AROUND THE WORLD WITH THE SECRET GARDEN

GRADE LEVEL:  6

SUBJECT:  Social Studies, Language Arts, Math, Computer/Technology

DESCRIPTION:

This unit is to be done in conjunction with the Language Arts unit "Unlocking the secrets of The Secret Garden.  The unit further explores in great detail the countries of India and England, placing special emphasis on math and social studies.  In the unit, the students will do a great deal of research concerning the the two countries, as well as view beautiful gardens from all over the world.  The unit ends with the students designing a garden of their own and presenting a PowerPoint presentation comparing/contrasting the two countries.

• Be given a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the countries of India and England.
• Research selected websites looking for information comparing/contrasting the countries.
• Research the school library using atlases, globes, encyclopedias, etc.
• Keep a continuing journal of all the information they gather.
• Work in selected groups and exchange the information they have gathered.
• Become an expert on one of the categories they have researched.
• Share information with experts in other groups.
• Use prewriting and drafting strategies to generate topics and plan approaches to writing tasks.
• Use writing strategies to address a specific writing purpose.
• Complete a rough draft.
• Edit their own writing as well as the writing of their peers.
• Use Microsoft Word to complete their final report.
• Gather information about current events in India and England.
• Research the flags of India and England.
• Construct a detailed model of the flags of the two countries.
• Use a scale map.
• Use a compass.
• Construct a map with compass directions.
• Research famous gardens of the world.
• Construct a scale garden
• Be able to give a PowerPoint presentation of their own.

NATIONAL STANDARDS:

Geography
     The World in Spatial Terms
          1.  Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, and other geographic tools and technologies.
          2.  Knows the location of places, geographic features, and organizations of Earth's surface.
      Places and Regions
          3.  Understands the physical and human characteristics of a place.
          4.  Understands that culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions.
      Historical Understanding Standards
          1. Understands the historical perspective

Language Arts
     Writing
          1.  Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process.
          2.  gathers and uses information for research purposes
     Reading
          5.  Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
          7.  Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interret a variety of informational texts.
     Viewing
          9.  Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media

Math
          1.  Uses a variety of strategies in the problem-solving process.
          4.  Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of measurement.
          5.  Understands and applies basic and advanced properties of the concepts of geometry.

Language Arts
        6.16, 6.18, 6.33, 6.34, 6.52,6.53,  6.54,6.59, 6.60, 6.64, 6.65, 6.66,
Social Studies
        6.29, 6.24, 6.26, 6.27, 6.58
Math
        6.36, 6.37, 6.46, 6.9, 6.31, 6.43, 6.47

AUTHOR:

Williamson Middle School
          Delores Gattuso and Eddie Booten