50 States Mini Unit

Mary Kate McNulty GRIT 654 Summer, 2012

Mini Unit Learning Goals

Identify key characteristics of a

specific state. Analyze and understand how physical geography affects human life in a specific state. Compare and contrast states researched.

Information About Learners

4th grade students
Classroom and computer lab Inclusion classroom

Technology Integration
Smartboard Computers/laptops for each student United Streaming for introduction video Various websites for research Lino (online post-its) Glogster (online poster maker) TeacherTube SchoolTube

Lesson 1
Students will be able to use previous

knowledge to have a better understanding of the regions and 50 states. Students use Lino to share what they previously know about different states.
More interactive and allows for online

collaboration.

Watch a video clip on regions and states in

our country on United Streaming. Assessment - students write 2 facts about something they learned today in their notebooks.

Lino

QuickTime and a decompressor are neede d to see this picture.

Lesson 2
Students will be able to use the internet to

research a given topic and will be able to evaluate the reliability of sources on a given topic. Explain project, organizer, rubric Watch TeacherTube video of reliable sources
(http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?title=Reliable_Research_Information&video_id=121222)

Show various internet sources and students

decide if its reliable or not Model choosing a state, visiting suggested websites, and completing organizer Assessment-quiz at end of video; give thumps up/down for internet sources

Lesson 3
Students will be able to use a graphic

organizer to gather and record information on a research topic from a variety of sources. Prior Knowledge: review facts added to Lino and how to tell reliable sources. Use list of suggested websites to gather state information for organizer
http://www.kids.gov/k_5/k_5_states.shtml http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/state/index.html

May use other websites but must write down

address Assessment-organizer completed

Lesson 4
Students will be able to create an online

poster using three or more sources and notes taken using the sources. Watch brief tutorial
(http://www.schooltube.com/video/746a92b6c5d6442a9e97/Glogster-Tutorial

Model how to input information into Glogster

http://www.glogster.com/misstaylor2012/nj-state-by-misstaylor2012/g-6li789tisauaj7ef00kffa0

Assessment- All information on organizer is

included in poster.

Lesson 5
Students will be able to find images, video,

and other media sources to enhance their understanding. Prior Knowledge: Review reliable source information and different types of text features. Explain copyright rules and citing where you find images. Model finding different images and adding them to Glogster Assessment- At least 2 images, 1 map, video or audio included in Glogster poster

Lesson 6
Students will be able to give an oral

presentation using their Glogster project. Prior Knowledge: Review oral speaking tips. Share Glogster creations with a partner. Partner completes a checklist while listening to their classmate and then give 2 compliments and a suggestion after the presentation Assessment- Partner checklist

Lesson 7-9
Students will be able to give an oral

presentation using their Glogster project. Prior Knowledge: Review oral speaking tips. Share Glogster creations with the class Classmates give 2 compliments or ask 2 questions Assessment- Rubric for project

Justification
TeacherTube - aspiring teachers can see

concepts and principles in action via short video bursts, instead of relying strictly on textbooks and associated course resources. It offers a rich, global repository of teaching and learning ideas, (Bonk p. 224) Teaching about copyright - Simply put, the licensing and copyright of the materials has become a huge matter, (Bonk p. 157)

Assessment of Instructional Design

Resources
Common Core Standards
TeacherTube SchoolTube

Lino
Glogster Bonk, Curtis. The World is Open. San

Francisco, 2009.