Grade 3: Mapping Your State
Rating: 
http://education.nationalgeographic.org/activity/mapping-your-state/
Common Core Standards
Reading Informational Text
RI.3.3 Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.
Connecticut Elementary and Secondary Social Studies Frameworks
Dimension l: Developing Questions and Planning Inquiry
INQ 3-5.5 Determine the kinds of sources that will be helpful in answering compelling and supporting questions, taking into consideration the different opinions people have about how to answer the questions.
Dimension 2: Applying Disciplinary Concepts and Tools
Geographic Representations: Spatial Views of the World
GEO 3.1 Construct maps and other graphic representations of both familiar and unfamiliar places.
Description of Lesson
This Grade 3 lesson titled “Mapping Your State” from National Geographic is intended to be completed in one 50-minute session of social studies/literacy instruction. In this lesson, students research political, physical, and cultural features of their own state or district and work collaboratively to create a state tourism map. Students use atlases, state government tourism information, National Geographic’s travel website, and other online resources to complete their research. Working in small and whole group settings, student groups add their information to complete a class outline map. A wrap-up discussion follows to discuss the completed map.
Cautions
Connecticut teachers should be aware that the website, as well as the teacher notes and preparation materials, will require familiarity to be used effectively. Resources including atlases, state government tourism information, and other online resources will need to be gathered prior to starting the lesson. The time noted for completion of this lesson may need to be extended, based on the ability level of students and to achieve the rigor intended. Since the lesson task is completed by groups of students, there is no way to assess whether students are mastering the standards-based content and skills. The extension activities included in the lesson could be used as assessment opportunities to provide evidence of the degree to which a student can independently demonstrate the major targeted grade-level standards. An aligned rubric will need to be created. Additional accommodations may be needed for students who are ELL, have disabilities, or read well below the grade level text band.
Rationale for Selection
This lesson set is a useful example of how to target a set of grade-level inquiry and geography Social Studies Framework Standards with CCSS ELA/Literacy standards. It includes a clear and explicit purpose for instruction, as it cultivates student interest and engagement. The lesson provides for authentic learning, application of literacy skills, student-directed inquiry, analysis, evaluation and reflection. A variety of alternative activities are provided as extensions and/or modifications to the lesson.