US Regions Lesson Design

Lesson Plans | WebQuests | Rubrics | Assessments

Lesson Plans

Defining Regions of the US - lesson plan
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/04/g912/usregions.html

Desert Life in the American Southwest - Introduction to what a desert is with links to the geology, plants, animals and people of the desert.
http://www.desertusa.com/life.html

Fifty State Quarters Program
Lesson plans from the US Mint. The Westward Journey Nickel Series™ Lesson Plans
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/index.cfm?fileContents=teachers/lessons.cfm

Fifty States, Five Lessons
Lesson ideas from Education World.
http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson278.shtml

Landforms
Types of Land in the United States
You can learn more about islands, plain, mountains and desserts of the United States by clicking on them in the map.
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/typesofland/typesofland.html

Lessons by State
from Fifty States
http://www.proteacher.com/090082.shtml

Mr. Don's Lesson Plans & Activities for the 50 States
http://members.aol.com/MrDonnHistory/States.html

Regions of the US - Literature Connection
This unit of study covers seven regions in the United States. The lessons use literature to examine the concepts of diversity and promote respect and understanding of all Americans. Each lesson can be used independently or as part of the unit.
http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/passport/lessonplan/lessons/regions.html

What Do Maps Show?
Downloadable materials. Please consult Teacher's Guide, which explains how the activities are related to locations, places, relationships, movement, and regions.
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapsshow.htm

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WebQuests
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About WebQuests
The WebQuest concept was created by Bernie Dodge and Tom March. Webquests are "an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet." Be sure to visit the Training Materials page for teacher resources including pedagogy, tips and templates.
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/index.html

From the WebQuest Portal Page http://webquest.org/ you can search for a specific webquest or choose Top, Middle or New to view a webquest matrix which is organized by grade and subject.

Rubrics for Web Lessons
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/rubrics/weblessons.htm

WebQuests - Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators
More great information on webquests.
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/webquest/webquest.html

The following is a sampling of the webquests available. Take a look, then use the one as is, adapt to suit your needs, get inspiration for a lesson, or create your own!

Immigration - The American Dream
After completing this webquest, you will have acquired a lot more knowledge about
the history of immigration to America and about the dreams, and expectations.
http://www.rede-nonio.min-edu.pt/es/sebgama/immigration/wquest.html

Immigration - California Gold Rush WebQuest
http://eprentice.sdsu.edu/J03OJ/saucedo/Web%20Quest/WQGOLD.html

Immigration - Gold Rush WebQuest
http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/moesterle/goldrushWQ/goldrush.htm

Immigration - Santa Fe Trial WebQuest
http://www.42explore2.com/santafe.htm

Immigration WebQuest
After completing the Immigration WebQuest, you will have learned
about early immigration and arriving at Ellis Island
http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/immigration/immigration.htm

Regions - Travel Through the Regions of the Good Ol' USA
You have been given the chance to take a virtual tour of the USA. As you travel from region to region, you will work in groups to collect information that will enable you to make maps, design pamphlets, and prepare informative presentations for the rest of the class.
http://www.epd86.org/carlson/sregions.html

Regions of the United States WebQuest
Focused on naming regions by considering climatic, physical, political, cultural, and economic characteristics.
http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/krozier2/webquest.htm

Regions Webquest
You and your relocation team will be learning about the five different US regions in order to determine the best location for your new toy/sports equipment facility. After studying each of the regions you will be asked construct a PowerPoint presentation for the company’s board of directors that will include an overview of the regions your studied as well as a recommendation for where your company should expand.
http://www.ih.k12.oh.us/estech/regions_webquest/

States - Design a New Quarter
http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/williams/quarterwebquest/

States - Hotlist of US States WebQuests
http://www.edina.k12.mn.us/concord/webquests/wqstates.html

States - Fifty State WebQuest
http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/webquests/usstates/states.htm

Symbol - United States Symbol WebQuest
http://www.nashville-schools.davidson.k12.tn.us/webquests/united_states_symbols.htm

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Rubric

What is a rubric and how to use them.
From FDR Elementary School, Lima, Peru
http://www.amersol.edu.pe/es/techlab/Rubric/index.asp

Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators - Assessment Rubrics
Rubric Builders and Generator. This site enables teachers is to provide a rubric for student use and for both formative and summative assessment purposes.
http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/assess.html

Chicago Public Schools
This site has extensive information regarding ways to make and use rubrics.
http://intranet.cps.k12.il.us/assessments/

Multiple Intelligence Template
http://192.107.108.56/portfolios/p/perrotta_t/think2/intelligences.htm

RubiStar Home
Choose a topic and create a new rubric based on a template. You can print
a rubric made this way, but you cannot save or edit it online.
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

Rubric Builder
The Rubric Builder enables teachers to build effective assessment rubrics and to
make them available over the World Wide Web.
http://www.landmark-project.com/classweb/tools/rubric_builder.php3

Rubric for Collaborative Group Fieldwork Research
Students will be assessed on their ability to show the relationship between a region and the states.
http://www.louisianavoices.org/Unit9/edu_unit9w_colab_group_fie.html

Rubric Makers
From Web Tools for Educators. Sign up for free weekly teaching tips newsletter.
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/

Rubric Maker
From Scholastic. Easy to use, basic form.
http://teacher.scholastic.com/homepagebuilder/rubric.htm

Rubric Template
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/july/rubrics/Rubric_Template.html

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Assessments Tasks

Alphabets Book - Create a class ABC book about a region.

Region Recipe - Draft a recipe for your region. Ingredients and procedures reflect facts, climate, natural resources, immigrant groups or any other characteristic of the region.

Newspaper - Publish a newspaper that reflects interests, history, geography, etc. of a region.

Oral Presentation - While one student presents, have others look for answers to specific question.

Post Card - Send a postcard from your region. Import an image from the Internet or draw an original. The message will reflect regional information.

Play - Produce and perform a play that focuses on the region.

State Suitcase - Use a manila folder for the suitcase. Don't forget to make handles! Among other items the suitcase must contain a persuasive paragraph about the region.

Swap Shop - Student trade one good idea about their region with each other.

Trading Card - Create base ball style trading card with condensed, salient region facts.

Travel Brochure - Publish a tri-fold brochure persuading people to visit a region.

