Lesson plan for

GEOGRAPHY

Lesson Plan: Geography 2

Introduction This lesson is about the physical features and political borders of the United States. Beyond the geography questions, naturalization test students study concepts that include many U.S. regions, states and cities. You will lead the class through eight questions from the naturalization test related to geography. Then, students will label a United States map with places that are on the test. The map can hang in the classroom for future review. Objectives The student will be better able to

• Recall the answers to the eight USCIS test questions in the Geography theme.

• Identify on a U.S. map the location of places included in the USCIS citizenship test.

USCIS Questions In the Geography theme:

88. Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. 89. What ocean is on the West Coast of the United States? 90. What ocean is on the East Coast of the United States? 91. Name one U.S. territory. 92. Name one state that borders Canada. 93. Name one state that borders Mexico. 94. What is the capital of the United States? 44. What is the capital of your state?

Related:

63. When was the Declaration of Independence adopted? 64. There were 13 original states. Name three. 84. What movement tried to end racial discrimination? 87. Name one American Indian tribe in the United States? 98. What is the name of the national anthem?

Time Theme: 15 minutes Activity: 30 minutes

Lesson Plan: Geography 3

Materials

• Internet connectivity

• EITHER classroom projector OR enough computers for students to use as individuals or small groups

• Preparing for the Oath website, Geography theme (http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/index.html?theme=7)

• Map labels (attached)

Cut out the map labels before class begins.

• Answer key (attached)

• Tape or tacks

• Large U.S. map

If you do not have a large map, print the Printable Map pages (attached) and tape or pin them to form a map that will work for this activity. The pages are numbered 1-16, and are attached as follows:

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 (blank)

Challenge Words You can find all of the bold words in the vignettes in the word list (http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/pdf/Wordlist.pdf). Listed below are some of those words that will come up often during the lesson.

District: an area of a city or country that is officially divided from other areas Federal: part of the U.S. government, not state or local governments Legislatures: state government officials who make laws Representatives: elected members of a government group in the United States, such as in Congress

Lesson Plan: Geography 4

Teacher Tech Tips To learn how to use Preparing for the Oath, visit the help page at http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/help.html Depending on your students’ proficiency level, you might want to offer a transcript of the narration for students to read along while watching and listening, or to have as a reference. You can find printable transcripts at http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/pdf/Transcript.pdf. You may notice that the web address never changes as you navigate through Preparing for the Oath. In order to go directly to a specific theme or question on the site, you can find a list of links at http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/pdf/Links.pdf. These links may be useful for using your browser’s “bookmark” tool or assigning student work. The link to go directly to the Geography theme is http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/index.html?theme=7. Some learning environments will be conducive to the sound features, while others will not. It is always possible to turn on and off the website’s audio feature by clicking on this symbol: However, please keep in mind that the test itself is spoken aloud. Students will need to be comfortable responding to spoken questions, and be able to respond orally. Don’t feel tied down by the structure of the themes. Once you are inside a theme, the image tiles along the bottom represent the individual questions within that theme. You may click on the tiles out of order to view the questions as you choose. Similarly, you may jump around the three modes within each question: Learn, Practice, and Try. Procedure

1. Lead the class through the Geography theme, as presented on the Preparing for the Oath website (http://americanhistory.si.edu/citizenship/index.html?theme=7).

2. Allow students to ask any questions they have. Feel free to refer to the Background Information sheet (attached), as needed.

3. Distribute the map labels (attached) to students. The map labels with a star are directly connected to the content of the Geography theme. The map labels with a circle are related to geography, but are connected to other USCIS questions.

4. Ask students to approach the map in groups to put the label in the correct place on the map.

Please Note: Some map items have more than one correct location. For example, you may place “Mississippi River” anywhere along that river. You may place “Texas, borders Mexico,” anywhere within the state of Texas. The answer key (attached

5. Encourage students to ask each other for help. If they are still unsure, they should ask the teacher or consult the answer key.

) gives one version of a correct map.

Lesson Plan: Geography 5

6. Once the map is complete, review the USCIS questions related to the labels. 7. (Optional) Have students create their own labels for where they live, where they have

lived in the past, where they have visited, and so on. 8. As a class, discuss:

a. Have you ever been to the places that are labeled on the map? What did you see there?

b. Is your state or city labeled? Is your state or city famous for anything? Learn More Links Smithsonian’s History Explorer (http://historyexplorer.americanhistory.si.edu) Your gateway to innovative online resources for teaching and learning American history, designed and developed by the National Museum of American History. United States Geological Survey (www.usgs.gov) United States Geological Survey is the federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment. The National Geographic Society (www.nationalgeographic.com) National Geographic provides free maps, photos, videos and daily news stories, as well as articles and features about animals, the environment, cultures, and history. Printable Image Credits

• Map from http://digital-vector-maps.com

Lesson Plan: Geography 6

Background Information

• The United States is in North America, bordering both the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico.

