Understanding geography and government begins at the local level. Using maps and the parts of a newspaper, a unit plan introduces the concept of community. It starts with the creation of classroom and school maps, and then moves through a series of graphic organizers designed to introduce scholars to the world around them.

Concepts

newspapers, physical geography, informational texts, map skills, local government

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Additional Tags

english language arts

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Instructional Ideas

• Create models of the different mapping assignments to share with learners before completing each activity
• Pull up an online map of an area and look at it from different perspectives, such as satellite and street view

Classroom Considerations

• Requires copies of local community and regional newspapers

Pros

• Provides printable handouts and worksheets
• Features an organized format for each lesson, which includes standards, required materials, and direct instruction

Cons

• Links to additional resources at end of file lead to many generic resources and some pages that no longer exist

Common Core

RI.1.3 RI.1.5 RI.2.3 RI.2.5 RI.3.3 RI.3.5 RI.4.3 RI.4.5 RI.5.3 RI.5.5 RH.6-8.5 RH.9-10.5