Lesson Planning Form for Accessible Instruction Calvin College Education Program

Teacher
Date

Grade ____4th___

Miss DeGroot
Sept. 30, 2016

Subject/ Topic/ Theme Comparing Two Regions- Lesson 7

I. Objectives
How does this lesson connect to the unit plan?
In the previous lesson, students learned what a region was and they learned how and why the United
States is often divided into different types of regions. This lesson extends the student's knowledge on
regions by having them identify a type of region by reading facts, and then comparing two different
regions.
Learners will be able to:
Solve riddles using previous knowledge and the provided maps
Work efficiently with a partner
Compare and contrast two different assigned regions using information from the riddles, their
maps, and previously known knowledge

Standards:

4 G2.0.1
Describe ways in which the United States can be divided into different regions (e.g., political
regions, economic regions, landform regions, vegetation regions).
4 G2.0.2
Compare human and physical characteristics of a region to which Michigan belongs (e.g.,
Great
Lakes, Midwest) with those of another region in the United States.

II. Before you start

Identify prerequisite
knowledge and skills.

Students should know what a Region is and several ways on how

places are divided into regions (landforms, climate, location)
Students should know how to compare and contrast

Outline assessment
activities

Pre-assessment (for learning): Riddles

Formative (for learning): +
Checking answers of riddles and correcting ones they got wrong

Formative (as learning): +

Walking around observing students working
Summative (of learning): +

List of details to compare and contrast two regions

What barriers
might this lesson
present?

Provide Multiple
Means of
Representation

Provide Multiple
Means of Action
and Expression

Provide Multiple
Means of
Engagement

Provide options for

perception- making
information perceptible

Provide options for

physical actionincrease options for
interaction

Provide options
for recruiting
interest- choice,
relevance, value,
authenticity,
minimize threats

Provide options for

expression and
communicationincrease medium of
expression

Provide options
for sustaining
effort and
persistenceoptimize
challenge,
collaboration,
mastery-oriented
feedback

Maps
Venn Diagram
Fill in the blank (with
word bank)
Provide options for
language,
mathematical
expressions, and
symbols- clarify &
connect language

Fill in the blank

Compare and
contrast using bullet
points
Provide options for
comprehensionactivate, apply &
highlight
Review definition of
the word region
Use maps to identify
regions
Compare and contrast
two regions

Provide options for

executive functionscoordinate short &
long term goals,
monitor progress,
and modify strategies

Provide options
for
self-regulationexpectations,
personal skills
and strategies,
self-assessment
& reflection

Materials

Prearranged pairs for students to work with

12 riddles worksheet
Answer keys
Regions maps
Topographical maps

How will your

classroom be
set up for this
lesson?

Students will be working with a partner around the room (their choice
of location)

III. The Plan

Compone
nts

Describe teacher activities

AND
s
tudent activities
for each component of the lesson. Include important higher order thinking
questions and/or prompts.

Time
Motivatio
n
(opening/
introductio
n/
engageme
nt)

Friends, I want you to think back to Monday afternoon,

when we did social studies. Who can remind the rest of
the class what we did?
Right! You all helped me divide Laura Town into regions
based on the characteristics of the land.
And then, remember, we talked about several different
ways to divide land into regions: by climate, by
landforms, and by location.

5min

Because you were all so good at that, I made some

riddles for you all to solve. There are 12 of them, and
some are trickier than others, but I think you can handle
it.
Ive divided you into pairs and I want you to work
together to figure these out.

Developm
ent
(the largest
component
or main
body of the
lesson)

15min

There are 12 riddles for you to solve. Do your best, and

make sure you use the maps to help you! You will use
each region only once, so once youve written it down, I
would suggest crossing it off of the word bank. After all
12 riddles are answered come find me and I will give
you an answer sheet and help you do the next activity.

After students are grouped into pairs, have one person

from each pair come up to the front of the room to grab
a riddle packet, a regions map, and their topographical
map. After gathering their supplies, each pair should
find a spot around the room to work.
As students work, walk around the room to make sure
students are on track. Answer any questions that they
may have and clarify directions as needed.

Students solve riddles

After each pair finishes the riddles, hand them an

answer sheet and have them correct their answers with
a colored pen. When they return the answer sheet,
assign them their regions and explain the Venn
Diagram to them.

15min

Students compare
regions

Make sure to note that there is a specific section for

differences and similarities. Have a list of ideas on the
board for comparing and contrasting such as:
Location
Climate
Activities done in this region
Etc.
Show students that they can use this as reference if
they are struggling to come up with things to compare
and contrast

10min

Closure
(conclusion
,
culmination
, wrap-up)

Give students a 5 minute warning.

Students share how

they compared regions

After the five minutes are up, have groups get together
with one other group and share how they compared and
contrasted their assigned regions.

Your reflection about the lesson, including evidence(s) of student learning and engagement, as
well as ideas for improvement for next time. (Write this after teaching the lesson, if you had a chance
to teach it. If you did not teach this lesson, focus on the process of preparing the lesson.)
This lesson was fun! The students viewed it as a game time but I actually found a lot of valuable
assessments through this activity. It allowed me to see their inferring skills, problem solving skills, partner
work, and so much more. As they compared and contrasted two regions I was able to assess their writing
skills and organizational skills. I was able to see who could give specific examples of how regions were
different and who had some trouble completing this task. The activity used many of the supplies from other
lessons (maps.. etc.) so I was able to see if my students remembered how to use each of those resources
to find accurate information. One thing I would change is the way I gave my directions to the students. I
waited to explain the venn diagram until groups were finished with their riddles. I had groups coming up at
all different times to hand in their riddles and I ended up explaining the venn diagram 10 different times. I
should have explained it at the beginning and then answered clarifying questions as needed when the
students got to that part of the activity.