mud. 4. What can you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? Review map drawing skills and why these land claims were necessary for pioneers in those days. 5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change? I dont think any portion of the lesson needs to be changed. 6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? The most challenging aspect was selecting a standard for the lesson.

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 3

Lesson Plan for Friday

Strand: Geography

submitted by: Kellie Thompson

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 4

Lesson Plan for Friday

Strand: Geography

submitted by: Kellie Thompson

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2014

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 5