The United States

The land, the people, and the government!

 

Unit Author

First and Last Name

Karla Te Slaa

School District

SF private

School Name

Sioux Falls Christian Elementary

School City, State

Sioux Falls, SD

Unit Overview

Unit Title

The United States: An Overview

Unit Summary

This unit will give the students a brief overview of how the United States works!  This unit is going to be a great springboard to studying each individual region!

This unit will give the students insight of the people in our country, their rights and responsibility.  It will also give the students an overview of our governmental system.  We will take a look at the history, purpose, and function of the government.  We will spend some time focusing on the three branches of government, and an interactive webquest to cement this concept.

The students will also take a look at our economy, and the concepts of supply and demand.  They will have a hands-on opportunity to create a business of their own.  They will have to apply what they have learned and try and run their business.  They may experience failure, or success, but they will be applying the knowledge of economy. 

This unit is designed to be the basis of our year.  We will give brief consideration to the foundations of our country, and then go into individual units of each region.

Subject Area

Social Studies

Grade Level  

4th grade

Approximate Time Needed

10- 45 minute lessons

Unit Foundation

Targeted Content Standards and Benchmarks

1. Students will be able to analyze the relationships among the natural environments, the movement of peoples, and the development of societies.

2. Students will be able to analyze information from geographic representation, tools, and technology to define location, place, and region.

3.  The students will be able to describe the way the government provides for the needs of its citizens.

4. Students will be able to list the rights and actions of a responsible citizen.

5. Analyze the role and relationships of economic systems on the development, utilization, and availability of resources on societies.

 

 

Student Objectives/Learning Outcomes

Lesson 1: The students will be able to understand relative/absolute location.  The students will be able to locate a place using lines of longitude and latitude.  The students will be able to locate a place by using relative location.

 

Lesson 2:  Students will identify natural resources and the way people use them.  The students will understand how people change their environment to meet their needs.

 

Lesson 3: The students will understand cultural diversity in the USA.  The students will be able to describe ideals that unite Americans.  The students will be able to analyze settlements patterns an regions in which Americans live.

 

Lesson 4: The students will be able to analyze symbols that represent important ideas, people, and events in United States history.   

 

Lesson 5: The students will be able to understand when and why the government was started.  The students will be able to describe what form of government we have.

 

Lesson 6:The students will be able to understand the rights and responsibilities of a United States citizen.  The students will be able to describe the three branches of Federal government.

 

Lesson 7:The students will be able to locate and study important government, historic, cultural, and educational sites in Washington, D.C.

The students will be able to understand how and why Americans honor and remember the nation’s past.

 

Lesson 8:The students will be able to understand basic economics concepts related to scarcity.  The students will be able to explain how the United States Government economy has changed over time.

 

Lesson9: The students will be able to apply what they have learned in regards to the economy.

 

Lesson 10: The students will be able to apply the information they have learned about the Untied States, and produce a summative project.

Curriculum-Framing Questions

 

Essential Question

What do you know about the place that you live?

 

Unit Questions

What makes the United States so special?

 

Content Questions

Lesson 1: Where is the US? What is absolute location? What is relative   location?

              What is longitude and latitude?

 

Lesson 2: What are resources? What are renewable/nonrenewable resources?

              What resources does your state have? Why do we need resources?

 

Lesson 3: Why do Americans have different ways of life, and what unites them?

            

Lesson 4: What are some examples of our American patriotism? What symbols do we have that help remind us of our country?

 

Lesson 5: When did the American leaders form the first “government?”

             Who were some important men in this process?

 

Lesson 6: What are the three branches of government, and what are their functions?

 

Lesson 7: Why was our nation’s capital given its name?  What are some historical places precious to our country in this city?

 

Lesson 8: What is economy?  What are the three basic industries in our economy?

 

Lesson 9: How does a business work?  What does supply/demand mean?

 

Lesson 10: What did you think was interesting about the United States?  What is unique, interesting, and exciting about where you live?

 

 

Assessment Plan

Assessment Timeline

 

 

 

Before project work begins

Students work on projects and complete tasks

After project work is completed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·   KWL chart

 

·   Word response web.  Using “United States” as the center of the web, and provide a few branches: government, location, symbols, economy, resources, people.

 

·   Teacher observation

·   Collaborative game/assessment tools

·   Webquest presentation, and products

·   Anecdotal notation of individual work, as well as group work.

·   Rubric of computer lab activity

·   Checklist

Assessment Summary

I am going to be using teacher observation throughout our unit.  I am going to watch how the students interact with the information, and how well they are grasping the concepts. 

I also will be using word webs, and KWL charts to assess their prior knowledge of basic lessons.

When the students are working in groups, I will be making anecdotal notation of their behavior, and interaction with the information.

