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Outdoor Geography

Students will learn the names and locations of US states and create an outdoor map the the United States using sidewalk chalk.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have students as a full class call out the names of all 50 states in the US. When they've thought of as many as they can, display a US map and have them identify any states they had missed, and ask them to note the location of all the states. Divide the class into groups, and assign each group a region of the country. Have them learn about the characteristics of their area (i.e. mountains, rivers, neighboring landforms and bodies of water).

  • Step 2

    Take the class outside on a nice day to a safe area where they will collaboratively create a map of the United States using sidewalk chalk. Be sure to look at the weather forecast in planning the experience since rain will wash away the students' artwork. Bring a printed or digital map of the states to use as a reference.

  • Step 3

    Begin by having one group or just a few students outline the external border of the contiguous states. Then have each group work on the region of the map that they studied. Have them draw in the outline of each state in their region, getting the size, shape and borders as accurately as they can. When all the states are outlined, have the groups color in their states, making sure to use different colors for bordering states. Alaska and Hawaii will be drawn outside of the contiguous map, so while the colors won't matter, students should strive for size proportion accuracy.

  • Step 4

    Invite other classes to the map site and have each group present information about the region they illustrated.

Standards

LA: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

LA: Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Participate in shared research and writing projects.

SS: Use appropriate resources, data sources, and geographic tools to generate, manipulate, and interpret information.

SS: Locate and distinguish among varying landforms and geographic features, such as mountains, plateaus, islands, and oceans.

VA: Use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.

VA: Use visual structures of art to communicate ideas.

Adaptations

In addition to the 50 states, there are five inhabited United States territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and United States Virgin Islands. Have students explore the some information about these territories. They could also research the nine uninhabited US territories, find their locations on a map, and learn about their history.

Read a book such as "Fun with 50 States" by Nicole Claesen and Candela Ferrández or "The 50 States" by Gabrielle Balkan and Sol Linero, each of which presents maps, illustrations, and facts about each state. Then have students create a similar book, with each group contributing a section based on the region they researched.