Title:  Understanding Directions

Grade Level: Fourth/Fifth

Subjects:  Social Studies/Math/Art

Learner Outcomes:

Students will label the cardinal directions on a compass rose.
Students will label the intermediate directions on a compass rose.
Students will find the compass rose on a map.
Students will find his/her house or other landmark at web site:
http://www.terraserver.com/

Duration of Lesson:   two 40-minute sessions

Materials:

Maps with compass roses
Drawing paper
Crayons, colored pencils, or other similar art supplies
Rulers or straight edges
Paper plates (enough for each student)

Technology Tools/Courseware:

Internet connected computers
Data projectors
Interactive whiteboards
CD for enrichment activity

Teacher Notes:
 

• Reserve interactive whiteboard/data projector
• Students should have a basic working knowledge of rulers
• Students should have basic drawing/art skills
• Students should have basic internet/mouse skills
• Teacher should be familiar with listed web sites and review if necessary
• Classroom text will vary due to adoption preferences in individual school
• systems.
• The number of days necessary for lessons will depend on ability and
• interests of students involved.

    Day 1

Step 1:  Lesson is introduced by asking the students to indicate north
             by pointing or moving in that direction.

Step 2:  Students are involved in a teacher led discussion concerning how we
              know directions on a map.

Step 3:  Students search for compass roses in textbooks or on computers.

Step 4:  Using the interactive whiteboard, explain the Internet site Terra
             Server.  Demonstrate to students how to locate their hometown
             and other points interest.

Step 5:  Students will practice finding their homes or other land marks
             using the web site:    http://www.terraserver.com/

    Day 2

Step 1:  Students use compasses to label the room's cardinal and
              intermediate directions.

Step 2:  The teacher models how to construct a compass rose using two
              sets of perpendicular lines or by using Paper Plate Compass Rose
              activity.

Step 3:  Students will construct and label compass roses using art materials.

Step 4:  Students' compass roses are evaluated by the teacher
              and/or cooperative groups for correctness.
 

Modifications:

-        Modifications may be made based on ability and grade level of students.
 

Enrichment Activities:

-    Students can search the internet for modern and antique maps noting
      the variety of compass roses.

-    Students may design and create more elaborate drawings of compass
     roses to express individual artistic creativity.

-    Students may continue improving their mapping skills with Make-a-Map CD
 
 

Evaluation/Assessment:

Students will draw and label a compass rose with cardinal and intermediate
directions.

Students will identify a compass rose on a map or worksheet.

Each student will locate his/her home or other landmark, starting at the school
and using the web site: http://www.terraserver.com/
 

State and National Standards:

West Virginia IGOs

    Social Studies:  4.43, 4.44, 4.45, 4.50
    Math:  4.35, 4.52
    Art:  4.5, 4.6, 4.10, 5.5, 5.9,5.14

National Standards

Social Studies--Geography

  Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes,
  and other geographic tools and technologies

  Knows the location of places, geographic features, and
  patterns of the environment

  Understands the characteristics and uses of spatial
  organization of Earth's surface

  Art--Fine Arts

  Understands the characteristics and uses of spatial
  organization of Earth's surface

  Understands the visual arts in relation to history
  and cultures

   Math

   Understands how scale in maps and drawings shows
   relative size and distance

   Knows basic geometric language for describing and
   naming shapes (e.g., trapezoid, parallelogram, cube, sphere)

   Understands characteristics of lines (e.g., parallel, perpendicular,
   intersecting) and angles (e.g., right, acute)
 
 

References:

Americas Story Harcourt Brace
Math Advantage Harcourt Brace
Math In Geography Evan-Moor
Make-a-Map 3D CD www.Sunburst-store.com.
http://www.terraserver.com/
http://www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/servers/servers_references.html
http://www.graphicmaps.com/clipart.htm
http://mapping.usgs.gov/mac/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs07999.html

Authors:
                   Carolyn Shuman
                   Douglas Turner
                   John Sezawich