Almanac or Atlas?

Barbara McBride-Smith, HooverElementary School

Grade Level: 4th

SocialStudiesPASS:

1.1Demonstrate the ability to utilize research materials, such as encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases, newspapers, photographs, visual images, and computer-based technologies.

LanguageArtsPASS:

Research & Information 5.1 Accessing Information: Select the best source for a given purpose.

  1. Understand the organization of and access information from a variety of sources including dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, almanacs, table of contents, glossaries, & indexes.

InformationLiteracyPASS:

1.2The student will be able to identify and use a range of information resources.

Books/Materials:

  1. Class set of almanacs
  2. Class set of atlases
  3. “Almanac or Atlas” activity sheet and/or Promethean/Smart Board

Procedures:

  1. Explain & show the difference between an almanac (book of quick facts on many subjects) and an atlas (book of maps)
  2. Tell about the “background history” of the almanac & atlas;
  3. Almanac – developed in ancient Babylonia/Persia to record the movements of the stars & planets; later used to list feast days, saints’ days, and weather information for planting crops
  4. Atlas – named after a Titan in Greek mythology who was punished by the Olympian gods; his job was to hold up the sky (sometimes shown in images as holding up the earth)

Note: Lesson can be extended by having students conduct research on these topics, using encyclopedias and online databases.

  1. Distribute the “Almanac or Atlas?” activity sheet OR show the questions on your Promethean/Smart Board. Tell students this is a pre-test to find out how much they already know about these two reference books. Students will complete the activity sheet by circling the correct reference source, but not looking up the answers to the questions.
  2. Distribute the class sets of the almanacs & atlases. Ask students to find the index in each reference book. Practice using indexes with random topics.
  3. Working in pairs or teams, students look up answers to questions on activity sheet. Decide which reference book is the best place to find each answer.
  4. Using the Promethean/Smart Board, go over answers with students.

Evaluation:

1.Observe the students as they work.

2.Check students’ answers on the “Almanac or Atlas” activity sheet.

Extension:

Review with a game such as the Resource Jeopardy game found at:

Student Name(s) ______

Almanac or Atlas?

Which is the best reference book to find the answer to each question?

Circle Almanac or Atlas.

  1. What country is located directly south of Romania? Almanac Atlas
  1. How many justices are on the U.S. Supreme Court? Almanac Atlas
  1. What currency (form of money) is used in China? Almanac Atlas
  1. Which river runs along the border between TexasOklahoma? Almanac Atlas
  1. How deep is the deepest lake in the world? Name it. Almanac Atlas
  1. What sea touches Venezuela? Almanac Atlas
  1. List one of Connecticut’s nicknames. Almanac Atlas
  1. In what year did Alaska become a state? Almanac Atlas
  1. What is the name of the longest suspension bridge in the U.S.? Almanac Atlas
  1. If you are traveling from Egypt to Algeria, which direction are you going?

Almanac Atlas