Georgia’s Regions

Title of UnitGeorgia’s Regions

Grade Level 2nd grade

Curriculum Area Social Studies

Time Frame

3 weeks

Stage 1 – Identify Desired ResultsContent Standards:

SS2G1 The student will locate major topographical features of Georgia and will describe how these features define Georgia’s surface.

a. Locate all the geographic regions of Georgia: Blue Ridge Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau.

Understandings

Students will understand that: Location affects a society’s economy, culture, and development. Where people live matters. The past helps us to understand how we live now. Georgia has a multitude of differing landforms from beaches to mountains.

Related Misconceptions: Many people believe that because the Piedmont is home to most of Georgia's population that

this region is also the largest. There are 6 main land regions of Georgia that include the Appalachian Plateau, the Appalachian

Ridge and Valley Region, the Blue Ridge, the Piedmont, the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and the East Gulf Coastal Plain, rather than 5 land regions.

Georgia has always looked the way it looks now. Georgia does not have a lot of geographic diversity.

Essential QuestionsOverarching Questions:

Why is the world around you important in your life?

Why is the (i.e. Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Coastal Plain, Appalachian Plateau, and Valley and Ridge) located there?

How does where I live influence how I live? What do you mean by ‘region’? What makes a region unique and different? What can we learn from the past? How can the places we live, make a

difference in the way we live?

Topical Questions: Where can you locate each of the five

regions of Georgia on a map? How does living in ________ region affect

the way we live? How are the 5 regions, Piedmont, Coastal

Plain, Appalachian Plateau, Valley and Ridge, and the Blue Ridge Mountains alike and different (or unique)?

Knowledge and Skills

Georgia’s Regions

KnowledgeStudents will know:

Key termsregion, landform, coast, plateau, ridge, natural resource, environment, river.

Where each river in Georgia is located. The ways we use rivers and how river they

are helpful to our way of life. The names of the 5 regions in Georgia and

where they are located. The differences and similarities between

each of the 5 regions.

Skills Students will be able to:

Locate Georgia’s 5 geographical regions on a map.

Identify Georgia’s natural resources. Describe how people’s use of natural

resources affects the environment. Locate Georgia’s major rivers.

Performance Task

Performance Task: Tourism Association of Georgia PowerPoint (see attachments) “Yummy” Map of Georgia (see attachments)

Other Evidence(e.g. tests, quizzes, work samples, observations)

Test – Georgia Regions Unit Test (attached)The students will complete at Unit Test over the five Georgia regions independently. The assessment will have multiple-choice, true/false, and short answer questions.Facet – Self-Knowledge//Explanation

Graphic Organizer: Word Web (attached)The students will use the word web (graphic organizer) for each of the five regions in Georgia to record important facts and information. Facet – Explanation/Interpretation/Application

Writing: Life as an animal in Georgia’s RegionsStudents will write about the following given topic: Write about a day in your life as if you were an animal from one of the five Georgia regions. If you could be one of the many animals that live in one of our five regions in Georgia, Which would you be? Why? What region would you come from? What types of things would you see? What would you do for the day? Facet – Interpretation/Application/Self-Knowledge/Perspective/Empathy/Explanation

Teacher Observation/Conferencing: The students will participate in class discussions and teacher conferencing.Facet – Interpretation/Application/Empathy/Explanation

Student Self-Assessments: Student Evaluation of Performance Task: Tourism Association of Georgia PowerPointThe students will reflect upon small group assignments (the tourism PowerPoint) they have produced with their group members and their own role in completing the assignment.Facet – Self-Knowledge/Explanation

Georgia’s Regions

Week 1

Materials: Georgia’s Regions Pre-Test, paper, books about Georgia’s regions, SS textbook, pencil, Word Webs, speakers, “Georgia On My Mind” by Ray Charles, Performance Task – Tourism Association of Georgia PowerPoint, Georgia Regions Pathfinder

Vocabulary: Region, Landforms, Natural Resources, Geography, Climate, Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, Coastal Plain (Upper Coastal Plain and Lower Coastal Plain), Performance Task

Learning Activities – Georgia’s Regions (Day 1) - Give the students the Georgia Regions and Rivers Pre-Test (Evaluation).

