Michelle Douglas Designed for use with Penzu

Lesson Title: What is Unique about Where I Live?

Grade Level: Second-Fourth

Lesson Overview: Students will have the unique opportunity to create online journals
while answering the question, what is unique about where I live? Students will explore local
people, businesses, attractions, and other important aspects of their community.

Objectives: Students will become aware of the unique qualities of their city or town and will
learn to appreciate the culture and people of their own community. Students will be able to use
a variety of techniques and resources for researching and then demonstrate their
understanding of the community through an online journal that will include at least four
entries. Students will learn to communicate their new knowledge to others through the use of
the journal that will include real photos from the community and then will be shared online
with others.

Standards:
English Language Arts
Writing Process: G. Publish writing samples for display or sharing with others, using techniques
such as electronic resources and graphics.

Writing Applications: A. Compose writings that convey a clear message and include well-chosen
details.

Writing Conventions: B. Spell grade-appropriate words correctly. C. Use conventions of punctuation

and capitalization in written work. D. Use grammatical structures in written work.

Research: A. Generate questions for investigation and gather information from a variety of sources.
B. Retell important details and findings.

Social Studies:
Geography: B. Identify physical and human features of places.

Government: A. Identify elected leaders and authority figures in the home, school and community and
explain reasons for having persons in authority. B. Recognize and explain the importance of symbols and
landmarks of the United States.

Citizenship: 2. Take personal responsibility to follow directions and rules.

Places and Regions: 6. Compare areas within the local community to identify similarities.
Michelle Douglas Designed for use with Penzu

Supplies:
 Computer(s) with internet access
 Log-In/Passwords for each student for Penzu (http://www.penzu.com/)
 Access to Info Ohio for educators
 Educator organizes a field trip of local community for real-world research and
photographs for final product.

Procedures:
1. Students will be asked, where they live and if they know any unique facts or information
about where they live.
2. Students will be asked to identify any key symbols, monuments, attractions, historical
figures, and landmarks from their particular community.
3. Students will be given several days to complete guided research that will include a
fieldtrip of their community; speakers who will discuss key components and historical
facts about the area, and will be given time to take photographs to use for final project.
4. Students will then use Penzu to record the information that they find unique about their
community.
5. Students will create a minimum of four entries on Penzu and have at least three pictures
that represents where they live.
6. Final product will be viewed by the educator and classmates.

Assessment:
 Students will be assessed through their online journal that will have at least four entries
and three pictures.
 Students will identify unique components of their community in which they live in.
 Students will be creative and take initiative to finish this project in the time allotted.