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Geography Lesson Plan
Introduction
 Lesson topic – Developing Map Skills
 Length of Lesson – 2 days
 VA Standards of Learning – 2.5 The student will develop map skills by
a) locating the equator, the seven continents, and the five oceans on maps and globes;
 Context – This will be the fourth or fifth lesson introduced on the topic of Geography in a second
grade classroom (after the students have learned about the environment and culture of the
Powhatan, Lakota, and Pueblo Indians).
 Global Themes – Students need to understand where other continents are in relation to the
United States.
Content Objectives
Students will:
 Construct a temporary globe of the world that includes the major landforms and bodies of water.
 Determine the location of the Equator, five oceans, and seven continents.
Assessment Aligned to Objectives
Formative
Students will:
 Construct a temporary globe of the world that includes the major landforms and bodies of water.
 Determine the location of the Equator, five oceans, and seven continents.
The teacher will look and listen for:
 Students recognizing that there are seven continents and five major oceans in the world.
 Students responding to the questions being asked after the reading of the book, Continents and
maps.
Summative
Students will:
 Construct a temporary globe of the world that includes the major landforms and bodies of water.
 Determine the location of the Equator, five oceans, and seven continents.
For these objectives, the teacher will observe as students “Think, Pair, and Share.” The teacher will
make sure that the WebQuest and World Map Activity were successfully completed. Then, the teacher
will watch as students place the continents right side up and in proper relation to one another. The
teacher will also check to make sure that the oceans are in the correct places and the equator is marked
correctly. The WebQuest, World Map Activity, and the students’ balloon globes will show the teacher
whether or not the students know the continents and oceans of the world.
Materials/Technology and Advanced Preparation
 Continents and Maps, edited by E.D. Hirsch Jr.
 Globe
 Blue balloons (one per student and extras just in case)
 Scissors
 Yarn
 Glue
 Worksheets (include the outline of each continent for students to cut out)
 A Sheet of paper for each student (include the names of the five major oceans, the North Pole,
and the South Pole)
 Colored Pencils/Markers/Crayons
 Computers for access to WebQuest
 World Map Activity
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Teaching and Learning Sequence
TIME
TEACHER ACTIONS
Introduction/Anticipatory Set
 Ask students what they know about the
continents and oceans in our world.
Same questions include, How many
continents are there? What continent
do they live on? Which continent
would they like to visit and why? How
many oceans are there? Students can
think, pair, and share for these
questions.
 Read the Pearson Learning book
Continents and Maps aloud to
students. Using the illustrations in the
text, point out the continents and
oceans.
 After reading Continents and Maps,
ask students the same questions
asked before reading the book. If the
equator, North and South Poles, and
Northern and Southern Hemispheres
have not been mentioned, address
them. Remember to pay attention to
student responses to determine if
reading the book changed students’
responses and resulted in greater
knowledge of the continents and
oceans. Students can think, pair, and
share for these part as well.
Lesson Development
 Have
students
complete
the
WebQuest on the Seven Continents
and Five Oceans. Keep in mind that a
computer lab may need to be reserved
depending upon how many computers
are
in
your
classroom.
(See
attachment for instructions).
 Hand out worksheets and have
students complete the World Activity
Map. (See attachment).
 (Beginning of Day 2): Quick Review
and then have students make their
own “temporary globe.” Give each
student an already inflated blue
balloon. (Have extra balloons blown
up in case they pop).
 Have students label and color the
continents green before cutting them
out. Using a globe as a reference,
guide students through gluing each
continent onto their balloons.
 Have students cut a piece of string
STUDENT ACTIONS

Listen and pair up with a partner to
THINK, PAIR, and SHARE!

Sit quietly and pay attention on the
carpet area.

Listen and respond to questions by
pairing up with a partner to THINK,
PAIR, and SHARE!

Complete WebQuest

Complete the World Activity Map

Sit and pay attention quietly.

Listen, follow directions,
questions when necessary.
and
ask
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
equal to the circumference of their
globe, dip the string in glue, then glue
it around their globe to represent the
equator.
Give each student a sheet of paper
containing the names of the five major
oceans, the equator, the North Pole,
and the South Pole. Have students cut
out the labels and glue them in the
proper places onto their balloons.
Closure


Discuss how the equator divides the
globe into the Northern and Southern
Hemispheres.
Ask questions to
assess
student
understanding.
Example
questions
include,
Is
Antarctica located in the Northern or
Southern
Hemisphere?
What
continents are located in the Northern
Hemisphere? Etc.
Using the vocabulary learned in the
lesson, have students write a short
paragraph describing what is on their
globe. Write vocabulary words on the
board so that students can refer to the
words while writing their paragraph.
(Vocabulary words: Continent, Ocean,
Globe, Equator, North Pole, South
Pole, and Hemisphere).

Listen, raise hands, and respond to
questions.

Use key vocabulary to
paragraph about your globe.
write
a
Homework (If applicable)
None
References
http://www.coreknowledge.org/mimik/mimik_uploads/lesson_plans/520/Spatial%20Connections%20Grad
es%201%20through%204.pdf
zunal.com
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Lesson Organizer
Prior Knowledge and NEW Instructional Content
Students should already be familiar with the following:
 “Think, Pair Share.”

Maps and Globes in general
 Compass
Students will learn and understand the following:
 How to locate the seven continents, including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa,
Australia, and Antarctica.
 How to locate the five oceans, including the Arctic, Atlantic, Pacific, Southern, and Indian.
 The equator and northern and southern hemispheres.
Overall, this lesson will help strengthen the idea that globes can be used to locate land and water features.
Instructional Modifications to
ASSIST Students
Word wall and/or point out
additional vocabulary prior to
reading of the book.
Talking and explaining in greater
detail.
Have students work in pairs and
have the vocabulary and
definitions on paper so the
students can keep them at their
desk.
Main Events of Instruction
Instructional Modifications to
CHALLENGE Students
1.
Questions and reading of
the book.
Call on students to answer without
having them raise their hands.
2.
WebQuest, World Map
Activity, and Constructing
the balloon globe.
Have students label or list
countries that they know in the
various continents.
3.
Questions and Writing
Prompt.
Not applicable.
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Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Southern Ocean
Arctic Ocean
North Pole
South Pole
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