Unit of Study:

Geography - Looking at Where We Live

Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District

Integrated Social Studies, Grade 2

Geography Unit of Study

Week at a Glance

Week

Instructional Focus Reading

Workshop Writing Workshop

Revising &

Editing

1

Map Tools (5A, 5B)

Poetry

MOY DPM

Poetry

Verb Tense-Past

& Present

2

Landforms (6A, 6C) Poetry

Verb Tense-

Future

3

Bodies of Water (6A, 6C) Singular Nouns

4

Places of Interest (6B, 6C) Traditional

Literature

Folktales, Fables

& Fairy Tales Plural Nouns

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT UNIT

The lessons in this unit are geared toward the 2nd grade TEKS. Teachers are

encouraged to modify these activities as needed.

In the Unit Overview, the Bloom’s verbs have been underlined and critical skills have

been color coded purple. It is recommended that the INSS objective for the week be

placed where the students can view it.

BrainPop Jr. – Social Studies Word Wall is a great resource to use for vocabulary

activities. http://www.brainpopjr.com/big_word_wall/socialstudies/ Brain Pop and

Brain Pop Jr. are paid subscription site, but does offer some free content. Check

with your campus librarian to see if your campus has a subscription. You must be logged in to Discovery Education before viewing any of the streaming

resources.

LIBRARY RESOURCES

http://www.cfisd.net/dept2/library/library_el.htm

Check your campus library page for online resources to use for social studies content lessons

and read alouds.

Grade 2 Integrated Social Studies Curriculum

Unit 4: Geography Unit Length: 4 Weeks

Conceptual Lens: Patterns and Adaptations

Social Studies TEKS: 2.5(A) interpret information on maps and globes using basic map elements such as title, orientation

(north, south, east, west), and legend/map keys

2.5(B) create maps to show places and routes within the home, school, and community

2.6(A) identify major landforms and bodies of water, including each of the continents and each of

the oceans, on maps and globes

2.6(B) locate places of significance, including the local community, Texas, the state capital, the U.S.

capital, major cities in Texas, the coast of Texas, Canada, Mexico, and the United States on maps

and globes

2.6(C) examine information from various sources about places and regions

Unit Overview:

Students will gain a basic understanding of simple geographic tools and how to use those tools to

interpret maps and globes and create maps of their own. The student will also understand the

locations and characteristics of places and regions in the community, state, and nation.

Literature

Selections:

Teachers may choose a variety of literature for the read aloud selections to develop students’

understanding of the social studies concepts. Please see Appendix A for suggested resources.

Map Tools Overview: Week 1

Enduring Understandings/Generalizations Guiding/Essential Questions

Students will understand the use of simple geographic tools is

essential in the study of where one lives in relation to other places.

How do we use maps and globes to understand our world?

How does geography impact people; how do people impact

geography?

Why are maps and globes important?

Would life be different if we didn’t have maps and globes?

Why would you use a map?

When would it be necessary to use symbols?

How would life be different if we didn’t have cardinal

directions?

Students will . . .

participate in discussions and express ideas in a written format about the unit’s enduring understandings and guiding questions.

use primary and secondary sources to gain information about a topic

understand key vocabulary terms

examine information from various sources about places and regions

use geographic tools such as title, orientation, and keys to interpret information on a map and globe

create maps to show places and routes within the home, school, and community

Instructional Resources: Week 1

Teacher Materials Teacher Notes Assessments (%) Technology

Horizons Textbook

p. A6-7: USA, Mexico,

Canada

p. 24-25-Read a Map Key

p. 39-Apply Map & Globe

Skills (can be used as an

assessment)

p. 126-127-Find Directions on

a Map (this can be used as

an independent reading

selection and an assessment)

Geography PPTs and

games

Globe and laminated

maps of Texas and the

United States

Map Review PPT (iXplore)

Directions PPT (iXplore) –

Start the slide show from

the beginning in slide

show mode to introduce

orientation concepts and

then assess the students.

Appendix A – Suggested

Literature

Appendix B - Map Poems

– these can be used as a

read aloud or poem of

the week.

The following pages in

the Horizons Textbook

contain questions

student can answer in

their ISN for a grade.

p. 24-Read a Map Key p.

39-Map & Globe Skills p.

126-Directions

Direction assessment on PPT

Coaster Compass Rose-Appendix C

Pre-assessment map skills-Appendix D

Reading a Map (website) – can be

used as an assessment after the

Thursday lesson.

Blank North America map-

Appendix E

Geography sites on

Only2Clicks

Community Map

United States & Neighbors -

map

Map Quest

Google Maps

Geography Games

Symbols and Keys quiz

Direction quiz

Adventure Island – this

is a great interactive site

that assesses the

student’s knowledge of

map symbols in a

legend.

