Third Grade Michigan S Digging Into the Past

Third Grade Michigan’s Digging Into the Past

Lesson 1 Title: Cardinal Directions

Unit of Study: Third Grade Digging Into the Past

GLCE: G1.0.1 Use cardinal directions (north, south, east, west) to describe the relative location of significant places in the immediate environment. G1.0.2 Use thematic maps to identify and describe the physical and human characteristics of Michigan.

Abstract: Students will learn about the cardinal directions in relation to their state. Students will also identify key Michigan features.

Key Concepts: Cardinal directions, location

Sequence of Activities: (approximately 45 minutes)

1. Using any map, explain to students that the compass rose is the tool on the map which shows the cardinal directions. You may want to use “Never Eat Soggy Worms” to help with the order. Cardinals are birds and they don’t like their worms soggy so this can reinforce the use of the vocabulary word – Cardinal.

2. What is a compass rose? Have students stand and model using compass directions. “Everyone face north.” “Everyone face east.” Have students close eyes or just point. Practice this quickly throughout the unit.

3. Supplement compass rose worksheets as needed.

NOTE: Students my find the starting points difficult to locate in some of the worksheets. Emphasize the starting point. “Start at the ‘of’ or the ‘from,’” is a good way to do this. Example: “The desk is south of the rug.” Students will start at the ‘of’ place (the rug) and use the compass rose from there. Students can circle the word ‘of’ and underline the starting place.“ of the rug.”

This works the same for ‘from’. “Go to the window that is south from the door.” Students will circle the ‘from’ and underline ‘the door.’ This will help with finding their starting point for directions.

4. Ask students to find Michigan on the map. (Map is included.)

5. Ask students to identify which states are east, west, etc.

Calhoun ISD Social Studies Curriculum Design Project Third Grade Michigan’s Digging Into the Past

6. Place a landform map of Michigan on the overhead (map included). Review with the students and label the peninsulas, Grand River, Lansing, Detroit, your own city, Great Lakes, Mount Arvon, Keweenaw Peninsula, and Saginaw Bay. Use the words “Human” and “Physical or Natural” characteristics as you talk about each item. Brainstorm human and physical/natural characteristics. The GLCE uses the term physical but the MEAP used the term natural so both terms need to be emphasized.

Human Characteristics are items you would find on a map that were created by humans. The following examples will be on the exam: bridges, cities, state boundaries, houses, and roads. Physical/Natural Characteristics are items you would find on a map that were created by nature. The following examples will be on the exam: lakes, forests, rivers, beaches, and mountains.

COOKIES 7. Hand out baked sugar cookies in the shape of Michigan. (White bread or salt/cinnamon dough can be substituted. Think about making these as holiday gifts later.) Cookie cutters can be purchased or made using cardboard. Use the words “Human” and “Physical or Natural” characteristics as you place items on cookies.

8. Ice and decorate the cookies accordingly:  Blue icing-Michigan lakes and rivers  Green icing-Michigan land  Mini Chocolate Morsels-Porcupine Mountains  Mini M & M’s-capital and other cities  Half of a Fruit Loop or Cheerio as the bridge.

9. When the cookie is finished share with each other.

10. Enjoy the cookie!

English Language Arts

Mathematics

Instructional Resources:

Equipment/Manipulative Michigan Shaped Cookie Cutter (Hillsdale Publishing) Classroom maps Wax paper Cookie dough Hershey morsels M & Ms

Icing Landform map of Michigan

Student Resources

Teacher Resources

o http://www.exploringthenorth.com/tahqua/tahqua.html: information about Tahquamenon Falls o http://totally3rdgrade.com: fun lessons and songs about map skills o http://www.porcupinemountains.com/ : information about Porcupine Mountains o http://www.mapsofworld.com/usa/states/michigan/michigan-river-map.html# map of Michigan rivers

Name ______N

1. What state is south of Indiana? ______

2. What state is east of Wisconsin? ______

3. Minnesota is ______of Iowa.

4. Missouri is ______of Iowa.

5. To get from Michigan to Kentucky, go ______.

6. Start at Ohio and go ______to Illinois.

Use as an overhead.

Calhoun ISD Social Studies Curriculum Design Project