Teaching Continents - Lerner Publishing Group

TEACHING
GUIDE
TEACHING
Continents
2nd Grade Reading Level
ISBN 978-0-8225-2349-9 Blue
2
TEACHING
CONTINENTS
Standards
Geography
• Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
• Understands the physical and human characteristics of place.
Language Arts— • Demonstrates competence in the stylistic and rhetorical aspects of writing.
Writing
• Uses grammatical and mechanical conventions in written compositions.
• Gathers and uses information for research purposes.
Language Arts— • Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
Reading
• Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies for reading a variety of
informational texts.
Visual Arts
• Understands the characteristics and merits of one’s own artwork and the artwork of
others.
Multiple Intelligences Utilized
• Spatial, linguistic, logical-mathematical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal
Copyright © 2005 by Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
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resale. No other part of this teaching guide may be reproduced, stored in a
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mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written
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A division of Lerner Publishing Group, Inc.
241 First Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55401 U.S.A.
800-328-4929
Website address: www.lernerclassroom.com
Manufactured in the United States of America
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Books in the Continents series
include:
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Australia
Europe
North America
South America
TEACHING
Lesson 1
Traveling around
the World
Purpose: Students will read about the seven
continents. They will record information they deem
important in a passport/travel log.
Materials
• Continents books
• Passport Cover p. 8
• Passport Travel Log
p. 9
• stapler
• pencils
• crayons, colored
pencils, or markers
Objectives
• Recall information about each continent.
• Summarize key facts about each continent.
• Select significant information about each continent
to include in a book.
• Illustrate physical characteristics of a continent.
• Create a descriptive book to share with others.
• Compare and contrast the different continents.
Activity Procedures
Prepare
(teacher)
• Copy Passport Cover p. 8 for each student.
• Make seven copies of Passport Travel Log p. 9 for
each student.
• Staple Passport Cover p. 8 and Passport Travel Logs
p. 9 together to make a book for each student.
Pretest
(teacher, students)
• What is a passport? Why do people use passports?
• Show an example of a real passport to students.
• Show the students their classroom Passport/Travel
Log. Explain why and how they will be used in the
classroom.
CONTINENTS
Read
(students)
• Students will read a different Continents book each
day for seven days.
Model
(teacher)
• Once students have read one Continents book, the
teacher will model how to fill out a page in the
travel log. Show students how to draw a map of the
continent in the box at the top, and demonstrate
summarizing skills to fill in information at the
bottom.
Practice
(students)
• Students will complete one page in the travel log for
each Continents book they read.
• Students will receive a stamp or a sticker in their
passports after completing each page of the travel
log.
• By rotating the books each day, the students should
complete their travel logs in seven school days.
Discuss
(teacher, students)
• Once their travel logs are completed, have students
work in groups to share the information they
deemed important about each continent.
• Ask the students if their classmates chose the same
information for their travel logs. Why do they think
some information was the same and some was
different?
Evaluate
(teacher)
• Assess each child’s travel log for completeness and
accuracy.
• Display travel logs for classroom visitors to see.
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4
TEACHING
CONTINENTS
Lesson 2
3-D Continent Map
Purpose: Students will make a three-dimensional
map of a continent, re-creating the continent’s
physical features.
Materials
• Continents books
• Continent Maps
pp. 10–15
• homemade playdough (see recipe
below)
• 1 8–10" flour tortilla
for each continent
map
• cardboard
• scissors
• black markers
• tempera paint
• raised relief globe
Objectives
• Identify the seven continents by shape.
• Distinguish continents by physical characteristics.
• Map a continent’s physical characteristics.
• Distinguish between water and land characteristics.
• Create a 3-D map of a continent.
• Compare physical characteristics of each continent.
Activity Procedures
Prepare
(teacher)
• Make play-dough. (The recipe below is enough for
one map.)
• 1 cup flour, 1 cup warm water, 2 tsp. cream of
tartar, 1 tsp. oil, 1⁄4 cup salt
• Mix all ingredients in pan. Stir over medium
heat until smooth. Remove from pan and
knead dough.
• Place dough in bag or other airtight container.
• Copy Continent Maps pp. 10–15. (You may choose
to enlarge the smaller maps.)
• Cut cardboard slightly bigger than the maps.
