Where in California Are We?
A Collaborative Unit of Study of California’s Geography
Amber Claflin
Intel Teach to the Future
Spring 2003
Daily Lesson Plans
Day
Teacher/Location
Activity
Student Grouping
CT=Classroom
Teacher
LMT=Library Media
Teacher
CR=Classroom
LMC=Libray Media
Center
CL=Computer Lab
HW=Homework
Resources
T=Teacher
S=Student
1
CT/CR
Unit Introduction: John Muir Activity
whole class
1
CT/CR
Review of Coordinate graphs/maps
1-12
CT/CR
2
2
3
CT/CR
CT/CR
CT/CR
Read aloud introduction of California Hot
Air Balloon Mystery (read aloud & activity
book)
Review schedule for geography unit
Read text chapter 1, lesson 1 as a whole class
Longitude & Latitude introduction
whole class then
groups of two
whole class
3
CT/CR
Introduce California Locations map activity
whole class
3
LMT/LMC
whole class
3
CT/CR
3
CT/HW
Computerized Card Catalog Treasure Hunt
Session One
Longitude and Latitude Around the Room
Activity
How to Use Latitude & Longitude
4-20
CT/CR
Review California Locations Map
whole class
T: overhead of California Locations Map
4
CT/CR
whole class
T/S: text pp. 54-59
4
CT/CR
Read California text chapter 1, lesson 2
through p. 57
“The Coast”
Complete coast portion of class regions chart
based on text reading
whole class
T: large class regions chart
4
LMT/CL
Card Catalog Treasure Hunt Session 2
whole class
T: chart from session one
whole class
whole class
whole class
small groups
individual
T: Picture of John Muir with background
information
T: overheads of “Where in This City? &
“It All Adds Up!” activity sheets
T: California Hot Air Balloon Mystery
S: lined paper, pencils, California AAA
Maps
T: overhead of geography unit timeline
T/S: HB Social Studies Text
T/S: HB Social Studies Text (pp.52-53 #12)
T: overhead of California Locations map
S: California Locations handouts
T: chart paper, markers
T: latitude & longitude signs
S: How Many Degrees? activity sheet
S: How to Use Latitude & Longitude
Activity Sheet
(then
every
other
day)
Check Point?
Day
Teacher/Location
Activity
Student Grouping
CT=Classroom
Teacher
LMT=Library Media
Teacher
CR=Classroom
LMC=Libray Media
Center
CL=Computer Lab
HW=Homework
5
CT/CR
5
CT/CR
5
LMT/LMC
6
CT/CR
6
6
CT/CR
CT/CR
7
Resources
Check Point?
T=Teacher
S=Student
Read California text chapter 1, lesson 2 pp.
57-59
“The Mountains
Complete coast portion of class regions chart
based on text reading
Read Sierra aloud then complete Sierra
Jigsaw Activity
whole class
T/S: text pp. 57-59
whole class
T: large class regions chart
whole class then
groups of four
T/S: Sierra (class set), poster paper,
markers, pencils, lined paper
Read California text, chapter 1, lesson 2 pp.
60-61
“Central Valley”
“Desert”
Review California Locations Map
California Regions Map
whole class
T/S: text pp. 60-61
whole class
whole class
LMT/LMC
Read aloud Mojave the Mojave Jigsaw
Activity
whole class then
groups of four
T: overhead of California Locations Map
T: overhead of California Regions Map
S: California Regions Activity Sheet,
colored pencils
T/S: Mojave (class set), poster paper,
markers, lined paper, pencils
8
CT/CR
County Grown!
