Wayne State University-College of Education

Lesson Plan Format

Teacher: MaryBeth Chrustowski Date: October 8th 2014 Setting: Classroom

School: Southeasten MI Elementary District: Any Grade Level: Fourth
Topic/Unit: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson Title: Cardinal Directions
Core Subject: Social Studies Integration: (Multi-Cultural?) Dance

I. Content
Students will be able to demonstrate pathways related to cardinal directions.
Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of general space.
Students will be able to demonstrate basic locomotor skills to varied tempos of
music.

Enduring Understandings/ Essential Questions

How can students demonstrate their understanding of cardinal directions
through the use of non-traditional activities and assessment methods?
How will students respond to the non-traditional activities and assessment
methods?

II. Benchmarks

Visual Arts GLCE’s

ART.D.I.4.1 Demonstrate basic locomotor skills through moving forward,
backward, and sideways in both straight and curved lines to varied tempos.
ART.D.I.4.4 Define and demonstrate an understanding of general space.
GLCE’s from Cores
4 – G1.0.2 Use cardinal and intermediate directions to describe the relative
location of significant places in the United States
4 – G1.0.4 Use geographic tools and technologies, stories, songs, and
pictures to answer geographic questions about the United States.

III. Learning Resources and Materials

Teacher materials:
 Map of the United States (i.e. poster or projection)
 “Moving to Learn” CD. Track #3 Slow, medium, fast, in 4, repeat
 CD Player
 Open area of students to move
Student materials:
 Listening ears
 “Thinking” caps
IV. Development of Lesson

Pre-Teaching activities-Classroom modification:

 Move all furniture, preferably against the walls of the classroom. The
goal is to have a big open area that allows for student movement.
  Display in the front of the classroom a large map of the United States.
A large poster, projection from an overhead, or a display on a smart
board.
 Hang each cardinal direction on a wall in the classroom.

Introduction
Cardinal Directions Geography Song http://youtu.be/UeeLivQH7Ok

Map of the United States: Identify the map of the United States to the
students. Have the students raise their hands and identify where Michigan
is. Explain that everyone in the classroom lives in Michigan. Ask the class
if anyone has lived anywhere else. If students have, have them point to
the state on the map. Ask the students if that state is North, South, East,
or West of Michigan.

Methods/Procedures
Rules: Follow directions. Mind your fellow peers’ personal place, when the
music stops you must freeze.
Introduction: Mapping of the United States.

Explore:
Cardinal Directions: Explain to the students that there is a direction on
each wall in the room (North, South, East and West). Have all students
start off in the middle of the room. When a state is called out, have the
students determine approximately where the state would be if the map of
the United States was on the floor. Direction is the key component here,
not exact location. Students are to move to that area using a locomotor
skill. However, the speed of the skill should coincide with the tempo of
the music (slow, medium, fast). Indicate to students that one classmate
will be on patrol. He/She will be giving “tickets” to any student traveling
in the wrong direction. Once a “ticket” is received (a tap on the shoulder)
they must freeze and cease travel until the next state is called out.

Student Work Period

Students should be paying attention to directions as well as being active
participants when appropriate.

Accommodations/Adaptations
Hearing impaired: a student may travel with another student as their “tour
guide.”
Handicap: (i.e. wheelchair) another student may push the student in the
wheelchair.
A student may be in charge of the music, determining when the music will stop
and start. Another student may be in charge of calling out the states.
 Assessment/Evaluation
The students will be evaluated informally, through observations: Did the
student follow directions? Did the student actively participate? Did the student
seem to grasp the concept of cardinal directions?

V. Closure
The music will cease. Students will be asked to come have a seat on the floor in
the center of the classroom. Students will be asked if they enjoyed the lesson.
Explain to students what you liked.
Clean up: Ask students to help push the furniture back to their original places.
Once all furniture is repositioned ask students to sit quietly at their desk so you
know they are ready to move on.

VI. Teacher Reflection

VII. Appendix*
The Cardinal Directions Geography Song: http://youtu.be/UeeLivQH7Ok
United States Map used for projection: http://www.mapofusa.net/