Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)

Lesson Idea Name: Major Topographical Features of the United States

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 3rd grade

Content Standard Addressed:

SS3G1 Locate major topographical features on a physical map of the United States.

1. Locate major rivers of the United States of America: Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande, Colorado, Hudson,
and St. Lawrence.
2. Locate major mountain ranges of the United States of America: Appalachian, Rocky.

Technology Standard Addressed:

3 – Knowledge Constructor

Selected Technology Tool: Bubbl.us

URL(s) to support the lesson (if applicable):

https://bubbl.us/NDc2NTE5Mi85MTgwNzM4L2IwMWY3NTY1MzRjYTc1YTM2NjQ3NzZiMjA5Njg4NzJi-
X?utm_source=shared-link&utm_medium=link&s=9180738 - Bubbl.us chart

https://www.waterproofpaper.com/printable-maps/united-states-maps/printable-map-of-the-united-
states.pdf - blank map printable

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☐ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☐ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level:

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☒ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☐ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

Bubbl.us is a very simple and easy website to use. Bubbl.us provides students with an organized visual of a
topic or idea. The size of the bubbles, text and colors can all be changed. These features are helpful for
students with visual impairments and students who are visual learners. This website is also a great tool to use
with English Learners because it provides a simple visual representation of what is being learned. The website
is so simple to use that students can easily create their own Bubbl.us charts. It is also fun and engaging for all
students use. The Bubbl.us charts can be saved or printed so that students can refer to them later.

Lesson idea implementation:

The lesson will start with teacher asking students the following question: What are some of the main physical
features in the U.S.? The teacher will then pull up the Bubbl.us chart which includes rivers and mountain
ranges. The class will be split into 8 different groups. Each of the groups will be assigned a feature: Mississippi

Spring 2018_SJB
 Beyond-the-Basic Productivity Tools (BBPT)
River, Ohio River, Rio Grande River, Colorado River, Hudson river, St. Lawrence River, Appalachian Mountains
or the Rocky Mountains. The groups will be required to research their feature and provide information like:
where it is located, how big it is, different states and regions it is in, the direction of the flow of water (if
river), and the highest and lowest points (if mountain range). The students will also be provided with a blank
copy of a US map and will illustrate their feature and its location on the map.

The next day, the Bubbl.us chart will be pulled up and projected on the board. Each group will come up to the
front of the class and share the information about their topographical feature. The document camera will
then be switched on so that students can share their illustrations with the class. The rest of students that are
not presenting will be given a blank copy of the Bubbl.us chart and will take notes on each of the features.
They will also add an illustration of the different features onto their map.

Students will be given feedback after each group presents. The teacher will add any information that the
students missed about the topic. The lesson can be extended for learners of a higher learning level by having
them research more information about their feature and creating a travel brochure to encourage people to
visit.

Reflective Practice:

I think the activities in this lesson will impact student learning because they are fun, engaging, collaborative
and informative. There is something for every student to enjoy in lesson because it includes technology,
research, team work and art. I think this lesson could be farther extended by “visiting” each of the features on
Google Maps and seeing real visuals of the features. Students could then create a mini physical model of a
feature or create a travel brochure with information that encourages people to visit.

Spring 2018_SJB