Reading a Map – use

as an assessment

after the Thursday

lesson.

Create a Map

Kids Infobits: Geography &

Map Terms

Map Tools Pacing Guide: Week 1

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Vocabulary Read Aloud Read Aloud Read Aloud Current Events

Focus: Map Review

Before the lesson: create

a KWL chart on chart

paper or electronically.

Start a discussion with

students about what

they know and want to

know about maps.

Students can use sticky

notes to place

information on the chart.

Use the Map Review

PPT (iXplore) to go over

key vocabulary

concepts for the unit.

Conduct a read aloud

using one of the

suggested literature

selections or a selection

from your class or

campus library about

maps and map skills.

Teacher can conduct

activities using

suggested vocabulary

words to build

background knowledge.

Map (definition, TBp. 3)

Cardinal Directions

(definition, TBp. 98,124)

Map Key

Map Legend

Map Symbols

Geography (definition,

TBp. 98)

Focus: Directions

Use slides 1-7 of the

Directions PPT to

introduce the concepts

of cardinal directions on

a map.

Use slides 8-12 to assess

the students (%)

Students can use p. 126-

127 in the Horizons

textbook as an

independent reading

selection. The questions

on p. 126 can be used as

a quick assessment. (%)

Optional-Have students

make and label a

coaster compass rose.

(%) They can paste it on

the map they create at

the end of the unit.

(Appendix C)

Focus: Map Legend/Key

Conduct a RA using See

Westburg by Bus! In the

Journeys textbook p. 151-

152. Before you read,

have students locate the

compass rose on the

map. Then have student

infer what the item is at

the bottom of p. 151.

Explain it is a map key or

legend and it contains

symbols, which are

pictures that represent

something else on a map.

During the RA, bring in

direction skills learned

from the previous day.

(EX: Which direction

would you walk from the

Welcome center to the

Library?)

Students can read p. 24-

25 in the Horizons

textbook as an

independent reading

selection.

Assess student

understanding by having

them answer the

questions on Appendix D.

(%)

Focus: Locating Places

on a Map and Globe

Use p. A6-7 in the

Horizons textbook as a

resources for showing

students the location of

the United States of

America, our neighbors

to the south (Mexico),

and our neighbors to

the north (Canada).

Using a 3D globe or an

online version of a

globe, have students

locate these places.

Have them locate the

same places on a map.

To assess student

knowledge, have them

label these places on a

blank map. Appendix

E- (%)

Students can write a

short story using

present and past

tense verbs about a

trip they took or

directions on how to

get from one place to

another.

Landforms Overview: Week 2

Enduring Understandings/Generalizations Guiding/Essential Questions

The student understands the locations and characteristics of

places and regions in the community, state, and nation.

What is a continent?

How many continents are there?

Students will . . .

participate in discussions and express ideas in a written format about the unit’s enduring understandings and guiding questions.

use primary and secondary sources to gain information about a topic

understand key vocabulary terms

identify major landforms including each of the 7 continents using a map and globe

examine information from various sources about places and regions

Instructional Resources: Week 2

Teacher Materials Teacher Notes Assessments (%) Technology

Horizon Textbook

Appendix F – Map of the World

(Labeled) – can use for display or

color coding by the students

Appendix G – Map of the World

(blank) – can use as an

assessment

Appendix H – Note-taking page

for student ISN

Continents & Oceans PPT (iXplore)

Continents & Oceans Notebook

file (iXplore)

Poems & Songs PPT (iXplore)

Appendix G – World

Map (blank) – can use

as an assessment. This is

also located in iXplore.

Appendix H – Note-

taking page for student

ISN

Word Search (iXplore)

Learning the Continents Through

Song & Poetry

Continent and Ocean quiz

Continents & Ocean flashcard

game

Oceans of the World – contains a

short promo of a Disney movie

about oceans. It may be used to

grab the student’s attention

about the subject.

Kids Infobits: Continents &

Regions

Landforms Pacing Guide: Week 2

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Vocabulary Read Aloud Read Aloud Current Events

Teacher can conduct

activities using suggested

vocabulary words to build

background knowledge.

Globe (definition, TBp.

124

Map (definition-TBp. 3)

Continent (definition,

TBp. 122)

Focus: Map vs. Globe

Before the lesson –

make a Venn diagram

on chart paper or

create one

electronically. Title it

Globe/Map.

Use the diagram &

slides 2-3 of the

Continents & Oceans

PPT to compare and

contrast information

about a map & globe.

Conduct a read

aloud using one of the

suggested literature

selections or a

selection from your

class or campus library

about maps and

globes.

Focus: Continents

Use slides 4-14 of the Continents & Oceans PPT

as a read aloud.

Have students take notes using a copy of

Appendix G as you read and discuss the

information (%).

