LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

The road taken

This lesson will introduce and reinforce main transportation routes for people and goods in North Carolina. Students will enhance map skills including using cardinal and intermediate directions, using a mileage chart, and planning transportation routes. Students will reinforce their knowledge of resources found in North Carolina as well as name and identify the three regions of North Carolina.

A lesson plan for grade 4 Social Studies

By Margaretc Bryant

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Related pages

  • North Carolina regions: Working in cooperative groups, the students will learn about their assigned regions of North Carolina. A list of questions will be generated. When the research is completed, the students will design a way to orally present the information to the class. This also will integrate Visual Arts and Informational Skills.
  • North Carolina regional travel brochure: The students will cooperatively design travel brochures that describe major physical and cultural characteristics of the regions in North Carolina.
  • North Carolina rivers: Students will locate 28 rivers within the state of NC, noting names and origins of names, directions of flow, navigability, and development of population centers in relation to the rivers.

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Learning outcomes

Students will be able to identify the three regions within North Carolina, locate natural resources in North Carolina, and trace the movement of people, goods, and ideas from one part of the State to another and between North Carolina and other places.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

2 hours

Materials/resources

  • North Carolina road maps (one for every two students)
  • North Carolina textbooks (one for each student)
  • Worksheet “The Road Taken” (attached - one for each student)
  • Overhead transparency for guided practice “Granite”

Pre-activities

Using textbooks and tracing paper, students should map the three regions within North Carolina.

Using textbook maps, students should be able to name and locate natural resources found within North Carolina.

Activities

Parts of a Map

  1. Pair students.
  2. Pass out maps (one per pair).
  3. Ask pairs to find the compass rose, legend, mileage chart, own town and/or city.
  4. Ask students to find the city/town index. Ask students to identify map symbols and explain meanings on each item.
  5. Assist any groups needing additional help.

The Road Taken

  1. Pair students.
  2. Pass out maps (one per pair).
  3. Review parts of a map. Show overhead of “Granite.” Read the description with the class. Complete the questions as guided practice with the class. Pass out worksheets. Sheet 1 | Sheet 2
  4. Read description paragraph with the class.
  5. Allow students to complete the worksheets as independent practice.

Assessment

Oral questioning will be the assessment for “Parts of a Map” activity.

Completed worksheets will be the measure of “The Road Taken” activity.

Supplemental information

Attachments of worksheet and transparency are located below.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 4

  • Goal 1: The learner will apply the five themes of geography to North Carolina and its people.
    • Objective 1.01: Locate, in absolute and relative terms, major landforms, bodies of water and natural resources in North Carolina.
    • Objective 1.03: Suggest some influences that location has on life in North Carolina such as major cities, recreation areas, industry, and farms.