Unit Overview
"Creating Continents, Climates and Cultures" is a
designed to be a comprehensive enrichment unit which helps
students make cognitive connections between physical land
formations, climate patterns, and the cultures that develop
therein. The unit builds upon each lesson toward the successful
completion of the "Continent Project." It is important
that all students complete the lesson successfully in order to
advance to the next stage of the project. You may collect and
check for accuracy and give written feedback, or check the
student groups off as you monitor their progress and give help
where it is needed. The students will need to refer to previous
tasks as they relate them to the development of the project.
Unit Assessment
I believe that an important part of student learning is
allowing the students to assess their own work. They will
ultimately be held accountable to the teacher's assessment of
student mastery, but the critical skills obtained by analyzing
their own work and self correcting should not be underestimated.
I have developed a "Self-Assessment Rubric" for this
unit which can be used by the students and teacher. Continent
Project Assessment Rubric
Social Science Standards Addressed
Students will be able to:. Identify the major physical land formations on each
continent.. Have an understanding of latitude and longitude.. Explain relationships between physical land formations,
climate patterns, and the cultures.
Estimated Time for Project
The entire unit should take about 10 to 15 class periods
depending on age and ability.
Software & Materials Used
Basic internet connections are required for this unit.
Although, if only the teacher has access to the internet,
materials may be printed out and photocopied for the students.
Classroom materials are basic: Classroom atlases (or internet
access to atlas sites), white construction paper, scissors,
glue, paper, and colored pencils.
Key Words
Lesson Plans, Social Studies, Geography, Physical Land
Formations, Continents, Longitude, Latitude, Climate, Culture,
Standards, Maps, Writing, Project, Middle School, Junior High
School
Students
I have taught this unit to a number of students with
differential learning abilities. The students have traditionally
been between 11 and 14 years old with heterogeneous cultures,
ethnicities, and affluency levels. Virtually all students
respond positively to the creativity offered in this unit. It
offers an opportunity to succeed and most students perform to
the expected levels of expectations.
Overall Value
One of the strong points of this project is it is easily
modified for students with learning difficulties or second
language learners. The unit offers the teacher many
opportunities to interact with students in an active and
positive way. Certain lessons are well suited to collaborative
activities which keep the students actively participating the
majority of the time. The lessons are exceptionally strong in
getting students to use their higher thinking skills while they
synthesize and apply knowledge based information about
Continents, Climates and Cultures.
Subject Area: Social Studies
Second Subject Area: Language Arts (can be a good writing
unit)
Starting Grade Level: 5th
Ending Grade Level: 9th
Tips for the Teacher
The most important tip I can give to a teacher of this unit
is to enjoy the teaching of each lesson. Don't hesitate to
make changes and invent your own ways of presentation, but be
sure to strive to intrigue the students with all of the
possibilities as they create their own new world.
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Michael W.
Orton
Fesler Junior High School
Mike Orton has been a 7th and 8th grade teacher in the Santa
Maria-Bonita School District, on the beautiful central coast of
California since 1991.
He received his degree in social science at U.C. Irvine,
completed his credentials at Cal. Poly. San Luis Obispo, and
earned a Masters in Teaching from Grand Canyon University.
Having been an actor before a teacher, Mike enjoys bringing his
talents as a performer into the classroom. He believes an active
and positive classroom climate is the means to curriculum
mastery, so play it up and have some fun! |