Slides 15 & 16 are mnemonic devices students

can use to learn the continents. As a writing

activity, students and pair up and create their

own mnemonic device.

Use the link on slide 17 to assess the

student’s knowledge of the information

(%).

Students can write a

short story using future

tense verbs about a trip

they would like to take

to a different continent.

Bodies of Water Overview: Week 3

Enduring Understandings/Generalizations Guiding/Essential Questions

The student understands the locations and characteristics of

places and regions in the community, state, and nation.

What is an ocean?

How many oceans are there?

Can you find continents and oceans on a map and a globe?

Students will . . .

participate in discussions and express ideas in a written format about the unit’s enduring understandings and guiding questions.

use primary and secondary sources to gain information about a topic

understand key vocabulary terms

examine information from various sources about places and regions

Identify the 5 major bodies of water using a map and globe

Instructional Resources: Week 3

Teacher Materials Teacher Notes Assessments (%) Technology

Horizon Textbook

Appendix F – Map of the

World (Labeled) – can use for

display or color coding by the

students

Appendix G – Map of the

World (blank) – can use as an

assessment

Appendix H – Note-taking

page for student ISN

Continents & Oceans PPT

(iXplore)

Continents & Oceans

Notebook file (iXplore)

Poems & Songs PPT (iXplore)

The maps within the

textbook do not include

the new Southern

Ocean.

Appendix G – World

Map (blank) – can use

as an assessment. This

is also located in

iXplore.

Appendix H – Note

taking page for

student ISN

Word Search

(iXplore)

Learning the Continents

Through

Song & Poetry

Continent and Ocean quiz

Continents & Ocean

flashcard game

Oceans of the World –

contains a short promo of a

Disney movie about oceans.

It may be used to grab the

student’s attention about the

subject.

Bodies of Water Pacing Guide: Week 3

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Vocabulary Read Aloud Read Aloud Read Aloud Current Events

Teacher can conduct

activities using

suggested vocabulary

words to build

background

knowledge.

Ocean

Body of Water

Focus: Oceans

Use slides 18-19 of the Continents & Oceans PPT

as a read aloud.

Have students take notes using a copy of

Appendix G as you read the information (%).

Slides 20 & 21 are mnemonic devices students

can use to learn the oceans. As a writing

activity, students can pair up and create their

own mnemonic device.

Slide 22 is an assessment (%).

Focus: Putting it Together

Students can

complete Appendix F

– World Map -

individually or with a

partner. (%)

Optional: Students

can complete

Appendix I -

Word Search.

This is also

located in

iXplore as a

pdf.

Teachers can use

this time for a read

aloud about a

winter holiday or

conduct holiday

activities with the

students.

POI Overview: Week 4

Enduring Understandings/Generalizations Guiding/Essential Questions

The student understands the locations and characteristics of

places and regions in the community, state, and nation.

Why is it important to be able to locate places on a map or a

globe?

Students will . . .

participate in discussions and express ideas in a written format about the unit’s enduring understandings and guiding questions.

use primary and secondary sources to gain information about a topic

understand key vocabulary terms

locate places of significance, including the local community, Texas, the state capital, the U.S.capital, major cities in Texas, the coast

of Texas, Canada, Mexico, and the United States on maps and globes

examine information from various sources about places and regions

Instructional Resources: Week 4

Teacher Materials Teacher Notes Assessments (%) Technology

Horizons Textbook:

p. 2-Austin, Texas

p.3-Houston, Texas and a map

other major cities in Texas

p. 6-Top 5 Cities in Texas

p. 7- Dallas & DFW

p. 118-The Gulf of Mexico

p.119-US, Mexico, and Canada

p. 159-Texas map w/ major cites

Teachers may want to

use the story in the

Horizons textbook on

pp. 100-111 (Tulip Sees

America) as a read

aloud to wrap up the

unit.

Point of Interest (POI)-a

specific point location that

someone may find useful or

interesting

Significant

Veteran

Kids Infobits: Famous

Places – Washington D.C.

Map Quest

Google Maps

Points Of Interest Pacing Guide: Week 4

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Holiday Read Aloud Read Aloud Read Aloud Read Aloud

Focus: Points of Interest-

Countries

Explain to the students

they will be locating

places on a map during

the week.

Using a laminated, paper

copy or electronic map,

have students locate the

following;

United States

Mexico

Canada

Teachers may choose to

conduct a read aloud

using a book about

locating places on a

map.

Focus: Points of Interest-Texas

Using a laminated, paper

copy or electronic map,

have students locate the

following;

Our State: Texas

Our State Capital:

Austin

Gulf of Mexico

Major cities in Texas-

Have students brainstorm a

list of cities they know in

Texas. Record the cities on

chart paper. Students can

locate on a map individually

of with a partner.

