Africa

NAME: Colleen Bond

Grade Level(s): 3rd

Subject(s):

• Social Studies/Geography
• Technology

Description: Students will be learning information about Africa within a month time period. The
unit will consist of the overall features of Africa: the countries, landforms, and animals. Toward
the end of the month, students will focus one to two weeks on Kenya. The learner will do various
art, technology, and research activities to help them focus on the concepts being studied. Through
the unit, the learner will be responsible for a country and an animal. The responsibility involves
finding facts and information on the item and then sharing this information with the class.
Students will use the internet to find their information. Students will be responsible for sitting
every website they use. Students will also be required to locate Africa on a map and globe.

Goal: Students will gain new information about Africa.

National/State Standards:

-How is the world divided into nations?

-How do nations interact with one another?

Demonstrate the ability to use social studies tools

a. Use maps and globes to find relative and absolute locations in regard to different communities (e.g., spatial
perspective, longitude, latitude, etc.).

NETS –S Standards:

-Use keyboards and other common input and output devices (including adaptive devices when
necessary) efficiently and effectively.

- Discuss common uses of technology in daily life and the advantages and disadvantages those uses
provide
- Use telecommunications efficiently to access remote information, communicate with others in support of
direct and independent learning, and pursue personal interests.

- Use telecommunications and online resources (e.g., e-mail, online discussions, Web environments) to
participate in collaborative problem-solving activities for the purpose of developing solutions or products
for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

- Evaluate the accuracy, relevance, appropriateness, comprehensiveness, and bias of electronic

information sources.

Objectives:

1. The learner will gather information about animals, snakes, and birds of Africa.
2. The learner will appreciate the importance of preservation and beauty of animals, snakes,
and birds of Africa.
3. The learner will demonstrate how to locate other countries on a globe and map
4. The leaner will demonstrate understanding of how to navigate on the internet

Materials:

• pieces of paper with African animals listed on them

• books of different animals
• pictures of African animals to color
• report sheets
• toy animals
• encyclopedias
• basket
• globe
• map
• computer with internet access

Procedures:

Activity One

1. Prepare classroom environment for the activity and collect necessary materials for
students to use.
2. Develop instructional materials such as the report sheet to be handed to students.
3. Play the part of the movie "I can't wait to be king" by Lion King on a DVD player.
4. Gather the class at the reading rug.
5. Demonstrate to the class that they will pick an animal out of the basket. The animal that
they pick will be the animal that they have to find information about.
6. Demonstrate to the class how they will fill in their report.
7. Show class the material that they may use to help them locate information about their
animals.
 8. Each student will pick an animal out of the basket.
9. The students may work with other students (only if they need to share the same book and
have the same animal).
10. The student will fill out the report sheet that the teacher distributes (5 facts relating to
their animals).
11. After the child has finished their report sheets, they will either draw or color a picture of
their animal.
12. Students will make a classroom presentation of the animal by discussing why they chose
their animals, explaining the 5 facts they collected, and show their drawings.
13. At the end of the period, show the class an example of a “toilet paper roll animal” that
they will make the following day.

Activity Two

1. The teacher will demonstrate to the students how to locate countries on a globe and map
2. The teacher will make sure all students understand how to locate on maps and globes.
3. The teacher will break the students into group of four and have them locate Africa
4. The teacher will have the students retrieve facts on Africa by finding reliable websites.
5. Students will be required to site all their websites that they use.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Activity One

1. The student will have to state 5 facts in front of the class individually or with another
student who did the same animal, explain why they chose that animal, and show their
artwork.
2. After the reports, ask the class which animal weighed the most? Which part of Africa do a
majority of the animals live? What type of food do the animals eat?
3. Collect the report sheets to see if each student completed the report accurately. This
activity will be worth thirty points total (20 points for the report and drawing, and 10 for
the presentation).

Activity Two

1. The teacher will observe the students as they locate Africa on a map and globe
2. The students will be required to turn in a print out of all their information that they
retrieved off the internet.