(Day 1) – Introduce and explain the standard (SS2G1 The student will locate major topographical features of Georgia and will describe how these features define Georgia’s surface. a. Locate all the geographic regions of Georgia: Blue Ridge Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Valley and Ridge, and Appalachian Plateau.) and the essential questions (listed below) for the activity. Also, discuss and explain the culminating performance task (Tourism Association of Georgia PowerPoint) and the rubric that is attached. (W)

Essential Questions to be Answered:1. Where can you locate each of the five regions of Georgia on a map? (Day 2-5)2. How does living in ________ region affect the way we live? (Day 4)3. How are the 5 regions, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Appalachian Plateau, Valley and

Ridge, and the Blue Ridge Mountains alike and different (or unique)? (Day 2-4)4. Why is the (i.e. Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Coastal Plain, Appalachian Plateau,

and Valley and Ridge) located there? (Day 2)5. What do you mean by ‘region’? (Day 1-2)6. What makes a region unique and different? (Day 2-4)

(Day 1) – Have students watch Georgia’s Official Tourism Video to spark some interest in learning more about Georgia. Then ask the class, “Have you ever wondered why some places in Georgia are mountainous areas, some are flat, and others are forest? “ “Well, we are going to answer those questions in our unit about Georgia and its regions and rivers.” (Hook)

Note 1: Key vocabulary is introduced as they are mentioned in the learning activities, textbook, other reading material, and performance task. Students will read and discuss, with the teacher, relevant sections of the SS textbook (pages 74-99) in order to support the learning activities and performance task. (Explore and Equip) Note 2: As an ongoing activity, the students will write a paper about a day in the life of an animal from one of the five Georgia regions, as if you were the animal. Answer the following questions: If you could be one of the many animals that live in one of our five regions in Georgia, Which would you be? Why? What region would you come from? What types of things would you see? What would you do for the day? (Rethink, Revisit, Reflect, and Refine)

(Day 2-3) – Begin the lesson by playing Georgia on My Mind by Ray Charles. Then introduce the Regions by showing them on a map and asking the students if they have ever heard of the 5 regions of Georgia. Discuss each region’s name and where it is located on the map. (Hook, Explore, Equip, Tailor) Give the students the Word Web. (Evaluation) Explain to the students that they will view the Regions of Georgia PowerPoint

Georgia’s Regions

and will need to record any important information about each of the 5 regions of Georgia using their word webs, (W) as the teacher presents and discusses the PowerPoint. (Explore and Equip)

HOMEWORK: (Day 3) – Send home with students the Compare and Contrast sheet on Regions for Day 3’s homework.

(Day 4 - 9) – Give each student a copy of Performance Task: Tourism Association of Georgia PowerPoint along with the corresponding rubric. Explain to the students that they are going to be tour guides for the state of Georgia. Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism, has asked them to research, plan, and create a PowerPoint presentation to be used as Georgia’s new travel “brochure.” The travel PowerPoint will be presented to their boss (Kevin Langston), the other tour guides, and/or tourists. The presentation must include the following: 1.) The names of all 5 geographic regions. 2.) What does the land look like? (description and picture) 3.) Names of major cities in the regions. 4.) Local attractions for visitors. 5.) Natural resources/manufactured products in each region. 6.) Types of communities in each region (ex. urban, rural, suburban) 7.) Create a creative PowerPoint presentation.The students will identify the five regions of Georgia and any important facts and/or information about each region that they gathered during their research to include in their travel presentation for the state of Georgia. The students will use the Internet and books from the media center to research any additional information for their group’s presentation. Be sure to monitor your students as they surf the Internet. The teacher will observe the students as they work on their presentations and assist when help is needed. (Revisit, Rethink, Explore Experience, Tailor, Evaluation)

Week 2

Materials: Word Webs, books about Georgia’s regions, SS textbook, Computers, Internet, photos (magazines), pencil, Performance Task – Tourism Association of Georgia PowerPoint, Georgia Regions Pathfinder

Vocabulary: Performance Task, Region, Landforms, Natural Resources, Geography, Climate, Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, Coastal Plain (Upper Coastal Plain and Lower Coastal Plain)

Learning Activities – Performance Task: Tourism Association of Georgia PowerPoint (Day 6 – 10) – Give each student a copy of Performance Task: Tourism Association of

Georgia PowerPoint along with the corresponding rubric. Explain to the students that they are going to be tour guides for the state of Georgia. Kevin Langston, Deputy Commissioner for Tourism, has asked them to research, plan, and create a PowerPoint presentation to be used as Georgia’s new travel “brochure.” The travel PowerPoint will be presented to their boss (Kevin Langston), the other tour guides, and/or tourists. The presentation must include the following: 1.) The names of all 5 geographic regions. 2.) What does the land look like? (description and picture) 3.) Names of major cities in the regions. 4.) Local attractions for visitors. 5.) Natural resources/manufactured products in each region. 6.) Types of communities in each region (ex. urban, rural, suburban) 7.) Create a creative PowerPoint presentation.

