Perspective:  Geographic Perspective
Benchmark: Content Standard 4; Benchmark 1- Draw sketch maps of the community, region, and nation.
Grade Level: Fourth

Anticipatory Set:

In order to get the students' attention on America's landforms, monuments, and regions, the teacher is going to be a puppeteer, using puppets such as Bullwinkle and Scooby-Doo, to share with the class some of America's most magnificent places. Stress to the students that the knowledge that they learn today is extremely beneficial because it is part of a unit that they will discuss for the next few days.

Today students will demonstrate their knowledge on  three regions of the United States, five landforms, and two monuments. Lastly, the puppet will state that the United States is a wonderful place to travel, just as St. Augustine said,  "The world is a book, and those who do not travel, read only a page."

Input - Mode of Instruction

Overview: The purpose of this presentation will be to introduce  students to three geographic regions, five landforms, and two monuments
of the United States. The students will then apply that knowledge during hands-on activities.

NOTE: This lesson is only one part of  a unit plan.

Lesson Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. recognize regions, landforms, and monuments.
2. locate regions, landforms, and monuments.
3. answer questions based on United States regions, landforms, and monuments.

Procedure - Short Presentation and  Activity 1. Using a magnetic map board, the teacher will start by reviewing the regions of the United States previously covered in relation to the surrounding oceans. The students will take out their maps and there will be time to answer any questions. 2. The three new regions will be introduced. They are the Midwest, Northeast, and the Dakotas with the surrounding states. The students will locate, plot, and color these regions on their maps. Students' materials will be set aside. 3. The five landforms will be introduced. They include the Mississippi River, Niagaro Falls, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, and the Appalachian Mountains. The students will locate and plot these landforms on their maps. Students' materials will be set aside. 4. The two national monuments will be introduced. They are Mount Rushmore and the Capitol Building. The students will recognize, locate, and plot these on their maps. 5. Throughout the mini lecture and activity, we will ask students  to explain a concept, definition, or attribute in their own words and how they arrived at these conclusions.

Closure and Reflection:
 

Over the course of our U.S. geography unit, we have learned about regions, landforms, and monuments throughout the
nation. The students should all be able to recognize and locate a variety of important U.S. geographic sites. Some of them that we covered today are the Mississippi River, Niagaro Falls, Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, Mount Rushmore, and the Capitol Building. Therefore, the students should be able to answer the following questions.

• What are the similarities and differences between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains?
• What do you consider to be the most important monument discussed?
• What are the characteristics of the Midwest and the Dakotas?
• What is the proper order of regions from the west to the east?
• What evidence supports the economic use of the Mississippi River?
• What might you add to the United States Capitol Building for a more modern look?
• What region, landform, or monument you like best? Be prepared to share finding with the class.
• If you could visit only one place in the United States that we have learned about, what would it be and why?
• Which place in the Untied States do you feel is the most beneficial for a tourist to visit in order to grasp the meaning of America, and why do you feel this way?

Extension Activity:

In conclusion, the students will have a map with all of the United States regions filled in, five landforms, and two monuments. For an extension activity, the students will be asked to use any other resource of their choice to add in four new monuments and three new landforms. Following this class session, students can be grouped into cooperative learning groups to share their new findings with their classmates. The new findings will be drawn and colored on their maps, which will be displayed around the classroom.