Geography With Dr. SeussThalia Cantley
Grades 3-4
April 2000
Geography With Dr. Seuss
Summary of Book:
In the book "The King's Stilts" by Dr. Seuss, King Birtram ruled the Kingdom of Binn, which was located in a valley on an island surrounded by the sea. He was a hard-working king who kept his island kingdom safe. When his work was done, he liked to race around his kingdom on his stilts. Everyone in the kingdom enjoyed seeing their king enjoying himself except one person. This story is about what happens to the king and his kingdom when his stilts are stolen.
Purpose:
There are many countries and landforms that make up the vast continent of Africa. In this lesson, students will use three different reference sources to define, identify, locate, and describe several geographic features and a country in the continent of Africa.
The third grade teachers at my school requested lessons where their students were required to use a dictionary and an atlas. Because the third grade social studies focuses on the continent of Africa and our school celebrates Dr. Seuss' birthday, I wanted to incorporate all of these elements in a lesson.
Focus Question:
Primary Question: What are some of the physical features that make up the continent of Africa?
Secondary Question: What is the meaning of the geographical terms: Island, sea, lake, mountain, river, peninsula?
Geographic Standards:
The geographically informed person knows and understands:
Standard 1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process and report information from a spatial perspective.
Standard 4: The physical and human characteristics of places.
Hawaii Standards:
1. World in Spatial Terms:
Students use geographic representations to organize, analyze, and present information on people, places, and environments.
2. Places and Regions:
Students understand how distinct physical and human characteristics shape places and regions.
Student Objectives:
The students will:
1. Listen to a story for enjoyment and information.
2. Select an appropriate reference tool for different purposes.
3. Use a dictionary to define a geographic term.
4. Use a physical map of Africa from an atlas to find an example of each geographic term.
5. Indicate an example of their geographic term on an outline map of Africa.
6. Use the index of the World Book Encyclopedia to find the volume and page numbers where information about their example can be found.
7. Write three facts about their example.
8. Create an original physical map of an imaginary place using all six geographic terms.
Geographic Skills/Thinking Skills:
Asking/Answering Geographic Questions:
--What is the meaning of the geographic terms: island, sea, lake, mountain, river, peninsula?
--What would be an example of an island, sea, lake, mountain, river, and peninsula in the continent of Africa?
Acquire Geographic Information:
--Gather information from a variety of sources: dictionary, atlas, print encyclopedia.
Organizing Geographic Information:
--Lof information on a worksheet for each geographic term.
--Identify an example of each geographic term on an outline map of Africa.
Analyzing Geographic Information:
--Create an imaginary map which includes an example of an island, sea, lake, mountain, river, and peninsula.
Lesson can Be Used With A Unit On:
This generic lesson that can be used as an introduction to the topography of any continent or country.
Materials Needed:
Book: "The King's Stilts" by Dr. Seuss
Overheads (encyclopedia example, maps of Africa - see appendix)
Overhead projector
White board and markers
Atlas (for every 2 students)
The World Book Encyclopedia (1 used 3 sets)
Worksheets (one per student, in the form of a booklet - see appendix)
White construction paper (1 per student)
Pencils, colored pencils, markers
Vocabulary:
Geographic words important to the lesson: island, sea, lake, mountain, river, and peninsula.
Procedure:
Session 1
Introduction:
1. Introduce the book "The King's Stilts" to the class. Tell students it was written and illustrated by Dr. Seuss.
2. Tell students that in this book, a hard-working king keeps his island kingdom safe. Ask students what are some things that occur in nature that would threaten a kingdom's safety?
Activities:
3. Read the book. While reading the book ask students to:
-Predict what Lord Droon would do.
-Do you think Eric should listen to Lord Droon? Why did he?
-What do you think will happen to the king now that his stilts are missing?
4. After reading the book, ask students:
-Do you think Eric is brave? Why/why not?
5. Tell students that in "The King's Stilts", the Kingdom of Binn is in a valley on an island in the middle of the sea. We will be working with these geographical terms, island and sea, along with the terms: lake, mountain, river, and peninsula to find out what these words mean and to find an example of these geographical terms.
6. Borrow Books
Session 2
Note: Distribute 2 atlases and dictionaries per table.
Introduction:
1. Tell students that the last time they were in the library, they listened to the book, "The King's Stilts", by Dr. Seuss.
2. Ask students if they can remember anything about the Kingdom of Binn. What kinds of landforms helped to make up the Kingdom of Binn?
Activities:
3. Tell students that they wil be working with the geographic terms on the white board: island, sea, lake, mountain, river, peninsula.
4. Tell students that they will look for the meaning of each term. Introduce the resources they will be using by holding up an encyclopedia, atlas, and dictionary. Ask students which reference book they would use to find the meaning of each word.
5. Tell students that they will also be looking for an example of each geographic term in the continent of Africa and also the location of their example. Ask students what will they need to use inorder to find an example of, for example, an island. [map] Ask students which reference book they would use to find a map that will help them. Ask students what is the difference between a physical map and a political map.
Go over overhead examples of each. (see appendix)
6. Finally, tell students that they will need to write at least 3 facts about their specific island, sea, lake, mountain, river, and peninsula. Ask students what would be a good reference book to use to get facts about their specific island, etc.
Go over overheads about using the index of an encyclopedia. (see appendix)
7. Go over booklet with students. Students should work with a partner.
Future sessions as needed to complete booklet. Plan for at least 4, 40 minute sessions.
Final Session:
On a piece of white construction paper, have student draw an imaginary map which has an island, sea, lake, mountain, river, and peninsula. Students should name and label each example.
Assessment
Teacher/Student Checklist:
Student Name: __________________________ Room Number: _________
Tasks (Yes/No)
1. Completed definition for each of the following geographic terms: lake, island, sea, mountain, river, peninsula. __________
2. Gave an example of each of the above geographic terms. _________
3. Indicated on blank map of Africa examples of each geographic term. _______
4. Indicated the volume and page numbers where information about their example can be found in The World Book Encyclopedia. __________
5. Wrote at least 3 facts about each example. ___________
Teacher/Librarian Notes:
Imaginary Map:
Exceeds Standard 4
I demonstrate a thorough understanding of how maps and other geographic representations are used to explain the meaning of: lake, island, sea, mountain, river, and peninsula and provide new insights into some aspect of this information.
At Standard 3
I display a complete and accurate understanding of how maps and other geographic representations are used to explain the meaning of: lake, island, sea, mountain, river, and peninsula.
Working Towards Standard 2
I display an incomplete understanding of how maps and other goegprhic representations are used to explain the meaning of: lake, island, sea, mountain, river, and peninsula.
Not Scorable 1
I demonstrate severe misconceptions about how maps and other geogrpahic representations are used to explain the meaning of: lake, island, sea, mountain, river, and peninsula.
Extensions
1. Make the Imaginary Map out of clay, instead of construction paper.
2. Research an African nation that contains one of the geographic terms.
3. Research and map other land forms in Africa.
4. Research and create other types of maps of Africa. Example: climate zone, animals and plants, mineral resources.
References and Resources
"Across the Curriculum with Favorite Authors: Dr. Seuss". by John and Patty Carratello
"The King's Stilts". By Dr. Seuss
"Mapping Our World: Africa". by Fran Sammis
Atlases, such as, "Rand McNally Illustrated Atlas of the World"
Dictionaries
"The World Book Encyclopedia"