Title of Unit: The World in Spatial Terms Title of Lesson: Directions Using a Compass Activity Submitted By: Breanna

Cape

A. Summary of the Lesson Plan: This Geography lesson is designed for 4th grade students to learn how to use a compass to follow directions and locate places. This lesson uses resources found on the Internet. B. Target Population: Grade Level: 4th Grade Skill Level: Students at all learning levels Grouping: Whole group discussion, Group activity C. Materials: Compass Rose Map of Nevada Social Studies Journals Pencils Poster boards with different locations on them D. Objectives: o NV State Social Studies Standards o G5.4.1 Identify and use intermediate directions on a compass rose to locate places on a map of Nevada.

Student-Friendly Standards I can use a compass rose to follow directions and locate places in Nevada.

E. Procedure: 1. First I will review the lesson learned yesterday about what a compass is and what it is used for. We will have a whole class discussion about yesterdays lesson and what we learned. 2. Next I will explain to the students that today we are going to put the skills we learned yesterday to use. We will be going outside to do an activity using our compasses and their Social Studies journals. 3. Once we are outside I will put the students in pairs with one compass per pair. There will be different 10 poster boards taped to the ground all over the playground. They will have names of different things in Nevada for example, The Hoover Dam or The Grand Canyon. Each pair will start at one of the ten locations, from there they will have to count how many feet and which direction it is to another location and record the information. They will write down observations like The Hoover Dam is 50 feet southwest of the Grand Canyon. Once everyone has recorded the distance and direction of each location in their Social Studies Journals we will head back to the classroom.
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor page 1

Title of Unit: The World in Spatial Terms Title of Lesson: Directions Using a Compass Activity Submitted By: Breanna Cape

4. After we get back the classroom we will have a whole group discussion about the distances and directions of each location. The students will compare data and make corrections if necessary. 5. CLOSURE: After the whole group discussion we will put our supplies away and review what we learned today by going over these questions: o o o What was the hardest part of the activity? Did you learn anything new? Why do you think it is important to know directions?

F. Assessment: What will you use to measure student understanding? I will use the activity to measure student understanding. Explain how you will know students understand the concepts from the lesson. I will know whether students understand the concepts from the lesson by grading their Social Studies Journals and by listening to their answers during the whole class discussion. If they do poorly on both I will know that they do not understand the concepts being taught. G. Reflection: 1. Which part of the lesson do you think will be the easiest for you to teach? I think the easiest part of the lesson will be to teach the students the instructions of the activity. 2. Which part will be most challenging for you to teach? I think the most difficult part will be teaching the students how to measure and keep track of the distance between the locations. 3. How will you follow up or extend this lesson? I would extend this lesson by giving the students worksheet that involves finding a location by the directions given. 4. What will you do for students who dont grasp the concepts? If a student doesnt grasp the concept I will pair them with a higher-level student. I will also check in on them as they are working on the activity. 5. Which part of the lesson, if any, do you think might need to change?
Nevada State College EDEL 453 - Spring 2013 Karen Powell- Instructor page 2

Title of Unit: The World in Spatial Terms Title of Lesson: Directions Using a Compass Activity Submitted By: Breanna Cape

I may need to change how the students measure the distance from location to location. It may be too hard for them to keep track of. 6. When you were writing this lesson plan, what was the most difficult part? The most difficult part of writing this lesson was figuring out the best way to make the activity run smoothly

Nevada State College

EDEL 453 - Spring 2013

Karen Powell- Instructor

page 3