	Regions of the United States Lesson Design
	Lesson Plans \| WebQuests \| Rubrics \| Assessments Lesson Plans Defining Regions of the US - lesson plan http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/04/g912/usregions.html Desert Life in the American Southwest - Introduction to what a desert is with links to the geology, plants, animals and people of the desert. http://www.desertusa.com/life.html Fifty State Quarters Program Lesson plans from the US Mint. The Westward Journey Nickel Series™ Lesson Plans http://www.usmint.gov/kids/index.cfm?fileContents=teachers/lessons.cfm Fifty States, Five Lessons Lesson ideas from Education World. http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson278.shtml Landforms Types of Land in the United States You can learn more about islands, plain, mountains and desserts of the United States by clicking on them in the map. http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/typesofland/typesofland.html Lessons by State from Fifty States http://www.proteacher.com/090082.shtml Mr. Don's Lesson Plans & Activities for the 50 States http://members.aol.com/MrDonnHistory/States.html Regions of the US - Literature Connection This unit of study covers seven regions in the United States. The lessons use literature to examine the concepts of diversity and promote respect and understanding of all Americans. Each lesson can be used independently or as part of the unit. http://jeffcoweb.jeffco.k12.co.us/passport/lessonplan/lessons/regions.html What Do Maps Show? Downloadable materials. Please consult Teacher's Guide, which explains how the activities are related to locations, places, relationships, movement, and regions. http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapsshow.htm Top WebQuests Everything You Always Wanted to Know About WebQuests The WebQuest concept was created by Bernie Dodge and Tom March. Webquests are "an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet." Be sure to visit the Training Materials page for teacher resources including pedagogy, tips and templates. http://webquest.sdsu.edu/index.html From the WebQuest Portal Page http://webquest.org/ you can search for a specific webquest or choose Top, Middle or New to view a webquest matrix which is organized by grade and subject. Rubrics for Web Lessons http://webquest.sdsu.edu/rubrics/weblessons.htm WebQuests - Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators More great information on webquests. http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/webquest/webquest.html The following is a sampling of the webquests available. Take a look, then use the one as is, adapt to suit your needs, get inspiration for a lesson, or create your own! Immigration - The American Dream After completing this webquest, you will have acquired a lot more knowledge about the history of immigration to America and about the dreams, and expectations. http://www.rede-nonio.min-edu.pt/es/sebgama/immigration/wquest.html Immigration - California Gold Rush WebQuest http://eprentice.sdsu.edu/J03OJ/saucedo/Web%20Quest/WQGOLD.html Immigration - Gold Rush WebQuest http://coe.west.asu.edu/students/moesterle/goldrushWQ/goldrush.htm Immigration - Santa Fe Trial WebQuest http://www.42explore2.com/santafe.htm Immigration WebQuest After completing the Immigration WebQuest, you will have learned about early immigration and arriving at Ellis Island http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/webquests/immigration/immigration.htm Regions - Travel Through the Regions of the Good Ol' USA You have been given the chance to take a virtual tour of the USA. As you travel from region to region, you will work in groups to collect information that will enable you to make maps, design pamphlets, and prepare informative presentations for the rest of the class. http://www.epd86.org/carlson/sregions.html Regions of the United States WebQuest Focused on naming regions by considering climatic, physical, political, cultural, and economic characteristics. http://webtech.kennesaw.edu/krozier2/webquest.htm Regions Webquest You and your relocation team will be learning about the five different US regions in order to determine the best location for your new toy/sports equipment facility. After studying each of the regions you will be asked construct a PowerPoint presentation for the company’s board of directors that will include an overview of the regions your studied as well as a recommendation for where your company should expand. http://www.ih.k12.oh.us/estech/regions_webquest/ States - Design a New Quarter http://www.nhcs.k12.nc.us/williams/quarterwebquest/ States - Hotlist of US States WebQuests http://www.edina.k12.mn.us/concord/webquests/wqstates.html States - Fifty State WebQuest http://www.davidson.k12.nc.us/webquests/usstates/states.htm Symbol - United States Symbol WebQuest http://www.nashville-schools.davidson.k12.tn.us/webquests/united_states_symbols.htm Top Rubric What is a rubric and how to use them. From FDR Elementary School, Lima, Peru http://www.amersol.edu.pe/es/techlab/Rubric/index.asp Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators - Assessment Rubrics Rubric Builders and Generator. This site enables teachers is to provide a rubric for student use and for both formative and summative assessment purposes. http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/assess.html Chicago Public Schools This site has extensive information regarding ways to make and use rubrics. http://intranet.cps.k12.il.us/assessments/ Multiple Intelligence Template http://192.107.108.56/portfolios/p/perrotta_t/think2/intelligences.htm RubiStar Home Choose a topic and create a new rubric based on a template. You can print a rubric made this way, but you cannot save or edit it online. http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php Rubric Builder The Rubric Builder enables teachers to build effective assessment rubrics and to make them available over the World Wide Web. http://www.landmark-project.com/classweb/tools/rubric_builder.php3 Rubric for Collaborative Group Fieldwork Research Students will be assessed on their ability to show the relationship between a region and the states. http://www.louisianavoices.org/Unit9/edu_unit9w_colab_group_fie.html Rubric Makers From Web Tools for Educators. Sign up for free weekly teaching tips newsletter. http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/ Rubric Maker From Scholastic. Easy to use, basic form. http://teacher.scholastic.com/homepagebuilder/rubric.htm Rubric Template http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/july/rubrics/Rubric_Template.html Top Assessments Tasks Alphabets Book - Create a class ABC book about a region. Region Recipe - Draft a recipe for your region. Ingredients and procedures reflect facts, climate, natural resources, immigrant groups or any other characteristic of the region. Newspaper - Publish a newspaper that reflects interests, history, geography, etc. of a region. Oral Presentation - While one student presents, have others look for answers to specific question. Post Card - Send a postcard from your region. Import an image from the Internet or draw an original. The message will reflect regional information. Play - Produce and perform a play that focuses on the region. State Suitcase - Use a manila folder for the suitcase. Don't forget to make handles! Among other items the suitcase must contain a persuasive paragraph about the region. Swap Shop - Student trade one good idea about their region with each other. Trading Card - Create base ball style trading card with condensed, salient region facts. Travel Brochure - Publish a tri-fold brochure persuading people to visit a region.