• Based on area, the United States is the third largest country in the world, behind Russia and Canada. It is about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); is slightly larger than China; and more than twice the size of the European Union.

• The United States is the third largest country by population, after China and India. • The United States is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia. • The climate of the United States is mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and

Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plans west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest.

• The United States has a vest central plain, mountains in the west, hills and low mountains in the east. Alaska has rugged mountains and broad river valleys. The topography of Hawaii is rugged and volcanic.

Lesson Plan: Geography 7

The map labels with a star are directly connected to the content of the Geography theme. The map labels with a circle are related to geography, and are connected to other USCIS questions.

Nation's capital, Washington DC Maine, borders Canada

Your state capital, ___________ New Hampshire, borders Canada

New Hampshire, original state Vermont, borders Canada

Massachusetts, original state New York, borders Canada

Rhode Island, original state Pennsylvania, borders Canada

Connecticut, original state Ohio, borders Canada

New York, original state Michigan, borders Canada

New Jersey, original state Minnesota, borders Canada

Pennsylvania, original state North Dakota, borders Canada

Delaware, original state Montana, borders Canada

Maryland, original state Idaho, borders Canada

Virginia, original state Washington, borders Canada

North Carolina, original state Alaska, borders Canada

South Carolina, original state California, borders Mexico

Georgia, original state Arizona, borders Mexico

Missouri River New Mexico, borders Mexico

Mississippi River Texas, borders Mexico

Pacific Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

Lesson Plan: Geography 8

The map labels with a star are directly connected to the content of the Geography theme. The map labels with a circle are related to geography, but are connected to other USCIS questions.

Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York, NY

Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-in, Greensboro, NC

Declaration of Independence adopted, July 4th, 1776, Philadelphia, PA

Plymouth Colony, Massachusetts

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, bombing at the start of U.S. involvement in WWII, 1941

Original Cherokee region, Southeast United States

Cherokee reservation, OK

Pueblo region, Southwest United States

Iroquois region, upstate NY

Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MD, Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem there.

Louisiana Territory, start (east point)

Louisiana Territory, end (west point)

Mason-Dixon line, states above were in the Union during the Civil War, states below were Confederate

Constitutional Convention, 1787, Philadelphia, PA

September 11th terrorist attacks, World Trade Buildings, New York, NY

September 11th terrorist attacks, Pentagon, Arlington, VA

September 11th terrorist attacks, Shanksville, PA

A. Nation's capital, Washington, DCB. New Hampshire, original stateC. Massachusetts, original stateD. Rhode Island, original stateE. Connecticut, original stateF. New York, original stateG. New Jersey, original stateH. Pennsylvania, original stateI. Delaware, original stateJ. Maryland, original stateK. Virginia, original stateL. North Carolina, original stateM. South Carolina, original stateN. Georgia, original stateO. Missouri RiverP. Mississippi RiverQ. Paci�c OceanR. Atlantic OceanS. Maine, borders CanadaT. New Hampshire, borders CanadaU. Vermont, borders CanadaV. New York, borders CanadaW. Pennsylvania, borders CanadaX. Ohio, borders CanadaY. Michigan, borders CanadaZ. Minnesota, borders Canadaa. North Dakota, borders Canadab. Montana, borders Canadac. Idaho, borders Canadad. Washington, borders Canada

e. Alaska, borders Canadaf. California, borders Mexicog. Arizona, borders Mexicoh. New Mexico, borders Mexicoi. Texas, borders Mexicoj. Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, New York, NYk. Greensboro Lunch Counter Sit-in, Greensboro, NCl. Declaration of Independence adopted, July 4 , 1776, Philadelphia, PAm. Plymouth Colony, Massachusettsn. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, bombing at the start of U.S. involvement in WWII, 1941o. Original Cherokee region, Southeast United Statesp. Cherokee reservation, OKq. Pueblo region, Southwest United Statesr. Iroquois region, upstate NYs. Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MD, Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem there. t. Louisiana Territory, start (east point)u. Louisiana Territory, end (west point)v. Mason-Dixon line, states above were in the Union during the Civil War, states below were Confederatew. Constitution Convention, 1787, Philadelphia, PAx. September 11th terrorist attacks, World Trade Buildings, New York, NYy. September 11th terrorist attacks, Pentagon, Arlington, VAz. September 11th terrorist attacks, Shanksville, PA

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