Africa

NAME: _Nicole Keeton

Grade Level(s): 2

Subject(s):

• Social Studies/Geography
• Technology

Description: Students will be learning information about Africa within a month time period. The
unit will consist of the overall features of Africa: the countries, landforms, and animals. Toward
the end of the month, students will focus one to two weeks on Kenya. The learner will do various
arts, technology, and research activities to help them focus on the concepts being studied.
Through the unit, the learner will be responsible for a country and an animal. The responsibility
involves finding facts and information on the item and then sharing this information with the
class. The learner will conduct and report data on local weather in Africa and how it affects the
animals. The learner will construct data sheets and pie and bar graphs to compare and contrast to
other students.

Goal: Students will gain new information about Africa.

National/State Standards:

NSS-G.K-12.2 PLACES AND REGIONS

• Understand the physical and human characteristics of places.

• Understand that people create regions to interpret Earth's complexity.
• Understand how culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions.

NETS –S Standards:

1. Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers, family members, and others when using
technology in the classroom. (2)

2. Demonstrate positive social and ethical behaviors when using technology. (2)

3. Practice responsible use of technology systems and software. (2)

Objectives:

1. The learner will gather information about animals, snakes, and birds of Africa.
2. The learner will appreciate the importance of preservation and beauty of animals, snakes,
and birds of Africa.
3. The learner will plan and conduct data on weather conditions and conduct pie or bar
graphs.

Materials:

• pieces of paper with African animals listed on them

• books of different animals
• pictures of African animals to color
• report sheets
• toy animals
• encyclopedias
• basket
• example of toilet paper roll
• documentaries on weather
• Internet sites

Procedures:

Activity One: Prepare classroom environment for the activity and collect necessary materials for
students to use.

1. Develop instructional materials such as the report sheet to be handed to students.

2. Play the part of the movie "I can't wait to be king" by Lion King on a DVD player.
3. Gather the class at the reading rug.
4. Demonstrate to the class that they will pick an animal out of the basket. The animal that
they pick will be the animal that they have to find information about.
5. Demonstrate to the class how they will fill in their report.
6. Show class the material that they may use to help them locate information about their
animals.
7. Each student will pick an animal out of the basket.
8. The students may work with other students (only if they need to share the same book and
have the same animal).
9. The student will fill out the report sheet that the teacher distributes (5 facts relating to
their animals).
10. After the child has finished their report sheets, they will either draw or color a picture of
their animal.
11. Students will make a classroom presentation of the animal by discussing why they chose
their animals, explaining the 5 facts they collected, and show their drawings.
 12. At the end of the period, show the class an example of a “toilet paper roll animal” that
they will make the following day.

Activity Two

1. Develop instructional materials as handouts

2. Find a website where it will show the weather in Africa (ex.) Africam.com
3. Have the students create a map where they can place the different types of geographic
features
4. Each day the students will research and identify the weather conditions and place them on
their group maps.
5. Encourage students to record weekend weather conditions and record them on their data
6. When students return to school on Monday they will get in their groups and record the
weather from the previous weekend.
7. This activity will be assessed for a month
8. In the end have the students enter their information into pie charts or bar graphs

Assessment/Evaluation:

Activity One

1. The student will have to state 5 facts in front of the class individually or with another
student who did the same animal, explain why they chose that animal, and show their
artwork.
2. After the reports, ask the class which animal weighed the most? Which part of Africa do
a majority of the animals live? What type of food do the animals eat?
3. Collect the report sheets to see if each student completed the report accurately. This
activity will be worth thirty point’s total (20 points for the report and drawing, and 10 for
the presentation).

Activity Two

1. The students will have to compare their graphs to another group and record the
similarities and differences.
2. Use a rubric to score group graphs, data collection and worksheet (20 points per
individual and 10 points for overall work)