Title:         TIME ZONES

Grade Level:  Fourth/Fifth

Subject(s):  Social Studies/Math/Art

Learner Outcomes:

Students will explain why time zones are necessary.
Students will read a time zone map.
Students will understand that 24 time zones exist in the world.
Students will determine time in the six time zones from Maine to Hawaii.
Students will name the six time zones from Maine to Hawaii.

Duration of Lesson: two 40-minute sessions

Materials:

Text with supplemental time zone maps
Overhead projector
Transparencies
Globe

Technology Tools/Courseware:

Computers
Internet sites
Overhead projector
Transparencies
Globe
Portable satellite dish and proper equipment/necessary tools
Television
 

Teacher Notes:
 

• Students will need a basic understanding of telling time on a clock.
• Building/community resource:  Have someone come to class who has had experience associated with traveling through different time zones and answer student questions regarding time change.
• 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.
• If satellite positioning activity is used as an enrichment activity, resource persons must be contacted in advance and supplies procured.

Procedures:

    Day 1

Step 1:   Identify the six time zones that stretch from Hawaii to
              Maine.  Explain time zones are necessary because of
              the rotation of the earth which causes the sun to rise
              and set at different times depending upon when you live.

Step 2:  Contrast the times in each zone to explain why it is later
              in the day in Maine than in Hawaii.  Have students
              brainstorm why places to the east have an earlier rising
              of the sun.  This is due to the rotation of the earth.

Step 3:  Complete practice worksheet on time zones or use
              interactive whiteboard and explore the Time Flies
              web site at:  http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/4-5matrix.htmlThis site integrates
              math and geography, map skills, extension activities,
              and has links to the world time zone map.

    Day 2

Step 1:   Review lesson from Day  One.

Step 2:   Using a transparency showing time zones of the world,
               explain that it takes 24 time zones for all the places
               around the world.  Work through examples of various
               time zones in cities like Tokyo, London and
               San Francisco.

Step 3:   Students complete a teacher-created practice sheet
               on world time zones in small groups.  Let students
               identify cities around the world and estimate the
               times in those cities.  Students may create questions
               for other groups in their class to solve.

Modifications:

-    Modifications will need to be made based on ability and grade level of students.

Enrichment Activities:

-    Using the Internet, find “picture cams” in various points of interest
     and document the time differences.  Cam World features
     organized links to thousands of "Webbed" outdoor
     cameras worldwide.  It includes information links for every
     cam listed.  This is a fun resource for learning about a region
     or time zones.

-    Using a local resource person, familiar with satellite positioning, students
     will determine latitude and longitude, proper direction, and correct angle
     in order to access  transmitted satellite images.
 

Evaluation/Assessment:

Textbook supplemental test will be given only on the six time zones
 of the United States.

Students will name the six United States time zones.
 

State and National Standards:

  West Virginia IGOs

  Math:  4.43, 4.28, 4.31, 4.35, 4.45, 4.46, 5.36, 5.46, 5.54

  Social Studies:  4.43, 4.44, 5.32

  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:

Evan-Moor (Social Studies Series)
Americas Story Harcourt Brace
Encyclopedias – Encarta CD-ROM
Time Flies.  http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/4-5matrix.html
Latitude and Longitude.
Cam World.  http://www.leonardsworlds.com/camera.html

Authors:
           Carolyn Shuman
           Douglas Turner
           John Sezawich