U.S Geography: The South
Burris, T. (2006). U.s. geography: the south. Retrieved from http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/geo_south/
I found this website to be incredibly helpful when forming my lesson plans. It provided the basic idea for everything that I planned out for the weeklong lesson about geography. It laid out all materials necessary and provided other websites that would be helpful for elementary school teachers. It also listed several standards that the lesson would help achieve and gave ideas for other ways to use the material.
Puzzlemaker
Discovery Channel, Initials. (n.d.). Puzzlemaker. Retrieved from http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
This was the best resource I found because it can be used in so many different lessons! It's a free software you can use to create your own puzzles for your students to work on. There are 10 different types of puzzles to chose from and you enter in whatever content you want to be included. This could be used as a fun activity while teaching any subject or grade level.
Willow Web Radio
Willowdale Elementary School, Initials. (n.d.). Radio willowweb. Retrieved from http://millard.esu3.org/willow/radio/
Willow Web Radio is a unique source in that it provides you with podcasts from all subject areas created by kids for other kids. There is everything from science to geography to reading to choose from. It is such a neat idea and a great way to incorporate podcasts into the classroom. It is also an easy way to connect your students with students from other places and a good experience to understand how your students can learn from their peers.
Google Earth
Google, Initials. (2010). Google earth. Retrieved from http://earth.google.com/
Google Earth is one of the coolest technologies that I have come upon and there are so many great ways to incorporate it into the classroom! For this particular geography lesson, it offers an aerial view of the different types of physical features that the students are studying. What a great thing for the visual learners! It can also be used to study space or to see cities across the world. It gives eyes to students who will most likely never actually get to visit the places they are studying. The possibilities for using this software are endless.
The Southern Coastlands
U.S. Department of State, Initials. (n.d.). The Southern coastlands. Retrieved from http://countrystudies.us/united-states/geography-15.htm
This is a great resource for teachers who may not have very much background in studying the geography of the Southern U.S. states. It gives a good overview of the climate, economies, and physical features of the states in the south. It is also a great place to send students who might have more questions on the subject and who want to learn more. It's very simple, easy to read, and provides a ton of information that is really relevant to the lesson.
Sheppard Software
Sheppard, B. (n.d.). Sheppard software. Retrieved from http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm
Sheppard Software is a fun website for students to go to and play games on to help reiterate things that they have learned about Southern geography. There is one game in particular that is really pertinent to what the students were learning in the lesson. It lets you select a region and then you have to pick the state on a map that they ask for. Once you get the right answer, they provide a list of facts about the state. It is great for keeping the students attention and helping them secure what they have learned at the same time!
Geography for Kids Geography for kids. (1998). Retrieved from http://www.kidsgeo.com/index.php
Geography for Kids is another website full of games for students to play to hone their skills with recognizing states. The one game that I really like on here was a game where states would drop down in a side bar and students have to drag the state to a map and place it in the correct location. It is not too difficult for those who are just starting to learn about geography but also pushes students to go faster each round.
The Fifty States The Fifty states. (2000). Retrieved from http://www.infoplease.com/states.html
This website is a great resource for students who want to study a specific state. It displays a map of the United States and offers students the option of clicking on whatever state they choose. When they do, a state profile pops up with information including maps, state flags, government officials, population, tourist attractions, facts about the economy, and more. When trying to get information about any particular state, this place is the way to go!
Teacher's Page
U.S Geography: The South
Burris, T. (2006). U.s. geography: the south. Retrieved from http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/geo_south/
I found this website to be incredibly helpful when forming my lesson plans. It provided the basic idea for everything that I planned out for the weeklong lesson about geography. It laid out all materials necessary and provided other websites that would be helpful for elementary school teachers. It also listed several standards that the lesson would help achieve and gave ideas for other ways to use the material.
Puzzlemaker
Discovery Channel, Initials. (n.d.). Puzzlemaker. Retrieved from http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/
This was the best resource I found because it can be used in so many different lessons! It's a free software you can use to create your own puzzles for your students to work on. There are 10 different types of puzzles to chose from and you enter in whatever content you want to be included. This could be used as a fun activity while teaching any subject or grade level.
Willow Web Radio
Willowdale Elementary School, Initials. (n.d.). Radio willowweb. Retrieved from http://millard.esu3.org/willow/radio/
Willow Web Radio is a unique source in that it provides you with podcasts from all subject areas created by kids for other kids. There is everything from science to geography to reading to choose from. It is such a neat idea and a great way to incorporate podcasts into the classroom. It is also an easy way to connect your students with students from other places and a good experience to understand how your students can learn from their peers.
Google Earth
Google, Initials. (2010). Google earth. Retrieved from http://earth.google.com/
Google Earth is one of the coolest technologies that I have come upon and there are so many great ways to incorporate it into the classroom! For this particular geography lesson, it offers an aerial view of the different types of physical features that the students are studying. What a great thing for the visual learners! It can also be used to study space or to see cities across the world. It gives eyes to students who will most likely never actually get to visit the places they are studying. The possibilities for using this software are endless.
The Southern Coastlands
U.S. Department of State, Initials. (n.d.). The Southern coastlands. Retrieved from http://countrystudies.us/united-states/geography-15.htm
This is a great resource for teachers who may not have very much background in studying the geography of the Southern U.S. states. It gives a good overview of the climate, economies, and physical features of the states in the south. It is also a great place to send students who might have more questions on the subject and who want to learn more. It's very simple, easy to read, and provides a ton of information that is really relevant to the lesson.
Sheppard Software
Sheppard, B. (n.d.). Sheppard software. Retrieved from http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm
Sheppard Software is a fun website for students to go to and play games on to help reiterate things that they have learned about Southern geography. There is one game in particular that is really pertinent to what the students were learning in the lesson. It lets you select a region and then you have to pick the state on a map that they ask for. Once you get the right answer, they provide a list of facts about the state. It is great for keeping the students attention and helping them secure what they have learned at the same time!
Geography for Kids
Geography for kids. (1998). Retrieved from http://www.kidsgeo.com/index.php
Geography for Kids is another website full of games for students to play to hone their skills with recognizing states. The one game that I really like on here was a game where states would drop down in a side bar and students have to drag the state to a map and place it in the correct location. It is not too difficult for those who are just starting to learn about geography but also pushes students to go faster each round.
The Fifty States
The Fifty states. (2000). Retrieved from http://www.infoplease.com/states.html
This website is a great resource for students who want to study a specific state. It displays a map of the United States and offers students the option of clicking on whatever state they choose. When they do, a state profile pops up with information including maps, state flags, government officials, population, tourist attractions, facts about the economy, and more. When trying to get information about any particular state, this place is the way to go!