Where Are You Located?
Annotation
In this lesson the students will learn to use an encyclopedia and an atlas.  They will find geographical information about the states of which the signers of the United States Constitution are located.  The students will locate the state and determine several features such as the temperature, the distance from Georgia, important monuments, etc.

Primary Learning Outcome:

The students will use an atlas to find geographical information.
Students will use an encyclopedia to find information.

Assessed QCC:
Topic:  Regions
Standard:  Identifies physical regions within the United States and describes major physical features of each region.
Standards: Local and/or National

Total Duration:
1 hour

Materials and Equipment:
Pens and/or pencils
an atlas for each student
A blank sheet of paper
A set of encyclopedias
Index cards that contain the names of the signers of the United States Constitution and the states they live in.

Technology Connection:
Title:  U. S. Constitution
 URL:  http://www.constitutionfacts.com/cons.shtml
 Annotation:  This website includes facts about the Constitution.

Procedures:

Step One

The teacher will tell the students what they will be doing in this activity.  The teacher will explain that there were several signers of the United States Constitution.  He or she will say, “Today class we will be locating the states that the United States Constitution signers live in. I will assign you a specific name and state.  Together, with your partner, you will locate that state using an atlas and an encyclopedia.  I will give you a list of required facts to find, but you may add as much as you can find.
Estimated Time:  5 minutes

Step Two
The teacher will put the students into pairs.  He or she will give each student an index card that has a name of a signer of the United States Constitution on one side and the state that he or she was from on the other side.
Estimated Time: 5 minutes

Lesson Materials to be Attached:
Title:
U. S. Constitution Cards
Annotation:  Index cards that include a name of a signer of the United States Constitution and the state he or she lives in.
Step Three
The students will use encyclopedias and an atlas to find information about the state that the signer lives in.  For example, the student will find the weather and climate, important monument or landforms located in the state, what states border it, what would a tourist do to have fun in this state, etc.

Estimated Time: 30 minutes

Web Links:
Title:  U. S. Constitution
URL:  http://www.constitutionfacts.com/cons.shtml
Annotation:  This website includes facts about the Constitution.

Assessment:
The students will be assessed on how well they used the atlas and encyclopedia to find the required information.
1. The student will find the weather and climate.
2. The student will find important monument or landforms located in the state.
3. What states border it?
4. What states would you travel through to get to Georgia?
5. What would a tourist do to have fun in this state?

Extension:
The students who have mastered the assignment will continue finding information by searching the Internet.

Remediation:
The students who need additional help will be put with have a partner to help find the needed information.

Accommodation:
The number of requirements of information can be decreased.  The teacher or another student can help the pair.

Modification:
Using only one resource book to find the information can change this lesson to help those with needs.  The number of requirements can be decreased.
 

Grading Rubric



 
5 points
Completed at least 5 facts about the specific state
4 points
Completed at least 4 facts about the specific state
3 points
Completed at least 3 facts about the specific state
2 points
Completed at least 2 facts about the specific state
1 point
Completed at least 1 fact about the specifc state
0 points
Completed 0 facts about the specific state

Pre/Post Test

1.What are the different elements and information that you can find on maps?

2. How many people signed the United States Constitution?