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4th Grade  Project 1 week

"Region Rovers: Plan Your Adventure!"

Jessica H
4.E.IC.1
4.I.Q.1
4.E.IC.1
4.I.Q.1
CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.A.2
+ 3 more
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Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage 4th-grade students in a hands-on exploration of the five regions of the United States, allowing them to understand how geographical features and resources influence human activity and regional identity. Through collaborative multimedia presentations and creative travel guides, students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while also gaining insights into migration, settlement, and economic factors. This project fosters a deeper connection to the curriculum by encouraging students to ask compelling questions, make informed decisions, and appreciate the cultural and historical significance of different U.S. regions.

Learning goals

Students will explore the relationship between the geographical features and resources of U.S. regions and their impact on human activity, including travel and settlement patterns. They will develop skills in using digital tools to create multimedia presentations that effectively communicate their findings. Additionally, students will apply mathematical operations to solve real-world problems related to budgeting for travel, fostering an understanding of opportunity costs and resource management. Through collaboration, students will enhance their ability to work as productive team members, while also cultivating creativity and cultural understanding as engaged citizens.
Standards
  • [Kentucky] 4.E.IC.1 - Describe and evaluate the relationship between resource availability, opportunity costs, migration and settlement.
  • [Kentucky] 4.I.Q.1 - Ask compelling questions about migration and settlement.
  • [Kentucky] 4.E.IC.1 - Describe and evaluate the relationship between resource availability, opportunity costs, migration and settlement.
  • [Kentucky] 4.I.Q.1 - Ask compelling questions about migration and settlement.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.Math.Content.4.MD.A.2 - Use the four operations to solve word problems involving distances, intervals of time, liquid volumes, masses of objects, and money, including problems involving simple fractions or decimals, and problems that require expressing measurements given in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Represent measurement quantities using diagrams such as number line diagrams that feature a measurement scale.
Competencies
  • Productive Collaborator - Engages with others to achieve a common goal through building positive relationships, actively listening, showing empathy, and making individual contributions to a larger group.
  • Creative Contributer - Interprets experiences, imagines and plays with new possibilities with curiosity, and creates approaches that are novel, useful, and valued by the world around them.
  • Engaged Citizen - Shows respect and empathy across differences, embraces diversity of opinion, seeks cultural understanding, participates in the democratic process to challenge the status quo, and makes a positive impact on their community and the world.

Products

Students will collaboratively create a multimedia presentation that showcases their selected U.S. region's landforms, resources, and historical sites, utilizing digital tools to incorporate maps, images, and videos. Additionally, they will develop a travel guide or brochure that includes compelling questions about migration and settlement, demonstrating an understanding of opportunity costs and resource availability. The project will culminate in a 'Gallery Walk' where students present their trip plans and reflect on peer feedback, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered.

Launch

Kick off the project with a 'Virtual Road Trip' where students use online maps to collaboratively plan a journey through the five U.S. regions. Each group will research and highlight key landforms, resources, and historical sites they would encounter, simulating real travel experiences. This interactive exploration sets the stage for their multimedia presentations and travel guides, sparking curiosity and excitement for the project.

Exhibition

At the conclusion of the project, host a "Regional Showcase Fair" where students set up booths to exhibit their multimedia presentations and travel guides. Invite parents, school staff, and community members to engage with students as they present their work, answer questions, and share insights about their chosen region. Encourage visitors to provide feedback and ask questions, allowing students to reflect on their learning journey and the creative solutions they developed.