Pretest
(teacher, students)
• Share the Continents books with students.
• What are physical characteristics?
• Ask students to describe some of the physical
characteristics of each continent.
• Show students a raised relief globe. Have students
feel the physical characteristics on the globe.
Read
(students)
• Have each student choose and read one Continents
book.
• Have students write down the physical characteristics
of the continent they’ll be mapping.
Model
(teacher)
• Show students how to cut out a continent map and
trace it on a tortilla. (Place the tortilla on cardboard
for durability.)
• Put homemade dough on top of the tortilla to make
the continent. Use more dough to make mountains,
valleys, and other physical features.
Practice
(small groups, partners)
• Students will create a 3-D map for their chosen
continent as demonstrated by the teacher.
• Leave completed maps out in the classroom to dry.
If maps are not complete after one class period, they
will need to be stored in an airtight container.
• Students should paint their dry maps using the colors
on the Continents covers.
Discuss
(teacher, students)
• How did you use the play-dough to represent the
physical characteristics of each continent?
Evaluate
(teacher)
• Evaluate maps for accuracy.
• Display maps in the classroom.
TEACHING
Lesson 3
Where in the
World Is . . .
Purpose: Students will learn about landmarks and
identify important landmarks for each of the seven
continents.
Materials
• Continents books
• Landmarks Around
the World p. 16
• pencils
• crayons, markers, or
colored pencils
Objectives
• Define landmark.
• Give examples of landmarks.
• Discover landmarks throughout the world.
• Differentiate between landmarks found on different
continents.
• Summarize the importance of various landmarks.
• Describe the importance of a landmark to its locale.
Activity Procedures
Prepare
(teacher)
• Copy Landmarks Around the World p. 16 for each
student.
Pretest
(teacher, students)
• What is a landmark?
• Identify a landmark in your town or state.
• Make a list of these landmarks on the board.
CONTINENTS
Model
(teacher)
• Demonstrate how to complete Landmarks Around
the World p. 16, using one of the landmarks from
the list on the board. Show students how to draw
the landmark, describe where the landmark is, and
give other important information about the
landmark on the poster.
• Explain to students that they will each read a
Continents book. While reading the book, they
should find an important landmark found on that
continent.
Read
(students)
• Students will read selected Continents books.
Practice
(students)
• Each student will complete Landmarks Around the
World p. 16 using a selected landmark from the
Continents book he or she read.
Discuss
(teacher, students)
• Students will share their landmark posters with the
class.
• Why did you choose that particular landmark? Have
you or anyone in the class ever seen that landmark?
Would you like to visit it?
Evaluate
(teacher)
• Evaluate Landmarks Around the World p. 16.
• Display landmark posters in the classroom.
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6
TEACHING
CONTINENTS
Lesson 4
Continents Puzzle
Purpose: Students will identify each continent’s place
on a world map and be able to place it there
accordingly.
Materials
• Continents books
• Continent Maps
pp. 10–15
• scissors
• crayons, markers, or
colored pencils
• large piece of blue
poster board or
butcher paper for
each student
• large world map
Objectives
• Name each of the seven continents.
• Distinguish between the seven continents.
• Prepare a replica of each of the seven continents.
• Identify the location of each continent on a world
map.
• Design a world map using replicas of the continents.
• Compare a self-made world map to a standard map.
Activity Procedures
Prepare
(teacher)
• Copy one set of Continent Maps pp. 10–15 for each
student.
• Gather one piece of blue poster board or butcher
paper for each student.
Pretest
(teacher, students)
• Show students a world map and discuss how the
continents relate to one another.
• List the seven continents on the board and discuss
the spelling of their names.
Read
(teacher, students)
• Read pp. 4-5 of any Continents book for correct
continent placement on a world map and spelling of
continent names.
Model
(teacher)
• Show students how to make a world map from
memory. Cut out and color the Continent Maps
pp. 10–15 and arrange them on the blue poster
board or butcher paper as best you can. Then use
pp. 4–5 of any Continents book to check for
accuracy.
Practice
(students)
• Students will cut and color Continent Maps
pp. 10–15.
• Students will place Continent Maps pp. 10–15 on
blue poster board or butcher paper to make a world
map from memory.
