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Teachnet Disseminator Grant      << Back to all Grant Winners

Classroom Teacher

Subject: All

Grade Level: 5th

Materials: Computers with PowerPoint software and Internet connection, a scanner, and other resources

About: Students learn to do research about a country and how and why its people have left it to come to America.

Students produce a PowerPoint presentation with pictures, text, and even film clips and audio about the country they researched.

The students learn to do Internet research and to distinguish between authentic and questionable sources. In addition, students use PowerPoint as creatively as they can -- creating a real multimedia presentation.

It is extremely helpful to prepare a PowerPoint template with instructions that the students replace with their work as the project progresses.

 Objectives
Students explain what climate and geography is and how it affects a country.
Students use the computer and books to conduct research on climate and geography.
Students analyze information to elicit relevant facts for notes.
Students write important information in a succinct and engaging format.
Students utilize the computer to effectively present their information.

Websites
Wikipdeia -- Encyclopedia Portal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
The CIA World Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
Cultural, historical, and statistical country information
http://www.countryreports.org/
ClassBrain Country Reports
http://www.classbrain.com/cb_reports.htm
Fact Monster from Information Please
http://www.factmonster.com/countries.html
Ask Jeeves for Kids
http://www.askforkids.com/

Standards
Students use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in world history and examine the broad sweep of history from a variety of perspectives.
5
Social Studies
Students use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of the geography of the interdependent world in which we live, including the distribution of people, places, and environments over the Earth’s surface.
5
Social Studies
Students apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.
5
Technology
As listeners and readers, students collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they use oral and written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.
5
ELA
Students read and listen to oral, written, and electronically produced texts and performances; relate texts and performances to their own lives; and develop an understanding of the diverse social, historical, and cultural dimensions the texts and performances represent. As speakers and writers, they use oral and written language for self-expression and artistic creation.
5
ELA

Day 1: Introduction to Report and Template
Objectives
Students become familiar with the PowerPoint template.
Students choose a country for their report.
Materials
Completed PowerPoint presentation and PowerPoint template
Procedures
The teacher brainstorms with students about what life in another country might be like.
The teacher reads a short article written by a child from another country describing life in that country.
The teacher introduces the project.
The teacher shows a completed PowerPoint project.
Students choose a country for their project. They can work in pairs, but each must write their own report.
Homework
Get information about chosen country.
Assessment

Day 2: Where in the World Is Your Country?
Objectives
Students learn where their country is located.
Students learn how location affects the development of a country.
Materials
Map
Procedures
The teacher asks students if they can locate their country.
The teacher elicits ideas about how location (like being close to the equator) can affect people.
Students research their country's location and analyze how it has affected its development.
Homework
Finish any research and notes.
Assessment
Observe research and review notes.

Day 3: How Does Climate and Geography Affect a Country
Objectives
Students learn about different types of climates.
Students learn about key features of geography.
Students analyze how the climate and geography of their country affected its development.
Materials
Map
Research sources (the Internet and books)
Procedures
The class brainstorms about different types of climates.
The teacher elicits ideas about how climate affects a country's development.
The class brainstorms about different geological features.
The teacher elicits ideas about how geography affects a country's development.
The students analyze how climate and geography has affected their country's development.
Homework
Finish any research and notes.
Assessment
Observe research and review notes.

Day 4: How Does Government and Language Affect a Country
Objectives
Students learn about different types of government.
Students learn about different types of languages.
Students analyze how the government and language of their country affected its development.
Materials
Map
Research sources (the Internet and books)
Procedures
The class brainstorms about different types of government.
The teacher elicits ideas about how government affects a country's development.
The class brainstorms about different languages.
The teacher elicits ideas about how language affects a country's development.
Students analyze how government and language has affected their country's development.
Homework
Finish any research and notes.
Assessment
Observe research and review notes.

Day 5: Creating a Character
Objectives
Students create a character from their country who will narrate their report.
Students learn about writing in the first person.
Materials
Map
Research sources (the Internet and books)
Procedures
The teacher re-introduces completed PowerPoint report and reads a portion.
Students create a character from their country and describe basic characteristics.
Students use this character when creating their PowerPoint report, writing in the first person.
Homework
Draw a picture of your character.
Assessment
Review student's writing.

Alison Garfield

agarfield29@aol.com

P.S. 062
97-25 108th Street
Richmond Hill, NY 11419

Alison Garfield is a 5th grade teacher who is also part of the New York City Teaching Fellows Program. She came to teaching from a career in publishing.


Important documents for this lesson plan.

country report template.ppt
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