Best Practices Lesson Plan Design – Third Grade Geography (G1.a,b,c)~about 8 days
Goal:
Priority Standards:
 Support Standards
 Pre-requisite Learning
SS3G1 The student will locate major topographical features.
a. Identify major rivers of the United States of America: Mississippi River,
Ohio River, Rio Grande River, Colorado River, Hudson River.
b. Identify major mountain ranges of the United States of America:
Appalachian, Rocky
c. Locate the Equator, Prime Meridian, and lines of latitude and
longitude on a globe.
Themes
Location: The student will understand that location affects a society’s
economy, culture, and development.
K-5 EU: The student will understand that where people live matters.
SS3G1: TSW locate major topographical features
a. Identify major rivers of the United States of America: Mississippi River,
Ohio River, Rio Grande River, Colorado River, Hudson River.
b. Identify major mountain ranges of the United States of America:
Appalachian, Rocky
c. Locate the Equator, Prime Meridian, and lines of latitude and
longitude on a globe.
Pre-requisite Learning:
SSKG1, SS1G1, SS2G1
Resources for Instruction
TCSS Website
Georgia Experience (Chapters 2 and 3)
Studies Weekly (8 and 9) and Teacher Resource pages
Anchor Chart of USA~ 5 Major Rivers and 2 Mountain Ranges with
mnemonic
PPT on Rivers and Mountains
Time Allocated
8 days
EQ
Where is the Mississippi River?
Where is the Ohio River?
Where is the Rio Grande River?
Where is the Colorado River?
Where is the Hudson River?
Where are the Appalachian Mountains?
Where are the Rocky Mountains?
Where is the Equator? Prime Meridian?
What is latitude and longitude?
Why is it important to know longitude and latitude?
How does latitude and longitude help you locate places on a map?
Activator/Connection/Warm Up
Rivers and MountainsTap prior knowledge by having students discuss any of the
rivers/mountains they have seen/ learned about , review names of
rivers and mountains, PPT of rivers and mountains, refer to
laminated anchor chart
Brainpop on rivers and mountains
Activator/Connection/Warm Up
Latitude, longitude, prime meridian, equator- Use a pumpkin to
label North pole, South pole, lines of longitude, Prime Meridian
and Equator with a crayon. Refer back as an activator
Brainpop on Latitude and Longitude
Song of Latitude and Longitude to Jingle Bells
TSW stand and point to North Pole (head) South Pole (feet)
Equator/ latitude (waist)/ Prime Meridian/ longitude (line from head
to toe
Instructional Delivery

Teaching Point/Mini
Lesson/Teacher Input
(I Do/Modeling)

Guided Instruction/
Differentiated Instruction
(We Do)
Rivers and MountainsUsing the Georgia Experience, Chapters 2 & 3, the Georgia
Studies Weekly, Weeks 8 & 9, as well as other resources from the
TCSS share information about the 5 Rivers and 2 Mountain
ranges, latitude, longitude, equator and prime meridian and their
relationship to each other on Earth.
Latitude, longitude, prime meridian, equator- Use an orange per
pair of students and have them label the North Pole, South Pole,
prime meridian and equator with a crayon or sharpie. Then peel
and look at natural lines of longitude.
Pass out blank map and have students label 5 Rivers and 2
Mountain ranges on the map writing mnemonic on the top.
Latitude, longitude, prime meridian, equator-TSW be given 2
popsicle sticks. TSW write the word longitude on one side going
down vertically and then on the other side write latitude
horizontally to use during activities.
Using the grid of the ceiling, label North, South, East and West on
the correct walls. Then I label the Prime Meridian and the Equator
and label out from those two lines. Then, have the students move
their desks so that they are under connecting coordinates and
explain the latitude measurement always comes first, then
longitude. Then throw a ball to a student they must give the
correct coordinates for their location. Then they throw the ball to
someone else, etc. After a few moments, have students change
locations and do it again.

Independent Practice
(You Do)
Rivers and MountainsTSW use colored yarn and glue down on a map outline the 5 rivers
and 2 mountain ranges.
Latitude, longitude, prime meridian, equatorTSW create a “Battleship” type game board using a file folder to
play with a partner labeling lines of latitude and longitude, Prime
Meridian and Equator
TSW “bury a treasure” and hide it by creating a grid labeling
latitude and longitude in degrees, the Prime Meridian and Equator
(0 degrees). Give clues to the partner to help him/her find the
buried treasure.
kidsgeo game
Summarizer/Closure/Evaluation
of Lesson
Ticket out the Door:
Label the 5 rivers and 2 mountain ranges
Point to blank anchor chart rivers/ mountains to get to line up
Latitude, longitude, prime meridian, equatorAccording to the ceiling grid, which latitude are you sitting under?