• Students will use pp. 4–5 of any Continents book to
check for accuracy. If their map is not correct, have
students close the book and try again.
Discuss
(teacher, students)
• Are you able to put together an accurate map of the
world?
• How can you remember the locations of the
continents?
• Are some continents easier to place than others? If
so, which ones?
Evaluate
(teacher)
• After several days of practice, the teacher will place a
continent puzzle on a table in the room. Individual
students will come to the table and create a world
map for the teacher by memory.
• Students will be evaluated on correct placement and
identification of the continents.
TEACHING
Additional Resources
BOOKS
Arnold, Helen. Postcards from Australia, Vol. 1.
Austin, TX: Steck-Vaughn, 1995.
This book is a collection of fictional postcards
written by children traveling through Australia.
Carmi, Rebecca. Expedition Down Under. New York:
Scholastic, 2002.
Miss Frizzle’s class travels to Australia in search of
a kookaburra. They discover many of Australia’s
interesting animals while they are there.
Cowcher, Helen. Antarctica. New York: Farrar, Straus
and Giroux, 1991.
This book describes the daily life of animals that
live on Antarctica.
Knight, Margy Burns. Africa Is Not a Country.
Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 2002.
Knight describes daily life in some of Africa’s
fifty-three countries. She highlights the
differences and diversity of the African continent.
Olawasky, Lynn Ainsworth. Colors of Australia.
Minneapolis: Carolrhoda, 1997.
This book uses colors to share the history,
physical features, and culture of Australia.
Onyefulu, Ifeoma. A Is for Africa. New York: Puffin,
1997.
Text and photographs show twenty-six things
from A to Z that are representative of African
people.
Petersen, David. South America. New York: Scholastic
Library Publishing, 1999.
This is a brief overview of the geography, wildlife,
history, and people of South America.
Press, Judy. Around the World Art and Activities:
Visiting the Seven Continents through Craft Fun.
Nashville, TN: Ideal Publications, 2000.
This book contains craft activities related to the
seven continents. Simple instructions are
included.
Ryan, Zoe Alderfer, and Liv Arnesen. Ann and Liv
Cross Antarctica: A Dream Come True. New
York: DaCapo Press, 2003.
Read about the journey of the first two women
to ski across Antarctica.
Sayre, April Pulley. G’Day Australia! Brookfield, CT:
Millbrook Press, 2003.
Learn fascinating facts about the land down
under with this photo-filled book.
CONTINENTS
Sayre, April Pulley. Good Morning, Africa! Brookfield,
CT: Millbrook Press, 2003.
Students will learn all about the people and
habitats of Africa.
Sayre, April Pulley. Greetings, Asia! Brookfield, CT:
Millbrook Press, 2003.
Asia comes to life in this informative book.
Spectacular photography.
Sayre, April Pulley. Hello Europe! Brookfield, CT:
Millbrook Press, 2003.
Learn all about Europe, its cultures, and
architecture.
Sayre, April Pulley. Hooray for Antarctica! Brookfield,
CT: Millbrook Press, 2003.
Read and learn about this cool continent!
Sayre, April Pulley. South America, Surprise.
Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 2003.
This book introduces children to the geography,
plant and animal life, weather, and human
settlement of South America.
Sayre, April Pulley. Welcome to North America!
Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 2003.
Clear, concise text and brilliant photography
teach students all about North America.
Weatherby, Myra. South America. Plymouth, MN:
The Child’s World, Inc., 2003.
This is a brief and simple introduction to South
American geography.
WEBSITES
World Geography
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/
continents/
This website contains fun facts and activities about
the seven continents, with printable maps and
activity books.
GeoSpy
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy
This website features an interactive continents
game and more.
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PASSPORT
Travel Log
for
Teaching Continents
9
Name of Continent Visited
Draw the continent in the box.
What is one place you visited on this continent?
What is one animal found on this continent?
What is one interesting thing you would like to share about this continent?
Teaching Continents
10
Africa
Teaching Continents
11
Asia
Teaching Continents
12
Antarctica
Teaching Continents
13
Europe and Australia
Teaching Continents
14
North America
Teaching Continents
15
South America
Teaching Continents
16
Landmarks Around the World
By:
Landmark
Teaching Continents