Stage 1 – Desired Results
Content Standard(s):
SS3G1 The student will locate major topographical features.
a. Identify major rivers of the United States of America: Mississippi, Ohio, Rio Grande, Colorado, Hudson.
b. Identify major mountain ranges of the United States of America: Appalachian, Rocky.
ELACC3W2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
a. Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension.
b. Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details.
ELACC3W4: With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and
purpose. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
ELACC3W5: With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.
(Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of Language standards 1–3 up to and including grade 3.)
ELACC3W7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
Understanding (s)/goals
Students will understand that:
Essential Question
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Students will understand how to locate the Rocky and
Appalachian Mountains and how to locate the following
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Where are the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains located in
the United States?
Where are the Hudson, Ohio, Rio Grande, Mississippi, and
rivers: Hudson, Colorado, Mississippi, Rio Grande,
Ohio.
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Colorado Rivers located?
How can I use the information I have learned about a subject
to write an informational paper?
Student objectives (outcomes):
Students will be able to:
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Students will be able to locate and identify the Rocky and Appalachian Mountain.
Students will be able to locate and identify the Hudson River, Ohio River, Rio Grande River, Mississippi River, and Colorado
River.
Students will be able to use a map and label the mountains and rivers identified in the 3rd grade standards.
Performance Task(s):
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Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence
Other Evidence:
Students will observe a United States map.
Students will locate, identify, and label the Rocky and
Appalachian Mountains on a United States map.
Students locate the Hudson River, Ohio River, Rio
Grande River, Mississippi River, and Colorado River
on a blank United States map.
Students will choose one mountain or river to research
and write an informational paper about it.
[Rubrics can be used to guide students in selfassessment
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Pre-test quiz in groups (label map)
Blank United States map quiz of mountains and rivers
Informational Paper
Stage 3 – Learning Plan
Learning Activities:
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Students have already learned about the mountains and rivers earlier in the year. This is a review to see what they have
retained.
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Have students work in groups to complete a map quiz. They will work in groups of 4. Give them a blank United States map
and have them identify the following rivers and mountains: Rocky and Appalachian Mountains and the Hudson, Ohio, Rio
Grande, Colorado, and Mississippi Rivers.
Use the document camera to project a United States map and have students come to the board and write in names of the
mountains and rivers. Students will then check their quiz to see if they were correct.
Discuss as a class what the mountains and rivers border.
Review the components of an informational paper.
Explain to students that they will choose a mountain range or river to research and write an informational paper about.
Students will use the internet, library books, and their social studies text to complete this.
Next show students they podcast about the major mountain ranges and rivers.
After watching the podcast hand out a blank map and have students follow the directions from the podcast.
Students will turn in maps to teacher and begin working on informational papers.
Students will have 4 days to complete their paper.
Students will use the rubric to guide them.
Resources:
1. Understanding by design (UBD) framework (same as above) in Microsoft Word format (download file)
2. www.50states.com
3. www.georgiastandards.org
Writing Rubric
Ideas
Organization
Conventions
3
2
1
Paper consists of one
mountain or river.
Ideas flow smoothly
with one another.
Paper has a clear
beginning, middle, and
end. All parts are
equally strong.
Less than 3 mistakes on
punctuation and
grammar.
Paper consists of one
mountain or river but
ideas do not flow
smoothly.
Paper has a beginning,
middle, and end. Some
parts may be stronger
than the others.
Paper contains 3-6
mistakes on
punctuation and
grammar.
Paper does not focus on
one idea.
Paper does not have a
beginning, middle, or
end.
Paper has more than 6
mistakes on
punctuation and
grammar.
Writing Rubric
Ideas
Organization
Conventions
3
2
1
Paper consists of one
mountain or river.
Ideas flow smoothly
with one another.
Paper has a clear
beginning, middle, and
end. All parts are
equally strong.
Less than 3 mistakes on
punctuation and
grammar.
Paper consists of one
mountain or river but
ideas do not flow
smoothly.
Paper has a beginning,
middle, and end. Some
parts may be stronger
than the others.
Paper contains 3-6
mistakes on
punctuation and
grammar.
Paper does not focus on
one idea.
Paper does not have a
beginning, middle, or
end.
Paper has more than 6
mistakes on
punctuation and
grammar.