Georgia’s Regions

The students will identify the five regions of Georgia and any important facts and/or information about each region that they gathered during their research to include in their travel presentation for the state of Georgia. The students will use the Internet and books from the media center to research any additional information for their group’s presentation. Be sure to monitor your students as they surf the Internet. The teacher will observe the students as they work on their presentations and assist when help is needed. (Revisit, Rethink, Explore Experience, Tailor, Evaluation)

Note 1: Key vocabulary is introduced as they are mentioned in the learning activities, textbook, other reading material, and performance tasks. Students will read and discuss, with the teacher, relevant sections of the SS textbook (Page 95 and Resources pages R20-21) in order to support the learning activities and performance tasks. (Explore and Equip)Note 2: As an ongoing activity, the students will write a paper about a day in the life of an animal from one of the five Georgia regions, as if you were the animal. Answer the following questions: If you could be one of the many animals that live in one of our five regions in Georgia, Which would you be? Why? What region would you come from? What types of things would you see? What would you do for the day? (Rethink, Revisit, Reflect, and Refine)

Week 3

Materials: Word Webs, GA Regions Test, books about Georgia’s regions, SS textbook, pencil, Performance Task, wax paper, blue tub icing, green cake icing, M&M’s, chocolate chips, Georgia shaped cookies, toothpicks, paper flags, Georgia Regions Pathfinder

Vocabulary: Performance Task, Region, Landforms, Natural Resources, Geography, Climate, Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, Coastal Plain (Upper Coastal Plain and Lower Coastal Plain)

Learning Activities – Performance Task: Tourism Association of Georgia PowerPoint (Day 11) – Review and discuss with the students the performance task (Tourism Association of

Georgia PowerPoint) and its rubric. (W) Allow the students to continue working on their PowerPoint presentations and assisting when help is needed.

Essential Questions to be Answered:1.Why is the (i.e. Piedmont, Blue Ridge Mountains, Coastal Plain, Appalachian Plateau,

and Valley and Ridge) located there?2. What do you mean by ‘region’?3. What makes a region unique and different?4. Where can you locate each of the five regions of Georgia on a map? 5.How are the 5 regions, Piedmont, Coastal Plain, Appalachian Plateau, Valley and

Ridge, and the Blue Ridge Mountains alike and different (or unique)?6. In what ways do people use the natural resources based on where they are located?

(Day 12) – Have the students complete the Self-Evaluation of PowerPoint (Evaluation and Reflection).

Each student will self–assess his/her groups travel presentation for the state of Georgia. (Reflect, Tailor, and Evaluation)

(Day 12) – Allow students to present their Tourism Association of Georgia PowerPoints for “Mr. Kevin Langston” (a teacher that has dressed up pretending to be Mr. Kevin Langston), other tour guides (their classmates), and tourists (other teachers and students at the school).

Note 1: Key vocabulary is introduced as they are mentioned in the learning activities, textbook, other reading material,

Georgia’s Regionsand performance tasks. Students will read and discuss, with the teacher, relevant sections of the SS textbook (Page 95 and Resources pages R20-21) in order to support the learning activities and performance tasks. (Explore and Equip)Note 2: As an ongoing activity, the students will write a paper about a day in the life of an animal from one of the five Georgia regions, as if you were the animal. Answer the following questions: If you could be one of the many animals that live in one of our five regions in Georgia, Which would you be? Why? What region would you come from? What types of things would you see? What would you do for the day? (Rethink, Revisit, Reflect, and Refine)

Learning Activities – Performance Task: “Yummy” Map of Georgia (Day 13) – Give each student a copy of the “Yummy” Map of Georgia, a reference map, a

piece of wax paper, a Georgia shape cookie, toothpicks, flags for labeling, chocolate chips, M&M’s, green cake icing, and blue tube icing. Students will make a model of their state, Georgia, using edible products to represent the different regions of Georgia. (Revisit, Rethink, Explore Experience, Tailor, Evaluation)

(Day 14) – Have students review for the upcoming test over the regions of Georgia using the pre-made Jeopardy game. (Revisit, Rethink, Explore Experience, Tailor, Evaluation)

(Day 15) – Give the students the Georgia Regions Unit Test (Evaluation)

Resources(Some information used within the unit was gathered from the Georgia Standards website for the state of Georgia.)

Branyan, J., Fain, K., Forehand, M., & Freeman, C. (2008). Unit 2 - Our Georgia (07/24/2008).

Retrieved from https://www.georgiastandards.org/Frameworks/GSO%20Frameworks/SS%20Gr

%202%0 Unit%202.pdf

Bryson, A. (2008). GRASPS title: Second grade social studies Georgia regions and rivers. Retrieved from

http://teachingwithpurpose.com/GRASPSU08/Second_GA_Regions_Rivers_Bryson/

Second_GA_Regions_Rivers_Bryson.htm

Georgia Department of Education. (2008). Unit 2 – Our Georgia (07/24/2008). Retrieved from

https://www.georgiastandards.org/Frameworks/GSO%20Frameworks/SS%20Gr%202%0 Unit

%202.pdf

Oetter, D., & Skelton, C. (n.d.). Georgia’s rivers. Retrieved from

http://www.hercules.gcsu.edu/~doetter/projects/river/georgias_rivers.ppt

Robertson, H. (2008). The five regions of Georgia. Retrieved from

http://www.slideshare.net/Heatherrenee/the-five-regions-of-georgia

Georgia’s Regions