Mapping and Measuring Our World Ernie Laden and Kate Barton Curriculum Project Education 200

Overall Goal ► In a 4 th grade class room, this unit will develop students’ spatial intelligence and give them a deeper understanding of the geography of their community and the United States.

Objectives ► Students will improve and develop spatial awareness based on actual distance and familiar locations. ► Students will gain an understanding of conversions through visual aids and measurements. ► Students will analyze local and national geography and construct detailed maps of designated regions. ► Students will illustrate and compare estimated distances relative to scale. ► Students will improve interpersonal relations by critiquing and evaluating each others work and presenting their own work to the class.

Justification ► The Connecticut Bureau of Curriculum and Instruction for 4 th grade classes requires students to be able to: - “ - “observe and describe how places and regions are identified, defined and bounded” (Social Studies Standard 9) - “locate places within their own and nearby communities in Connecticut” (Social Studies Standard 9) - “Estimate lengths and areas by comparing” and “convert distance” using appropriate measurement (Mathematics 15 A and 16) - “Estimate lengths and areas by comparing” and “convert distance” using appropriate measurement (Mathematics 15 A and 16) ► The objectives also reflect Bloom’s Taxonomy and Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences.

Daily Planner MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFriday ► Students draw map of their neighborhood emphasizing landmarks ► Students compare maps in small groups ► Create a list of important landmarks in area ► Class creates large map ► Field Trip! ► Walk to top of chapel tower at Trinity College ► Students estimate distance between visible landmarks ► Class modifies large map ► Students are shown maps of neighborhood ► Measure actual distances on maps ► Compare estimated and actual distances ► Class redraws large map ► Homework: Determine landmarks ► Students identify national landmarks on maps ► Analyze and calculate distances from McDonough Elementary ► Class enlarges map to accurately include new landmarks ► Evaluation ► Students teach class how to locate a specific landmark using knowledge acquired throughout the week

Wednesday : A Closer Look ► Students are shown real satellite photos from Google Earth and Yahoo Maps ► Maps and photos projected onto the wall - String is used to measure distances between previously established landmarks ► Students work in groups to convert measured distance to actual distance ► Compare estimated distance to distance found ► Redraw class map with accurate distances to specified landmarks ► Homework: Determine landmark to “teach” the class

Wednesday : A Closer Look ► Students are shown real satellite photos from Google Earth and Yahoo Maps ► Maps and photos projected onto the wall - String is used to measure distances between previously established landmarks ► Students work in groups to convert measured distance to actual distance ► Compare estimated distance to distance found ► Redraw class map with accurate distances to specified landmarks ► Homework: Determine landmark to “teach” the class

Friday : Evaluation Day ► Students will be assigned a landmark of their choice or from a number of suggestions (i.e. – Pope Park, the State Capitol) ► Each student must show the class where their landmark is located and measure its distance from McDonough ► Presentations can include any method of measurement taught throughout the week ► Students will pinpoint their landmark on the large map.

The end!