When the students work on projects, I will have checklists of qualifications that the students will have to meet.  I also will have a rubric for one of their assignments.   

Unit Details

Prerequisite Skills

The students will need to have basic understanding of America, its location, land, and government system.

The students will need to have the ability to work comfortably with a SMART board, and be able to work independently with the internet.

Instructional Procedures

 

Lesson 1: Where is the USA?

 

     Introduction:  Publisher brochure: “Where Are You?”  

a)    I will hand out my brochure “Where Are You?” and we will go over together our global address. 

b)    We will discuss relative and absolute locations.  We will discuss how we can figure out our “general” or relative location based on other places, and how our absolute location can only be described with longitude and latitude.

c)    We will discuss vocab: hemisphere, equator, continent, border, relative location, absolute location

 

   Body:  

a.)        We will go to the computer lab, and I will have the students go to the computer lab and do the following self-taught lesson on the concepts of longitude and latitude.  It goes through in great detail the explanation of our vocabulary words, and uses in the real world. 

http://www.lakelandsd.com/tutorial/lesson1.html

b.)         We will discuss that by using long/lat. is the only way to determine something’s ALSOLUTE location. We will practice using a map, and locating specific town’s absolute location.

c.)         Then we will discuss relative location.  We will talk about how this is using other places location to help describe another.  We will practice using key terms such as “south of,” or “on the north border of” etc.

d.)        We will practice locating various locations using only relative locations.

     Closure:

a)     As a closure activity, the students are going to go to this website:http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/ssmaps.html and locate any four cities in our state.  They will then make cards with their longitude and latitude degrees.

b)    The students will then get in groups of 2, and their partner is going to have to locate the city based on their long/lat descriptions on their cards.

c)    Then the students are going to have to make 3 cards with 3 clues of “relative location” written on them. They will have to get back with their partner, and have them see if they can locate their secret location in the least amount of clues possible! 

 

Lesson 2: Our valuable resources

 

     Introduction:

a)    We will discuss the new vocabulary words: natural resources, renewable, ground water, nonrenewable, conservation, and environment.

b)    We will play a SMART board game using the vocabulary review template.  In this activity, the students will have to look up the definition in their books, and be able to give a short definition, part of speech, synonym, and use it in a sentence. 

     Body:  

a)    We will read from the textbook pg. 32-36 on Natural Resources

b)    We will have a class discussion on these topics. Discussing why Natural resources are important to our country, what specific resources are in our country, and how we can protect them.

 

     Closure:

The students will get together with a partner, and quiz each other on the vocabulary words from the introduction.

 

Lesson 3: The American People

 

     Introduction:

a)    We will begin with a look at the vocabulary words: culture, patriotism, immigrate, population, rural, urban, and suburb. 

b)    We will create a KWL chart on each word by using a SMARTboard template.

c)    I will be able to see exactly how much each student already knows about each word.

 

     Body:

a)    We will read pgs. 42- 46 in our textbook

b)    We will then have a discussion on what makes someone an American.

c)    We will talk about the many cultures in our country today, and how it makes our country diverse.

d)    We will talk about the country’s motto: E Pluribus Unum” which means out of many, one!  I will ask the students what they think this means, and how it applies to our country.

e)    We will discuss what the American people share, and what things unite us as a country. (e.g.: monuments, patriotism, and holidays.)

     Closure:

a)    As a closure activity, I am going to give each student the following list: motto, monuments, cultures, patriotism, where we live, immigration, religions, where we came from, holidays.  They are going to have to go to the computer lab and construct a table.  And sort the list into two categories: “Things that make Americans diverse,” and “Things that unite Americans.”

b)    On the top of this document, I am going to have the students type the US motto- in a neat font.

c)    Then they are going to go to the internet, and import one picture that shows patriotism.

 

Lesson 4: Patriotism, and our beloved symbols.

 

     Introduction:                  

We are going to begin this lesson by going to the following website

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/index.html

     Body:

a)    This lesson is going be primarily at the students own pace.

b)    They are going to go into the lab, and go into this website, and click on each of the symbols and read about them.

c)    The students are going to be creating an online photo album with some of the USA symbols.  www.myalbummaker.com

d)    They will also be required to add a description of each symbol- and interesting fact about it. 

     Closure:

               As a closure activity, we are going to present our albums to the class,  

              on a projector in our classroom!

 

Lesson 5: Our Government part I: history

 

     Introduction:

a)    I am going to begin this lesson by showing a video/cartoon on the early stages of the government, the constitution, and how it as written. http://www.schooltimegames.com/Videos/SocialStudies/SocialStudies_0.html

b)    I will then hand out a newspaper that I created in Publisher which briefly outlines and describes our government.  We will read through it together.

