Teacher Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan
Unit: Traveling in Latin America
Grade: 5th Grade
Level: Advance


Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

-Analyze the physical characteristics of places in the Western Hemisphere (e.g., climate, resources).
-Interpret and utilize maps
-Research a country in Latin America
-Use the World Wide Web for research.
-Analyze information using social studies tools (e.g., graphs, maps, charts, tables, etc.)
-Demonstrate an understanding of concepts related to the study of time, continuity, and societal change throughout history.
-Demonstrate an understanding of concepts related to the study of the contributions, influences, and interactions of various cultures.
-Demonstrate an understanding of concepts related to the structure and function of government.
Create a three part brochure

Learning Standards
Standard 2:
Students will study world history, cultures and civilizations and the important contribution of individuals and groups.

Performance indicators -
Students:
study and communicate about different world cultures and civilizations focusing on their accomplishments, contributions, values, beliefs, and traditions.
demonstrate an understanding of past, present, and future time periods.
explore the lifestyles, beliefs, traditions, rules and laws, and social/cultural needs and wants of people during different periods in history and in different parts of the world.
utilize media to become aware of current events.

Standard 3: Geography

Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the geography of the interdependent world in which we live—local, national, and global—including the distribution of people, places, and environments over the Earth’s surface.

ESL Learning Standards:

Standard 1: Students will listen, speak, read and write in English for information and understanding.
Standard4:Students will listen, speak, read and write in English for classroom and social interaction.
Standard 5:Students will demonstrate cross-cultural knowledge and understanding.

Materials/Equipment:

-Blogger
-Computers with Internet access and Microsoft Word software for student use
-Printer
-Tutorial 1 and Tutorial 2 links
-Typing paper


Prior Knowledge/Motivation
Students have studied the Mayans, Incas, Olmecs and the Aztecs. This unit is part of the Latin American curriculum and although all my students are from different parts of Latin America, it would be interesting for them to study and research countries other than their own in Latin America. Students will be exposed to videos, images, online games, online references and this will most certainly benefit ESL students because the technology alone provides them with motivation to engage in this project based learning unit.

Procedures:

Session 1- Introduction-
-Students will be introduced to the countries in Latin America. In this session students will activate their prior knowledge. They will work with their assigned partner to navigate the web and become acquainted with the geography of Latin America. They will study and analyze a map by locating the capitals of each country in Latin America using an online matching work sheet. Students will also watch a video on Latin America and answer several questions about the video which will be done on their online notepad. Links to word definition are also provided.
-Students will also choose a country they would like to research and create a brochure on. Partners will post their country on an online notepad.

Session 2- The research begins!
Students will use a graphic organizer and/or the online notepad to answer questions and take notes on their country’s culture, religion, historical landmarks, language, form of government, and physical landscapes. Students will navigate several websites, and watch several videos about the country for which they are researching.
For homework, students will be required to review the tutorials about how to use insert clip art images from the web in to Microsoft Word. They will also have to review a tutorial on how to create a three part brochure that will be created on Microsoft Word.

Session 3- Project-Assessment
First students will take an online quiz game which will test their general knowledge of Latin America’s geography.
Then with their partners students will use the research they have collected to create a three part brochure. Students will use their notes to organize a three column brochure

The First column will include information on:
Capital
Official Language
Type of Government
Economy

The second column will include:
A map of the country
A brief summary of the country and its history

The third column will include information about
Culture
Religion
Historical Landmarks

Reflection:
This unit provides students with an opportunity to investigate and peruse the web for concrete examples of the countries they are studying. They are virtually traveling the country through the internet and they will gather information and acquire knowledge about the country they are studying. They will then be able to apply their knowledge into a brochure which they can present to their peers.