Lesson Plan Guide

Teacher Candidate: Ashley Jones Date: 04/07/14

Grade and Topic: 8
th
grade -Research a State Length of Lesson: 3(50 min)classes
Subject: Social Studies School: University of Memphis

UNIT/CHAPTER OBJECTIVE/GENERALIZATION/BIG IDEA:
The Research a State lesson is a part of a unit covering geography. This lesson will enable students to research
new places, identify important landmarks, and appreciate the diverse culture of the United States of America.

LESSON OBJECTIVE:
1. Students will be able to identify major landforms, bodies of water, cities, and states.
2. Using a computer and MS PowerPoint, students will research their assigned states and create a
PowerPoint presentation with a minimum of 10 slides and a score of 80% or above on the
assessment rubric.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED:

State/ District or Common Core Standard
TN Social Studies 8.3.02- Know the location of places and geographic features, both physical and
human, in Tennessee and in the United States. (A) Identify major landforms, bodies of water, cities, and
states.
ISTE Standard(s)
NETS- Research and Information Fluency. Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use
information. (B) Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a
variety of sources and media.

MATERIALS:
Notebook
Pencil/Pens
List of all 50 states(alphabetical order)
Assignment rubric
USB flash drive
Access to the computers for 2 days
BACKGROUND and RATIONALE:
After learning about Tennessee and some of its important facts, students will have the opportunity to research
information about their assigned state.
Todays lesson will connect the student previous lesson and help them understand the differences and
similarities amongst states.
Students will learn how states differences shape the diverse country that we live in.

PROCEDURES AND TIMELINE:
Introduction: To get students interested in the lesson I plan to have a magician hat/Kleenex box filled
with paper that list the numbers 1 through 49. (exception Tennessee) Students will be allowed to pick a
number from the hat and then return to there seats.
Procedures: Provide a sequential (step by step) description of the procedures and activities for the
lesson.
- Students will be allowed to pull a number from the hat. 5 min
- Once everyone has a number I will explain to the class that each number represents a state. 5 min
- Students will be given a handout that lists the 50 states in alphabetical order. 2 min
- Students will then match their number from the hat to the state listed on the handout. 3 min
- Students will proceed to the computer lab to research their assigned states. 2 min
- Teacher will hand each student a rubric for the assignment.
- Once at the computers students will be allowed to research their states and find the requirements needed for
the assignment. 30 min
- Teacher will bring the class back together. 3 min
- The teacher will end todays lesson by presenting a PowerPoint activity of Tennessee. Students will be
advised that this is what is expected on the PowerPoint that they will create. 10 min
- Day 2- Students will use their notes to construct their PowerPoint on paper before visiting the lab. 15min
- Once in the lab students will use their notes to create a PowerPoint presentation. 37 min
- Students will save their projects to a flash drive and prepare to go leave. 5 min
- Day 3- Students will present their presentations to the class.
Closure:
The teacher will ask, can anyone tell me something interesting about their state? After allowing a few
students to respond, the teacher will then give a few facts about different places within the United States.
ASSESSMENT EVIDENCE:
Possible Points Criteria
1 point Slide 1- title slide
2 points Slide 2- state and a picture
3 points Slide 3- state capital and interesting facts
4 points (slides 4-8)= total of 15 points Slides 4-8: 4 important facts/descriptions about assigned
state
3 points Slide 9- Something that was learned
1 point Slide 10- Anything else the child will like to share
Total Point- 25 Total Point- 25

MODIFICATIONS:
Students who struggled using the Internet will be allowed to research their states using a book from the
library.
Students who struggled with using PowerPoint would receive assistant from the teacher or a classroom
helper.
Gifted and talented students will be allowed to find more information and type a two-page paper
regarding these facts.
Exceptional students will use visual aids and resources found in the school library to help research their
states.