PURPOSE:
Do you know the number and order of the Hawaiian islands? To my disbelief, I was surprised that many of my 3rd graders didn't know the names of our islands, let alone the island they live on. Many believed that they lived on the island of Honolulu! In this lesson, learning opportunities are provided for students to correctly identify the eight major islands in the Hawaiian Island chain and their order from East to West. This lesson will integrate geography, cooperative learning, art and music.

OBJECTIVES: The students will be able to:

1. name the 8 Hawaiian islands
2. draw each island after focused observations
3. name the 8 Hawaiian islands by shape
4. become more aware of island proportions
5. learn and sing Hawaii No Ka Oi
6. identify cardinal directions
7. use the song lyrics to correctly put the islands in order from East to West
8. do a focused observation activity in their student booklet

HAWAII CONTENT & PERFORMANCE STANDARDS:
Geographic tools and resources

• Define, use, and apply elements of scale, symbols, and direction in the creation and use of maps.
• Read, infer from, and construct visual representations of geographic information (e.g., maps & globes)

GEOGRAPHIC STANDARDS:

STANDARD 1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective

GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS:

• Asking geographic questions
• Acquiring geographic information
• Organizing geographic information
• Analyzing geographic information
• Answering geographic questions

GEOGRAPHIC THEMES:
Location and Place

LESSON CAN BE USED WITH A UNIT ON:
Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian History, Geography of Hawaii

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1. Chart paper with questions
2. Large map of the Hawaiian Islands
3. Student booklet for focused observation activity
4. Student maps of the Hawaiian islands
5. Island shapes on sticks with island name written on the back
6. construction paper
7. envelopes
8. pencils and markers
9. Hawaii No Ka Oi song lyrics written on chart paper

PROCEDURES:

1. Ask the following questions to check the students prior knowledge:
   • How many islands are in our state?
   • Can you name them?
   • Which island do we live on?
   • Which is the biggest island?
   • Which is the smallest island?
   • What ocean surrounds our state?
   • What number state are we?
2. Show the large Hawaiian Islands map and discuss the answers to the questions.
3. Explain the focused observation activity
   • Students will do a 2-3 minute focused observation of each island. They will draw the island and write sentences on things they observe about the islands shape and size.
4. Pass out the student maps and model an example of what to do.
5. Pass out the student booklet.
6. Focused Island observation activity
   • Students must use all 2-3 minutes before moving on to the next island. When the bell rings, then they can move on. This will ensure that students do careful and detailed observations without rushing to finish.
7. Have students close their booklets and get ready for the Name That Island Game.
8. Name the Island Game
   • Hold up the island on a stick and have students raise their hands to guess which island it is by looking at its shape.
9. Look at the large map again
10. Introduce island size, position, and proportion
11. Explain that they will redraw their islands on a construction paper, being aware of proportion and position of each island. Write the name on each island. ** Start with the Big Island
12. Carefully outline and cut out each island and put it in the envelope.
13. Introduce the song Hawaii No Ka Oi
14. Review cardinal directions
    ** Quick Tip!
    
    • N = Never
    • E = Eat
    • S = Slimy
    • W = Worms
15. Using the song lyrics, place the islands in order from East to West.
16. After some practice, pair students and see if they can put the islands they drew and cut out in order.
17. After more days of practice, their test will be to glue the islands in order from East to West on a blue construction paper that represents the Pacific Ocean. Their art will be displayed.

ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES / EVALUATION

1. Student booklets - These will be collected and I can read through their focused observations and evaluate
2. Name the Island Game - From this game, Ill be able to do a visual evaluation of students who can identify the islands
3. Student created maps - As a culminating activity, students will glue the islands they drew in the correct order and position on a construction paper. From this test, understanding can be checked
4. Hawaii No Ka Oi song - Students can write the lyrics to the song for further reinforcement.

EXTENDED ACTIVITIES:

1. Research on each island. Include the following information:
   • population and size in square miles
   • nickname of the island (if available)
   • major cities on the island
   • popular destinations and sites
   • any interesting information
2. Learn more about the formation of the islands
3. Make a 3-D model of the Hawaiian islands
4. Research on volcanoes

Other resources:
Continents Song
Oceans Song