Focus: Points of Interest

Explain to students that

not only does Texas have

a capital city, but our

country has a capital as

well which is Washington

D.C.

Teachers may choose to

conduct a read aloud

using a book about our

national capital.

Focus: Our Community

Using a laminated, paper

copy or electronic map, have

students locate the following;

Cy-Fair/Houston -

Where is our school

located in the

community?

Where is your house

located in the

community?

Appendix A

Topic Suggested Literature Map Skills

Amazon search

for Geography

Me on the Map, Joan Sweeney (excellent way to introduce the concept of

maps as a flat version of an area on Earth. After reading the book and looking

at a variety of maps, students could take home graph paper and make a map

of their bedroom)

Where Do I Live, Neil Chesanow

Follow That Map: A First Book of Mapping Skills, Scot Ritchie

Maps and Globes, Jack Knowlton

Are We There Yet, Daddy?, Virginia Walters

Mapping P en n y ’s Wor ld , Loreen Leedy (A book that really allows children

to make connections about maps. Penny makes maps of her bedroom and

other places that are important to her. This would be an excellent introduction

to maps. Students could work in small groups and map the classroom, library,

and other rooms in the school.)

Amazing Hands-On Map Activities by Rose Farina is an excellent resource for

teachers. There are very good, simple activities to help students learn about

maps while having fun.

Map in the Mystery Machine by Gail Herman is a book that children will love. The

main character is Scooby Doo who finds a map. This is a quick read aloud. After

the book is finished, students could go on scavenger hunts using maps to find

treasures.

Journeys Main Selections, Leveled & Vocabulary Readers:

See Westburg by Bus! – Journeys Main Selection, Unit 1, p. 151-152

Ferdinand Saves the Day, Ann M. Rossi (Unit 1, Selection 4) Lesson Plan

Sam Finds the Party, Regina Velaqzuez, (Unit 4, Selection 4) Lesson Plan

Finding the Party(Unit 4, Selection 4)

TFK: Maps: Old and New

Tulip Sees America, Cynthia Rylant, Horizons Textbook p. 100-111

Tulip Sees America Writing Lesson

Oceans &

Continents

Amazon search

Journey’s Leveled & Vocabulary Readers:

Antarctic Animals

Exploring Antarctica

Going to the South Pole

McMurdo Station

Penguins

Points of

Interest

Amazon search for National Landmarks

Amazon search for National Monuments

Celebrating Texas: Patriotic Symbols and Landmarks, Trisha James

All books mentioned in the lessons are suggestions. Consult your campus librarian for related

titles that are available at your campus.

Appendix B

Poems about Maps

A Sense of Place

By Cherry Carl Maps outline a special space

And always give us a sense of place.

Where are we going and where have we

been?

How will we get there and when, when,

when?

How many miles will we have to drive?

How will we know when we finally arrive?!

We follow the key, the key on the map,

That’s always there on somebody’s lap!

Will we pass through towns that are very small?

Will we get to see any places at all?

Look at the map and you can see

Just where we are and where we’ll be!

A Key With No Lock

By Cherry Carl Every map has a special key

So you know what is earth and what is the

sea.

Oceans and rivers and lakes are blue,

But I know that and so do you!

Trees and grass are usually green, On

every map that I’ve ever seen! Roads

and freeways are easy signs . . .

They’re usually marked with big black lines.

Every map has a special key,

So, when you look, you’ll always see

Symbols and signs that help you read

The View from Above

By Cherry Carl A map is a picture that holds the key

To finding our way from sea to sea,

With symbols and signs, colors and lines,

And all of the mapmaker’s special designs.

A Rose That Has No Smell

By Cherry Carl

Have you heard of a rose that has no

smell?

I’ll tell you about it, so listen well!

This rose is a special design that shows

Every pirate and sailor which way that he

goes.

“Am I going the way to the treasure

chest?”

Is it north or south or east or west!

Without a compass rose on a map,

My sailors might easily fall for a trap!

All of these poems were written by Cherry Carl, a retired language arts teacher.

Appendix C

Appendix D

Appendix E

North America Map

Name: Date: Score:

North America and Adjacent Countries

Appendix F

SOUTHERN OCEAN

Appendix G

Appendix H

On a map or globe, you will find the continents and oceans.

A continent is

_.

The names of the seven continents are:

1. 2. _

3. 4. _

5. 6. _

7.

An ocean is _ .

The five oceans are

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Appendix I

Find all of

the

continents

and

oceans in

the grid to

the left.

Africa

Antarctica

Arctic Asia

Atlantic

Australia

Continent

Equator

Europe

Globe

Indian

North America

North Pole

Ocean

Pacific

South

America

South Pole

Southern

Name:

© 2005 www.bogglesworldesl.com

Appendix J

Name: _

Create Your Own Acrostic