Purpose: Next to concord grapes and blueberries, what other fruit is native to North America? Cranberries. This unit of study encourages students to investigate the many uses of cranberries besides being a part of the tradtional Thanksgiving dinner. The students will have an understanding of the cultural uses of the cranberry and the physical conditions needed in growing cranberries.

Objectives: The students will be able to:

1. identify where cranberries are grown in North America on a map.
2. use an atlas and/or reference materials to validate their findings.
3. research climatic and soil conditions for growing cranberries.
4. illustrate how cranberries grow.
5. research how cranberries are grown.
6. research how cranberries are used past and present.
7. list items made from cranberries.
8. participate in a supermarket tour.
9. create an a-b-c book on cranberries.

National Geography Standards: The geographically informed person knows and understands:

1. How to use maps and other geographic representational tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context.

3. How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places and environments on Earth1Ž4s surface.

15. How physical systems affect human systems.

Geographic Skills: Students will be given the opportunity to:

1. Ask geographic questions
2. Acquire geographic information
3. Organize geographic data
4. Analyze geographic information
5. Answer geographic questions

Hawaii1Ž4s Performance Standards:

• Use geographic tools and resources to explain the relationship between physical and human environment
• Use and apply geographic themes of location, place, human environment interaction, movement and region.

Materials Needed:

• Reference materials on cranberries
• Atlases and maps
• Supplies - crayons, felt pens, paper

Procedure:

1. The students are given blanks maps of North America. Have them mark the areas where they think cranberries are grown.
2. Using reference materials, have the students validate their predictions.
3. Direct the students in identifying the kinds of climatic and soil conditions required for cranberry growing. Assessment: Would cranberries be able to grow in Hawaii? Why or why not?
4. Have the students illustrate how cranberries grow.
5. Have the students research how cranberries are grown. Compare and contrast their prior knowledge to their findings. What kinds of technology is required in growing cranberries? How are cranberries havested? Compare and contrast this information with how other fruits are grown?
6. Have the students research a) how Native Americans used cranberries, b) how other people have historically used cranberries and c) how cranberries are used presently in our society. Compare and contrast the findings.
7. Have the students list the different items made from cranberries.
8. Conduct a supermarket tour to find items made from cranberries. Chart your findings. Compare your findings with the list created in step 6.
9. Have the students create an a-b-c book on cranberries.

Assessment: The students are to complete a teacher made self-evaluation form.
Suggested items are:

a) My project was a...

b) The hardest part about this project was...

c) The thing I like best about my finished project is ...

d) If I had more time, I would have...

e) I think learning about this topic was...

f) Here1Ž4s how I would rate my project: just fair, okay, pretty good, great.

TOP