Communities Around the World
What makes places similar and different?
Geographic regions have unifying characteristics and can be studied using a variety of tools.
The location of world communities can be described using geographic tools and vocabulary.
What unifying characteristics of geographic regions can be studied using a variety of tools?
How do the tools help us to identify unifying characteristics?
Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary by Jack Knowlton
National Geographic Beginner's Atlas by National Geographic Kids Editors
Students will:
interpret a map.
compare and contrast 2 landforms.
identify specific locations.
New York State Social Studies Framework
3.1.a, 3.1.b, 3.2.a, 3.2.b, 3.3.a, 3.3.b, 3.5.a
Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
3R1, 3R4, 3R5, 3R7
3W2, 3W4,3W7
3SL1
In what ways is the United States similar to and different from other world communities?
Life in the United States is impacted by geography.
The U.S.A. depends on itself and others to fulfill its needs and wants.
The U.S.A. has a democratic form of government.
The U.S.A. has many common and diverse cultural elements.
How is life in the United States impacted by geography?
How does the U.S. depend on itself and others to fulfill its needs and wants?
What are the many common and diverse cultural elements in the U.S.?
Titles may inclue the following:
A is for America by Devin Scillian
A River Ran Wild by Lynne Cherry.
A True Book: The United States ofAmerica by David and Christine Petersen
America: a Patriotic Primer by Lynne Cheney and Robin Preiss Glasser
Dreaming of America by Eve Bunting.
Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm by Nolan, Jerdine
How the U.S. Government Works by Syl Sobel
I am America by Charles R. Smith
I Love My Family by Wade Hudson
Johnny Appleseed by Reeve Lindberg
Lemonade in Winter: Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins
Look What Came from the United States by Kevin Davis
Lowji Discovers America by Candace Fleming
This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie
Students will:
utilize skills learned in the geography unit to locate the United States in relation to the rest of the world, identify some of its physical features and their impact on peoples’ lives.
use map symbols to locate natural resources.
use a graphic organizer.
write a letter.
analyze text for cause and effect.
use a variety of sources to read, interpret, and analyze information.
create a list of basic rules, rights and responsibilities.
identify important information.
understand role play and how to do it.
listen to a folktale to identify and explain cultural elements.
identify and explain our national symbols.
New York State Social Studies Framework
3.3.b, 3.4.a, 3.5.b, 3.6.a, 3.7.a, 3.7.b , 3.7.c, 3.7.d 3.9.a, 3.9.b, 3.10.a, 3.10.b
Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
3R1, 3R2, 3R3, 3R4, 3R5, 3R7, 3R9
3W1, 3W4, 3W7
3SL1, 3SL2
In what ways is Brazil similar to and different from other world communities?
Brazil has a diverse geographic landscape.
Brazil depends on itself and others to fulfill needs and wants.
Brazil has a democratic form of government.
Brazil has many common and diverse cultural elements.
How does Brazil depend on itself and others to fulfill needs and wants?
What are the many common and diverse cultural elements in Brazil?
Title may include:
A Ticket to Brazil by Elizabeth Weitzman
A True Book: Brazil by Ann Heinrichs
Brazil (The Land and People) by Suzie Brooks
Brazil A to Z by Ron and Justine Fontes
Brazil (Country Profiles) by Marty Gitlin
Brazil: Faces and Places by Elma Schemenauer
Into the Rain Forest (Animal Planet #2) by Jane Hammerslough
Jaguar by Helen Coucher
Postcards from Brazil by Zoe Dawson
Taking Your Camera to Brazil by Ted Park
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest by Lynne Cherry
Students will:
use a map.
use a timeline.
write a letter, compare/contrast essay and poetry.
use a graphic organizer.
analyze, interpret and apply information from a variety of genre.
take notes.
access information from the Internet and text resources.
analyze various documents to predict, make inferences, and draw conclusions.
New York State Social Studies Framework
3.2.a, 3.2.b, 3.3.a, 3.3.b, 3.4.a, 3.5.a,3.5.b, 3.6. a, 3.7. a, 3.7.b, 3.7.c ,3.7.d, 3.9.a, 3.9.b, 3.10. a, 3.10.b
Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
3R1, 3R2, 3R3, 3R4, 3R5, 3R6, 3R7, 3R9
3W3, 3W4, 3W6, 3W7
3SL1, 3SL2
In what ways is China similar to and different from other world communities?
China has a varied geographic landscape.
China is a dictatorship and the Chinese government influences how citizens’ needs and wants are met.
Chinese culture reflects both the traditions, beliefs, and customs of China and countries around the world.
