Web-quest Lesson Plan

Unit Topic or Theme: Geography/U.S. History

Grade: 4th

Lesson Topic or Theme: States

Lesson Objectives: The student will be able to identify the regions of the United States and the U.S. states and capitals.

Instructional Technique: "Fifty Nifty United States" song, independent work, group work

Instructional Materials: Discovering America website, My U.S. Tour Guide assessment, states bingo game, "Fifty Nifty United States" song, map of United States

Theoretical Perspective: This lesson is important because students should know about where they are living and what is around them. Also they should know about U.S. history and the history of different states.

Procedure:

A. Introductory Activity: To begin, students will be given a handout of the "Fifty Nifty United States" song and it would be sung together as a class. This would serve to familiarize the students with the names of the states.

B. Step-by-step: After the introductory activity, students would be given a blank U.S. map and asked to fill in the states and their capitals using their geography books. This work would be individual. Next, bingo boards would be distributed that have states on one side and capitals on the other. The teacher would inform the students which side was to be used. The idea of having states on one side and capitals of the other is so that students can strengthen their memorization skills from hearing it both ways. Lastly, students will be put in pairs to complete the "Discovering America" webquest. They will be required to fill out the tour guide assessment along with the quest.

C. Closure: After playing bingo for a few days, the students will be given a "Fifty Nifty Quiz". Twenty-five of the questions are states and the students have to fill in the capital and twenty-five are capitals and they have to fill in the states.

D. Adaptations for different learners: For the online computer web-quest, students who demonstrate weak computer skills would be paired with students who have strong computer skills. During the bingo game, students would be allowed to choose where they want to play the game, as long as they can hear the teacher. This would benefit students such as those with ADHD, because it gives them a break from sitting still at their desks.

E. Homework: Make flash cards to study states and capitals. Practice at home.

Evaluation:

A. How/ when will you determine if you have met your objectives?

Students will be able to complete the U.S. tour guide and quiz without errors.
To document this we will grade the quiz and tour guide assessment which will be put into the students' portfolios

B. Concerns or questions you have about teaching this lesson?

     The concern we have would be problems with the computers not functioning properly.