Focus of the Semester!

This semester I am going to target 2^nd grade History and Social Studies.  I am not exactly sure what specifically I want to focus on, but I’m thinking either China and Egypt or Native Americans.  I’ve included both of the standards below (History and Geography) because you really can’t teach one without the other, and I think I could find some pretty cool map websites and activities that focus on either culture(s) as well as the history.

 

History

2.1  The student will explain how the contributions of ancient China and Egypt have influenced the present world in terms of architecture, inventions, the calendar, and written language.

2.2 The student will compare the lives and contributions of three American Indian cultures of the past and present, with emphasis on the Powhatan of the Eastern Woodlands, the Lakota of the Plains, and the Pueblo peoples of the Southwest.

Geography

2.4 The student will develop map skills by

  a) locating the United States, China and Egypt on world maps;

  b) understanding the relationship between the environment and the culture of ancient China and Egypt;

  c) locating the regions of Powhatan, Lakota, and Pueblo Indians on Unites States maps; 

  d) understanding the relationship between the environment and the culture of the Powhatan, Lakota, and Pueblo Indians. 

2.5  The student will develop map skills by

   a) locating the equator, the seven continent, and the five oceans on maps and globes;

   b) locating selected rivers (James River, Mississippi River, Rio Grande, Huang He, and Nile River), mountain ranges (Appalachian Mountains and Rocky Mountains), and lakes (Great Lakes) in the Unites States and other countries.  

 

To address different learning styles I could have the students complete various types of projects at the end of the unit, for example they could build a diorama of a researched tribe, or write an editorial blog post on the contributions of ancient China and Egypt.  Throughout the unit, I could also include centers where students research a relevant topic using only books or only the internet in preparation for a mini debate as to which American Indian culture they would want to be a member.  The students could also create a chant about their designated culture that represents the lives and contributions to share with the class and on schoolstube.com for friends and family to view.  On a website called Time Rime you can make interactive timelines, and I’m really interested in learning more about Google Earth to see how it can be used for history topics as well.