 

     Body:

 

a)    We will read our textbook pg 50- 51, which lays out the foundation for our government, the original plan, the writing of the constitution, and it describes our form of government.

b)    We will discuss the constitution and what it is: the supreme law of the land-our nation’s highest law.

c)    We will discuss who has to follow the constitution, and what happens if someone does not follow it.

d)    We will as a class, brainstorm ideas for our “Class Constitution,” by creating a web of ideas.

e)    Then students will get with a partner and actually write a “Class Constitution”

f)      We will read through each other’s constitution!

 

     Closure: The students will go to the following website and learn about how  

              does government affect me? http://pbskids.org/democracy/

 

Lesson 6: Our Government part II: What it does, and its branches.

    

     Introduction:

a)    We will go back to the Publisher handout from yesterday- and we will look at the chart on the back laying out the three branches of government.

b)    I will then have the students go to: and look through the branches for themselves.

                                          http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html

     Body:

a)    I will have the students read pg. 52-55 in our textbook, explicitly laying out the jobs, members, and duties of each branch of government.

b)    I will then have the students form teams, and I have developed a SMARTboard jeopardy game for the branches. 

     Closure:

                 As a closure activity, for the next few days I am going to have the  

                 students work on a webquest- designed to research all of the branches!                      http://www.madison.k12.ky.us/district/projects/WebQuest/Govern/branches.htm

 

Lesson 7:Our country’s capital: Washington D.C

  

     Introduction:

               The students are going to watch a powerpoint on Washington, D.C that  

               I found online- which will give them a basic overview and understanding  

              of the importance of Washington, D.C. and a brief look at some famous

               places.

     Body:

a)    I am going to have the students read pg. 56-57 in our textbook.  This will peak the students interest, seeing a few facts and photos of our capital.

b)    I will then direct then to our textbook’s website and virtual tour! Http://www.harcourtschools.com/ss1

c)    There they will be able to explore the capital, learn about various monuments and historic places.

d)    While they are doing this, they will need to say 10 of their favorite D.C photos- for a scrapbook that they will be making.

e)    Then the students will go to http://www.myalbummaker.com and create a scrapbook of various places in Washington, D.C.  In this album they will have to describe each photo in their scrapbook, and explain why it is significant.  I will use a checklist to assess this work

 

     Closure:

             After the students return from their virtual tour- I am going to have each

            students create an online postcard to describe to a family member what  

            they learned and saw in Washington, D.C.

                    http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/postcard/  

 

 

Lesson 8:Our country’s economy

 

     Introduction:

         I will ask the students to brainstorm ideas in a web on the board, what they

         think it would take to create and run a business.

 

     Body:

a)    As a class we will read pg 58- 63 in our textbook.  Which lays out what Free Market Economy is, the factors of production, and how a business actually works.

b)    We will make a list of what actually is needed to create and run a business based on what we read.

c)    Then we will compare and contrast this list, with the one we created in the introduction

d)    We will discuss basic supply/demand, and how it affects businesses. 

e)    We will discuss the types of economy: supply/ manufacture- and examples of each. 

 

     Closure:

             As a closure, I am going to have the students role play a business with a  

             group.  They will have to make a list of things they need, can afford, and

            the profit they home to make.    I will tell them that tomorrow, they will be

            actually be creating a lemonade stand business online- and they will need  

            to think about all of the things they will need.

 

Lesson 9:Let’s try it! A lesson on economy

 

     Introduction:

              We will review what we learned about businesses and economy. We will

              make a list on the board of the definition of: profit, supply, and demand.

 

     Body:

a)    The students are going to go to:  http://coolmath4kids.com

b)    They will need to click on “Lemonade Stand”

c)    The goal of this activity is to make as much money as you can in one month’s time. In this lemonade stand, You'll have complete control over almost every part of your business, including pricing, quality control, inventory control, and purchasing supplies.  You'll also have to deal with the weather, which can be unpredictable.  Unfortunately, the weather will play a big part when customers are deciding whether or not to buy your product.

d)    Other factors which will make or break your business is the price you charge.  Customers are more apt to pay higher prices when the product (your lemonade) is more in demand - When the weather is hotter.  As the temperature drops, and the weather turns bad (overcast, cloudy, rain), don't expect them to pay nearly what they would on a hot, hazy day.

e)    The other major factor which comes into play is your customer's satisfaction.  As you sell your product, people will decide whether or not they like it, and how much they like or dislike it.  As time goes on, they'll start to tell their friends, neighbors, and relatives (hence, your 'popularity').  Sell a good product for a good price and you'll build business over time; overcharge for inferior products, and you'll be out of business sooner than you'd think.  Another more direct form of customer satisfaction affecting sales takes place directly at the stand.  As customers buy your product, you'll see some tell you what they think by the bubbles over their heads.  If customers are enjoying their product, others are more likely to buy.  If they're expressing their dissatisfaction, other customers are more likely to take their business elsewhere.