How does the Chinese dictatorship and government influence how citizens’ needs and wants are met?
How does Chinese culture reflect the traditions, beliefs, and customs of China and countries around the world?
Title may include the following:
A True Book: China by Ann Heinrichs.
China by Michael Dahl
China. The Culture by Bobbie Kalman. Count Your Way Through China by Jim Haskins
Finding Gobi: A Little Dog With a Big Heart by Dion, Leonard,
Lon Po Po by Ed Young
Look what Came from China by Miles Harvey.
Moth and Wasp, Soil and Ocean by Sigrid Schmalze, Postcards from China by Zoe Dawson
Red Riding Hood by James Marshall.
Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges Sparrow Girl by Sara Pennypacker and Yoko Tanaka.
The Great Race: the Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Dawn Casey,
The Great Wall of China by Leonard Everett Fischer. The Yangtze River by Nathan Olson. Where is the Great Wall? by Patricia Brennan Demuth
Students will:
use key terms in discussing/writing about China.
read and analyze maps.
compare and contrast similarities and differences.
read with understanding and critical analysis.
take notes and use graphic organizers.
access information from the Internet and text resources.
read and analyze various genres about China.
interpret and analyze a Constructed Response Question and a Document Based Question.
New York State Social Studies Framework
3.2.a, 3.2.b, 3.3.a, 3.3.b,
3.4.a, 3.5.b, 3.6.a,
3.7.a, 3.7.b , 3.7.c, 3.7.d, 3.9.a, 3.9.b, 3.10.a, 3.10.b
Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
3R1, 3R2, 3R3, 3R5, 3R6, 3R7, 3R9
3W1, 3W4, 3W6, 3W7
3SL1
In what ways is Kenya similar to and different from other world communities?
Kenya has a varied geographic landscape.
Kenya’s democratic government is similar to and different from the United States.
Kenya depends on itself and others to fulfill needs and wants.
Kenya has its own traditional culture but it has also been influenced greatly by Europeans.
How is Kenya’s democratic government similar to and different from the United States?
How does Kenya depend on itself and others to fulfill needs and wants?
What is Kenya’s traditional culture and how has it been influenced by the Europeans?
Titles may include the following:
Africa Is Not a Country by Margy Burns Knight and Mark Melnicove
First Come the Zebra by Lynne Barasch
Lila and the Secret of Rain by David Conway, and Jude Daly
One Small Square: African Savanna by Silver, Donald M
Only the Mountains Do Not Move by Jan Reynolds
Seeds of Change: Planting a Path to Peace by Jen Cullerton Johnson.
The Gingerbread Man by Jim Aylesworth
Who's in Rabbit's House? by Verna Aardema
Students will:
understand and use domain specific vocabulary in discussing/writing about Kenya.
apply the concepts: social, economic, cultural, geographic.
read, analyze maps, locate political and physical features, and make geographic connections.
compare and contrast similarities and differences using a Venn Diagram.
write an informational essay.
read with understanding.
do independent research.
take notes and use graphic organizers.
access information from the internet and text resources.
recognize the main idea and supporting details from video clips.
make predictions based on evidence.
share what they have learned verbally with a partner and in a whole group.
New York State Social Studies Framework
3.3.a, 3.3.b, 3.4.a, 3.4b, 3.5.a,3.5.b, 3.6.a, 3.7.a, 3.7.b , 3.7.c, 3.9.a, 3.9.b, 3.10.a, 3.10.b, 3.10.
Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
3R1, 3R2, 3R3, 3R4, 3R7, 3R9
3W1, 3W4
3SL1, 3SL2, 3SL4
How can the actions of governments and individuals improve life around the world?
Human Rights are rights that each of us has been born with.
The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights lists our specific human rights.
Many individuals, nations, and organizations work to protect our human rights.
We have a responsibility to protect the rights of ourselves and others.
What are human rights?
What is the role of The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights?
What is our responsibility to protect the rights of others and ourselves?
Title may inclue the following:
A School Like Mine by DK Editors
Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Independence Day by Deborah Heiligman
Off to Class by Susan Hughes
School Around the World by Kelly Doudna
School Around the World by Kasey Null Peterson
We Are All Born Free by Amnesty International
Students will:
interpret a map.
compare and contrast national holidays in two countries.
describe Independence Day in the United States.
describe education in the United States.
New York State Social Studies Framework
3.5.b, 3.8.a, 3.8.b, 3.8.c
Next Generation English Language Arts Learning Standards
3R1, 3R2, 3R7, 3R9
3W1, 3W2
3SL1, 3SL2