Stephanie Loftin April 6, 2005 Illinois: Getting To Know Your State A Project Overview

Project Overview 1.Assists in meeting 4 th grade state of Illinois requirement 2.Consists of three components - can be used together - can be used separately as independent units 3.Lessons - cross-curricular - differentiated for all learners - modified for all learning styles - technologically driven - incorporate American Memory site from the Library of Congress

Illinois 1.Explores historical information and current data 2.Incorporates social studies, reading, and technology 3.Includes three differentiated assignments - worksheet - Inspiration project (AAM) - Microsoft PowerPoint “Our 50 States” (AAM)

Abraham Lincoln 1.Students learn about the life of Abraham Lincoln 2. Cross-curricular: reading, language arts, social studies, and technology 3. Activities include - partner reading project - character map - Microsoft PowerPoint presentation (AAM) 4. Teacher page includes list of possible modifications for differentiated instruction and assessment.

Take A Trip to Springfield 1.Interactive set of six cross-curricular activities (modules) in which students simulate the planning and organization needed to take a trip to Springfield 2.Modules include: - write a business letter to obtain a Springfield Visitor’s Guide - using Internet sites to research the trip - create a budget and an itinerary - find travel maps (Mapquest and Rand McNally) and driving directions - calculate round trip mileage - figure amount and cost of gasoline using internet gas pricing sites (includes math extended response) - virtual sightseeing (includes summarizing activity) - write a postcard (AAM activity) 3.Extension activities - Include graphing, map scale, calculating mean, median, mode, and range of gas prices, writing driving directions for sightseeing in downtown Springfield on one-way streets 4.Teacher page includes ideas of modifications.

Extra for Teachers Trade book bibliography Illinois Websites document link on student and teacher pages Idea for a presenter included Table with all handouts (worksheets, copies of student pages and extension activities) Grading rubric (Adobe Acrobat fill-in form) Modifications are imbedded and/or lists of suggestions is provided

Connections to AAM 1.Included in activities and assessments - Illinois: Inspiration - Illinois: Microsoft PowerPoint “Our 50 States” - Abraham Lincoln: Microsoft PowerPoint - Take a Trip to Springfield: Module 6 – Write a postcard 2. AAM resources embedded into web design - photographs - sound file