whole class then
individual
8
LMT/LMC
Card Catalog Treasure Hunt Session Three
groups of 8
9
CT/CR
Economic Features: Agriculture Map
Activity
whole class
T: overheads of commodity information,
overhead of California counties map
S: poster paper, newspaper/magazine food
ads, markers, pencil, California counties
map
T: chart from sessions 1 & 2
S: Card Catalog Treasure Hunt Activity
Sheets
T: overhead of Agriculture Map
S: agriculture maps, colored pencils

Day
Teacher/Location
Activity
Student Grouping
CT=Classroom
Teacher
LMT=Library Media
Teacher
CR=Classroom
LMC=Libray Media
Center
CL=Computer Lab
HW=Homework
Resources
T=Teacher
S=Student
9
10
CT & LMT/CR
CT/CR
Note Taking with Fourth Graders Activity
Trash & Treasure Note Taking Activity
11
CT/CR
Precipitation Map Activity
11
LMT/LMC
small groups
12
13
CT/CR
CT/CR
Introduce Pathfinder to California’s Regions
Information then complete tutorial on the
World Book Encyclopedia-print
Read California text chapter 1, lesson 3
Population Map Activity
13-14
CT/CL
Let’s Discover California
whole class then
individual
13-30
CT/CR
Amos Gridley’s Lost 49er Gold Read Aloud
& Activity
small groups
14
CT/CR
whole class
14
15
CT/CR
CT/CR
15
CT/HW
Read California text chapter 1 lesson
4“Weather & Climate”
Add to class regions chart as needed
Elevation Map Activity, California text pp.
62-63
How to Read an Elevation Map Activity
15
LMT/CL
Tutorial for World Book Encyclopedia-CD
groups of 12-16
16
CT/CR
Use note taking strategies to take group notes
on a class chart covering regions’
information presented in text pp. 54-61
small groups
(other
days as
needed)
whole class
whole class then
individual
whole class
whole class
whole class
T: Note Taking with Fourth Graders script
T: overhead of note taking organizer
S: note taking organizer
T: overhead of precipitation map activity
questions
S: blank precipitation map, colored pencils
T: encyclopedia print & CD
S: pathfinder activity sheet and turotial for
the World Book Encyclopedia (print)
T/S: text pp. 64-69
T: overhead of population map &
questions
S: blank population map, colored pencils
T: load software in lab
S: note taking organizer
T: overhead of county map, Amos
Gridley’s Lost 49er Gold
S: county map, pencil
T/S: text pp. 70-75
whole class
T: large class regions chart
T/S: text pp. 62-63
individual
S: How to Read an Elevation Map activity
sheet
S: Tutorial for World Book EncyclopediaCD
T: divide students into groups of 4-6
S: lined paper, pencils, text
Check Point?
Day
Teacher/Location
Activity
Student Grouping
CT=Classroom
Teacher
LMT=Library Media
Teacher
CR=Classroom
LMC=Libray Media
Center
CL=Computer Lab
HW=Homework
Resources
Check Point?
T=Teacher
S=Student
16
CT/CR
Climate Map Activities
17
CT/CR
17
LMT & CR/CL
Read California text chapter 1 lesson 5
including Land Use map activity on pp.82-83
Tutorial on online search using favorites list
17
CT/HW
18
whole class then
groups of 2
whole class
T: overhead of climate maps
S: climate maps
T/S: text pp. 76-83
whole class
S: tutorial on online search using favorites
list
S: Natural Resources map
individual
CT/CR
Economic Features: Natural Resources Map
Activity
Introduce California Region Brochure
18
Day 18
& 25
Days
19-24
20
20
25-26
CT/CR
CT/CR
View Discover California video
Create relief maps
whole class
individual
CT/CL &
LMT/LMC
CT/CR
CT/CR
CT/CR
Research Stations
individual
whole class
individual
individual
27
27-30
CT/CR
CT/CR & HW
31
31-32
CT/CR
CT/CR & HW
View Over California video
Practice California Locations Quiz
Rough drafts of regions brochure—
paragraph writing
California Locations Quiz
Continue work on rough draft of regions
brochure
Brochure rough draft check
Complete final draft of regions brochure
33-34
CT/CR & HW
individual
33-34
CT/CR & HW
Use checklist/score sheet to review final
draft of regions brochure prior to due date
Chapter Test Review
35
36
CT/CR
CT/CR
Chapter Test
Unit Evaluation
whole class
individual
individual
individual
individual
whole class then
individual
individual
individual
T: overhead of brochure requirements
S: California Regions Brochure handouts
T: check out video from LMC
T: supplies for relief maps
T: research resources
S: note taking organizers
T: check out video from LMC
S: practice California locations quiz sheet
S: notes from region research, lined paper,
pencil
S: California locations quiz sheet
T: schedule additional computer lab time if
necessary
S: brochure rough draft
T: schedule extra computer time if
necessary
S: final draft of regions brochure, regions
brochure checklist/score sheet
T/S: text pp. 84-85, California Regions
map
S: Text Chapter 1 test form
T/S: evaluation forms
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