Graph Those Continents!
Graph Those Continents!
A lesson integrating mathematical skills and geographic concepts.
Author / Karen GuerreroGrade Level / PreK-K
Duration / 1-2 class periods
National Geography Standards / Arizona Social Studies Standard / Arizona Math Standards
ELEMENT ONE: THE WORLD IN SPATIAL TERMS
1. How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.
2. How to use Mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context. / Strand 4 Geography
Concept 1 The World In Spatial Terms
PO 5. Locate continents and oceans on a map or globe.
Concept 2 Places and Regions
PO 1. Recognize through images how people live differently in other places and times. / Strand 1 Number and Operations
Concept 2 Numerical Operations
PO 2. Solve contextual problems by developing, applying, and recording strategies with sums and minuends to 10 using objects, pictures, and symbols.
Strand 2 Data Analysis, Probability, and Discrete Mathematics
Concept 1 Data Analysis
PO 1. Construct simple displays of data using objects or pictures.
PO 2. Ask and answer questions by counting, comparing quantities, and interpreting simple displays of data.
Graph Those Continents!
Overview
Students will have fun selecting popular foods, toys and animals that originated from around the world. They will organize these items by continents and will create a class graph.
Purpose
In this lesson students will use numerical operations and graphing skills to organize and formulate questions based on objects from the seven continents. Students will then realize that commonplace items come from a variety of continents.
Materials
§ World Map with seven continents
§ Key to where the objects originated
§ Scissors and tape/glue
§ Large chart paper or white board space
§ Around the World Object Key
§ Graphing the Seven Continents
§ Continent name plates
Objectives
The student will be able to:
- Locate the seven continents on a map and organize pictures using the names of these continents
- Recognize that toys, foods and animals come from other areas in the world
- Solve numerical problems by organizing pictures according to continental origin
- Construct a graph using pictures of objects from the seven continents
- Interpret data based on the graph constructed by the class
Procedures
Background Knowledge: Students have been introduced to a world map and the seven continents.
1. As a class look at the world map and identify the seven continents. Label the seven continents using the large name plates (to be used later when created the class graph).
2. Talk to students about how objects, toys, and animals we love originally came from other places in our world.
3. Look at the map worksheet that has the seven continents and object key and discuss how students can find out where objects originated. Give each pair of students a map.
4. Instruct students to cut out their favorite object(s), rotating the paper around so each student has an opportunity to cut out one object.
Once their object is cut out, they will identify where that object originated from using the map worksheet. The students will then come up to the large class graph and place the picture next to the continent of origin (using tape/glue with the help of the teacher or a parent helper). Students will then go back to their group and will wait their turn to cut out another object and repeat the process two to three times.
5. Once the graph is completed, have the students discuss and interpret the graph; counting how many objects are next to each continent, talk about which continent has the most/least, etc.
6. As an assessment, have students complete an individual graph using the data collected.
Assessment
Students will be informally assessed based on recognition of objects and their origin (names of the seven continents) when they attach their picture to the class graph.
Students will complete an individual graph based on the data collected on the whole-class graph. They will interpret the data by solving numerical problems with 80% accuracy.
Accuracy of 80% or higher will be considered mastery on the graph worksheet assessment.
Extensions
Have students bring in object from home and organize them according to origin – adding to the class graph.
Continue adding to the world map pictures of objects from books read throughout the semester.
Organize the objects alphabetically – working on letter sounds and word recognition.
Graph Those Continents!