Day 8: Shape of Virginia
Objective:
The student will develop map skills by identifying the shapes of the United States and Virginia on maps and globes (1.4c)
Materials:
Green Play-Doh
Map of the United States
Map of the World
Globe
Map of Virginia divided into Five Regions
Various Maps of Virginia- see resources below
Map of the United States
Map of the World
Globe
Map of Virginia divided into Five Regions
Various Maps of Virginia- see resources below
Events of Instruction:
- Instruct students to "make Virginia" from the green play-doh
- Students compare their depictions of Virginia in their table groups
- Gather students for whole-group instruction
- Ask for volunteers to point out Virginia on a map of the United States.
- Describe where Virginia is located on a map of the United States- identifying the states that it touches.
- Ask students to identify the state located south of Virginia. Which states border Virginia to the west? What state is directly north of Virginia?
- Ask for volunteers to point out Virginia on a map of the Earth
- Ask for a volunteer to find Virginia on a globe
- Ask students to describe the shape of Virginia
- Give five students pieces of a Virginia map, representing the five regions. Instruct the students to put the pieces together like a puzzle on the board. Instruct students that Virginia is divided into five regions.
- Instruct students to return to their table groups.
- Distribute the cut-up pieces/segments of the various Virginia maps, so that each group must put together a puzzle representing the shape of the state.
- Ask students to try to determine what their respective group map tells us about Virginia (each map is different).
- Students share their maps with the class.
- Instruct students to draw a map of Virginia in their interactive notebooks.
Differentiation:
- ELL students should be assigned to groups with advanced readers and especially helpful students
- By incorporating drawing activities and puzzles, students who are still acquiring language skills are able to participate.
- Students who finish early should create multiple maps of Virginia illustrating different features and facts about the state.
Assessment:
- Students will discuss the shape of Virginia
- Students will put together a puzzle of the state
- Students will construct a map of Virginia in their interactive notebooks
Resources:
References:
- http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/specialevents/virginiaweather_large.html
- http://geology.com/cities-map/virginia.shtml
- http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/county-map/virginia.shtml
- http://geology.com/lakes-rivers-water/virginia.shtml
- http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/vclnavulnerable.shtml