Puget Sound Cities Exploration: Delightful Destinations

	Puget Sound Cities Exploration: Delightful Destinations
Author(s):	Jessica Bleich (#18286) Lesson by: Jennie Mong, Lori Johnston-Rodriguez Found on: http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/KSD/it/inst_tech/TechClassroom/k6_int_tech.html#Grade_3_
Grade Level:	3
Timeframe:	2-3 weeks of daily work for research, brochure work, and presentations
Lesson Description or Explanation	The students will be guided through a research project using a WebQuest. They will learn about the six major cities of the Puget Sound region. The students will work in small groups to produce a travel brochure advertising one of the six cities. As students present their products to the class, their peers will record important similarities and differences among the cities for a final class discussion of the region and its characteristics.
Indiana Curricular Standards	Social Studies 3.3.7 Physical Systems: Describe how climate and physical characteristics of a region affect the vegetation and animal life living there 3.3.8 Human systems: Identify factors that make a region unique, including cultural diversity, industry, the arts, and architecture. English/Language Arts 3.4.1 Organization and Focus: Find ideas for writing stories and descriptions in conversations with others; in books, magazines, or school textbooks; or on the internet 3.4.5 Use a computer to draft, revise, and publish writing
ISTE Standards	Creativity and Innovation Communication and Collaboration
Assessments Formative/Summative	Student groups will be evaluated according to their ability to create a brochure that is attractive and organized, has accurate content, has grade-level appropriate conventions, cites sources accurately, and contains graphics/pictures. Individual students will be evaluated according to their time management, contributions, attitude and organization of materials. Individual students will be evaluated during class discussions for their knowledge gained and their ability to compare/contrast the Puget Sound region cities.
Prior Knowledge	Curricular Knowledge or Skills: Cooperative group work experience Technology Knowledge: Make sure students have turned in Internet permission slips Beginning computer skills in Word, Excel, Publisher (entering text), and accessing the Internet.
Technology	Internet Resources: (please list URLs) Online Highways: http://www.ohwy.com/wa/homepage.htm A listing of city websites organized by state: http://www.wowworks.com/wowcity/wacity.htm Hardware: Computer, Projection System, Printer Software: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Publisher
Procedure	Teacher will introduce the unit using WebQuest (http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/curriculum/tech/K6/3/puget_sound/index.html) Teachers will guide students through the research process (students will use Excel or Word to organize the information they have gathered) Students will work on computers to complete their note taking. Mini-lessons are provided as necessary on content or technology skills to keep the students on task. Students will label a map of the 6 cities in the Puget Sound region. Students will be provided with a brochure template in Publisher using the information collected from the research. Students will present their brochures to the class Students will take notes on other presentations Teachers will lead the class in a compare/contrast of the 6 cities Students will complete their Puget Sound maps by adding 3 facts for each of the 6 cities Students will assess themselves Teachers will meet in small groups with students to discuss final assessment
Differentiated Instruction
ESL	Include the ELL staff in the large group introduction lessons if possible so they can support students if in pull-out programs. Homogenous grouping for city research
Challenge/Extend	Research a large city not in the Puget Sound region such as Spokane or Vancouver
Special Needs	Include the Special Education staff in the large group introduction lessons if possible so they can support students if in pull-out programs. Homogeneous grouping for city research