Unit Plan - Countries
Unit Plan - Countries
Level: Grade 5
National Standards:
• NCSS III People, places and environments
• NCSS V Individuals, groups, and institutions
• NCSS VII Productions, distribution, consumption
• NCSS IX Global connections
• NCSS X Civic ideals and practices
State Standards:
• Geography: Students will describe how humans influence the environment and in turn
are influenced by it.
• Geography: Students will identify physical characteristics of places and use this
knowledge to define regions, their relationship among regions, and their patterns of
change.
• Geography: Students will give examples that demonstrate how people are connected to
each other and the environment.
• Economics: Students will understand that in a market economy income is earned in
different ways.
Skills:
• Creating a Vinn Diagram
• Writing
• Building connections
• Work in groups
• Listening to directions
• Learning map symbols
• Following directions
• Learning map terms
• Learning regions of the world
• Identify countries on a map
• Social studies vocabulary
Overall Goals:
The student will explore, research, and demonstrate how countries are similar and
different.
The student will explore and demonstrate how government has an impact on its country
and people.
The student will explore where products are produced.
The students will explore and build connections between countries.
The students will explore, research, and demonstrate countries’; culture, people,
economic, and government.
Specific Objectives:
The student will make connections between countries in discussion.
The student will make conclusions why certain countries make certain items.
The student will learn map terms by creating a map of their country.
The student will distinguish regions of the world.
The student will build awareness for other countries.
Inquiry Questions:
How are people different from one country to another?
How are their cultures different?
How are their cultures similar?
What is the morality rate?
How does the government have an impact on the country and its people?
What religion does the country practice?
What are some of the country’s recreational activities?
What are some different physical features of the country?
Are there any similar physical features?
Resources/Materials:
www.un.org/english United Nation website
Lonely Planet Belize by Carolyn Miller Carlstroem
Lonely Planet Thailand by Joe Cummings
http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/world.htm World Atlas, resources on different countries
Retrieval chart
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bh.html World Fact book
Markers
Paper (white/construction)
Clothing (t-shirts, shoes, etc…)
Food (fruit, chips, crackers)
Electronics (walkman, CDS, remote control, etc…)
Miscellaneous items (toys, baskets, ect…)
Retrieval charts
World map
Student Assessment Plan:
Lesson Plan #1
Completeness of chart
o 20 items listed and country of production
Map fully colored in
o Using different colors
o Countries are labeled
Three conclusions written about the map
Total possible points: 25
Lesson Plan #2
Name:__________________________________
Lesson #4
Completeness of vinn diagram 15
o Vinn diagram must have 5 differences and 5 similarities in each circles
Oral presentation 10
Participation during discussion 5
Total possible points: 30
Lesson #5
Note: prior to lesson, place in front of the classroom items made from different countries.
Clothing (t-shirts, shoes: Nike, Adidas, and etc…)
Food (candy, fruits, and etc…)
Electronics (walkman,
Miscellaneous items (Picture frames, staplers, water bottles etc…)
Introduction:
Ask students where they think these items are made.
Have students guess, keep tally of what students guessed correct and wrong.
Once every item has been presented, discuss with students why certain items are
made in certain countries.
o Where are most of our fruits from?
o Where is most of our clothing made from?
o Where are most of our electronics made from?
o Doest it depend on the brand?
Are certain electronics better because of where it’s produce?
Why?
Learning activity
Each student will receive a retrieval chart and a map of the world
Students are to go home and find 20 different items.
Students need to name the items and state where (country) it’s made.
Once students have completed their search they need to locate the country on the world
map and color the country in.
After coloring all the countries (where their items were made) the students need to write
3 conclusions about their map.
o Examples: the majority of clothing at my house was made in South East Asia or
Mexico.
*(Give to students if they look confuse)
Closing:
Once students have completed their worksheets, have a group discussion.
Have students create a chart as a class
o Labels for chart:
• Electronics
• Foods
• Clothing
• Miscellaneous
Once the students have completed the chart ask for students conclusions.
Name: _________________________________________ Date:_____________
Directions: shade in the countries where your items were made, each country should be a
different color. Label the countries
1._______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ____________________
Made in……
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Lesson Plan #2
Duration: 1 to 2 days
Introduction:
Have students take out their completed retrieval chart
Have a class discussion
o What do where are most products made? Over seas or in America?
o Why is that?
Define terms:
o Legend/ key
o Rose
o Compass
Learning Activity:
Students will be divided into 4 groups, 4-5 students per a group.
Get group will pick from a hat what country they will become an expert in:
o Belize
o Latvia
o Botswana
o Thailand
Students will receive a retrieval chart.
Students will use books, encyclopedias, internet to fill out retrieval chart.
Each student will be responsible for a section on the retrieval chart.
Along with completing the retrieval chart, the group must create a map of the country.
Closing:
Once the maps are completed, students will hang the maps up in the classroom.
Retrieval chart Name:
Disease
Other
Education Indicators Literacy rate
of Standard of living
Other
Environmental issues
Export
Import
Religions
Recreation
Government type
Lesson Plan #3
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Introduction:
Read the story Cinderella from two different countries.
o Tam’s Golden Slipper (Vietnamese version)
o The Maiden, the Frog and the Chief's Son (from William Bascom, "Cinderella in
Africa," 1972)
After the story discuss, similarities and differences.
o How were the stories the same?
o How were the stories different?
People?
Places?
Names?
Learning activity:
Students choose a fairy tale or legend and rewrite the story to fit their expert country:
o Belize
o Thailand
o Latvia
o Botswana
The story needs to be similar to the original version.
Students will write a rough draft, revise it with a peer, then with the teacher.
The student will have opportunity to type the story on the computer.
A drawing or picture will be optional.
Closing
Once students have completed their stories it will be put into a book.
The book will be place in the classroom for everyone to view.
Lesson #4
Duration: 1 day
Introduction:
• Introduce the topic to students: How are countries and people around the world the same
and different?
• Discuss with students the United States and Japan similarities and differences.
o Create Vinn Diagram
Japan
United States
Learning activity
Students create a vinn diagram comparing their expert country to the United States.
Students will use vinn diagram to present/share the differences and similarities in front of
the class.
Vinn Diagram
Country’s name:
United States
_________________
Closing:
Students will hang vinn diagram next to their country’s map.
Have a whole class discussion after presentation
o What do these five countries have in common?
o What are some differences between these five countries?
o Ask students, “Why do you think I choose these countries?”
Lesson #5
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Introduction
Discuss with class about celebrations in the United States
o What do Americans celebrate?
o What do we have at celebration?
o What types of food?
o Are there special clothing?
o What types of games?
Ask students what were some of the ways their expert countries celebrate
o Do they have food?
o What kinds of games do they have?
o Are there special clothing?
Learning activity
Students will work in their expert country group and choose one of the country’s
o traditional food, games, music, or art
*(if a group has something else they want to do, they can discuss it with the
teacher.)
Allow students time in class to plan a day before the Feast of Nations day.
Students will create and bring it in to the class for Feast of Nations.
Students must also prepare a write up about what they choose to do and how it represents
their expert country.
Closing
Each group will have a table to display their product.
Everyone will have a chance to visit each table.
Students will complete a reflection.
Name: ________________________________ Date: __________________
4. How is that country different from the United States? How is it similar?