 

     Closure:

a)                 The students are going to have to reflect on the process that they went through to create a business.  They will have to write in what we call a “Powerful Paragraph,” and they are going to have to reply to my post:

 

b)     Ok students, now you have spent some time with creating your lemonade stand business. Reflect by using a "powerful paragraph" on your experience. What kind of things did you have to keep in mind while you were creating your business? What things were important? What did you have to keep in mind? Did you make a profit?!!!

 

c)    The students are also going to read each other’s blog on their experience, and comment on each other’s blog!

 

 

Lesson 10: Let’s recap!

 

     Introduction:

a)    As a class, we are going to make a list on the board and recap some of our favorite things in our unit.  We are going to discuss with one another some highlights of the unit.

b)    I will explain to the students that they are going to create a final activity for our unit.  They are going to have to recap our unit by creating either a brochure, or a powerpoint on the United States.

 

     Body:

a)    I am going to briefly explain to the students their options!  They can either create a 5 slide powerpoint, or a brochure from http://www.mybrochuremaker.com

b)    They will be responsible for creating this final project recapping the United States: Location, People, and Government!

c)    I will have a basic checklist of requirements that I will use to evaluate this final project.

 

     Closure:

a)    When the students are finished, they are going to have an opportunity to share their presentation or brochure with the class.

b)    While the students are waiting for their other classmates to finish their projects, they can play US games and activities at:

                          http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/games/index.html

 

 

Accommodations for Differentiated Instruction

 

Resource Student

I will allow resource students to have extra time on assignments, they also will be allowed a mentor-buddy to work with them whenever they whenever they need.  I will break down various assignments, and requirements for various things.  They also will be able to work in the resource room with the resource teacher whenever they feel the need.

 

Non-Native English Speaker

I will have the students work with an ELL specialist in this unit.  I will also try to break down the concepts, and apply them to their culture with their basic understanding. 

 

Gifted Student

I will have gifted student do various presentations, or “teaching opportunities” for their peers.  I will allow them the choice of being a peer mentor, or teacher’s helper throughout this unit.  They will be able to explore, and uncover various related topics of their choice.

Materials and Resources Required For Unit

Technology – Hardware            


 Camera

X Computer(s)

 Digital Camera

 DVD Player

X Internet Connection

 Laser Disk

X Printer

X Projection System

 Scanner

 Television

 VCR

 Video Camera

 Video Conferencing Equip.

X Other  SMART board    

Technology – Software (Click boxes of all software needed.)

 Database/Spreadsheet

 Desktop Publishing

 E-mail Software

 Encyclopedia on CD-ROM

X Image Processing

X Internet Web Browser

 Multimedia

 

 Web Page Development

X Word Processing

 Other      


Printed Materials

Lesson 1: Publisher brochure

Lesson 2: Text book

Lesson 3: Text book

Lesson 5:Publisher newspaper, textbook

Lesson 6: Textbook

Lesson7: Textbook, printed album and postcard

Lesson8: Textbook

Supplies

Lesson 1: Publisher brochure, note cards.

Lesson 2: Text book, SMARTboard vocab. template

Lesson3: Textbook, SMARTboard KWL template, computer lab

Lesson4:Compter lab, projector

Lesson5: online video, old looking paper- and various things for writing our constitution.

Lesson6: SMARTboard jeopardy game

Lesson7: Washinton, D.C powerpoint, textbook

Lesson8:Textbook, whiteboard to make lists

Lesson9: whiteboard, Miss Te Slaa’s blog

Lesson10: powerpoint

 

Internet Resources

Lesson 1: http://www.lakelandsd.com/tutorial/lesson1.html

http://classroom.jc-schools.net/basic/ssmaps.html

Lesson3: Ability to search for a picture on patriotism.

Lesson4: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/index.html  www.myalbummaker.com

Lesson5: online video http://www.schooltimegames.com/Videos/SocialStudies/SocialStudies_0.html

http://pbskids.org/democracy/

Lesson6: http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/government/branches.html http://www.madison.k12.ky.us/district/projects/WebQuest/Govern/branches.htm

webquest: http://www.madison.k12.ky.us/district/projects/WebQuest/Govern/branches.htm

Lesson 7: http://www.harcourtschools.com/ss1

http://www.myalbummaker.com

http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/postcard/  

Lesson8:

Lesson9:  http://coolmath4kids.com Miss Te Slaa’s blog: http://missteslaa.blogspot.com/

Lesson10: http://www.mybrochuremaker.com

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/games/index.html

 

Other Resources