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Exploring the United States

with Technology

Kelly M. HanleyHorseshoe Drive Elementary School

Alexandria, LouisianaLACUE 2006

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Some Essential Questions:

What ever happened to Geography class?

When did our students lose the most basic elements of Social Studies class?

How does NCLB effect our teachable moments for classes other than ELA and Mathematics?

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What Can We Do?

Combine Social Studies/Geography Education classes with technology classes!

G + T = Well Educated Students!

+ =

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Step 1: Know Your GLE’s

To research the Social Studies/Geography GLEs for your grade level please go to:

http://www.louisianaschools.net/lde/saa/

1819.html

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Step 2: Define Your Lesson Objectives

TLW be able to locate and identify all states composing the United States.TLW be able to locate national parks within the United States.TLW explore virtual museums of national and relative interest.TLW explore virtual field trips of national and relative interest.TLW be able to identify and explain the significance of national symbols.TLW be able to locate, identify and prepare summaries on the history and points of significance within their home state.

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Step 3: Identify Useful Forms of Technology

Use of website lincs.Use of virtual field trips.Use of presentation software.

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http://www.50states.com

One of the best sites to introduce your students to Internet research skills on each individual state.

Introduction and practice in the use of guidewords and links.

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Exploring The United States of America In Miss Hanley’s 3rd-5th Grade Computer Lab

Name: __________________ Grade: _____ Teacher: ____________ 

DIRECTIONS: To fill in the blanks to complete this assignment you will need to use the Internet and the FAVORITES key and click on www.50states.com Please make sure that you click each link in blue to find the correct answers. 1. The name of my state is ______________________________________________________. 2. My state was admitted to the union on ____________________________________________. 3. The capital city is ___________________________________________________________. 4. My state is bordered by: ________________________________  ________________________________  ________________________________  ________________________________ 5. 3 agricultural products that are grown in my state are: ________________________________  ________________________________  ________________________________ 6. 3 industries that are produced in my state are: _________________________________  _________________________________  _________________________________ 

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U.S.A ’s National Parks

A tract of land declared public property by a national government with a view to its preservation and development for purposes of recreation and culture.

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1. Alaska-Denali National Park

Denali, the "High One", is the name Athabascan native people gave the massive peak that crowns the 600 mile-long Alaska Range. Denali is also the name of an immense national park and preserve. What is the name of the highest peak located in the US that can be found in this National Park?

http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/denali1.htm

Mt. McKinley

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2. Hawaii-Volcanoes National Park

Students receive instruction on volcanoes and their eruption patterns. They also receive an introduction to the folklore and culture of the Hawaiian islands.What is the name of the Polynesian goddess of volcanoes?

http://www.nps.gov/havo/visitor/links.htm

Pele

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3. New Mexico-Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Students may take a walking tour through one of the largest limestone and calcium cave systems in North America.What is the name of the calcium formation that hangs down from the cave’s ceiling?

http://www.americansouthwest.net/new_mexico/carlsbad_caverns/national_park.html

Stalactite

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4. Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho-Yellowstone National Park

Our nation’s first national park. Students are able to take virtual filed trips and use current webcam footage of the park.What is the name of the most famous geyser that erupts in the park on a fairly regular schedule?

Old Faithful

http://www.nps.gov/yell/home.htm

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5.Arizona-Grand Canyon National Park

Enjoy a 3-D tour of the canyon that is sponsored by Ball State University.What animal has traditionally guided visitors into the depths of the canyon?

Burro

http://www.nps.gov/grca/education/ElectronicFieldTrip/index.htm

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6. Colorado-Mesa Verde National Park

Come visit the first national park that has been established to honor and preserve the works of humankind. Join in the celebration of the park’s 100th anniversary and explore historical photographs of these pueblo cliff dwellings.In the Spanish language was does Mesa Verde translate to mean?

Green Table

http://www.nps.gov/meve/home.htm

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7. Arizona-Petrified Forest National Park

Read a Dr. Seuss inspired tale on the history of the park and go on a virtual fossil dig. You can also journey into the Triassic World with an on-line quiz.What do we call the skeletal remains that have been embedded in the Earth’s crust?

Fossils

http://www.nps.gov/pefo/vtour/virtualtours.htm

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Junior Park Ranger Program

The National Parks Service has devised the Junior Park Ranger program that can be completed through the Kids Activity links of almost all the Nation Park homepages. Students can visit the link and answer questions and earn merit badges on their comprehension skills.http://www.nps.gov/webrangers/

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Virtual Museums

This is a great way for you and your students to “arm-chair” travel and experience some of our national treasures.

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Virtual Field Trips

Load up your students on the “bus” and get ready to plan some field trips to some of our country’s most interesting places. Just make sure that you have your Internet permission slips!

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Monticello, The Home of Thomas Jefferson-Virginia

http://www.monticello.org/visit/index.html

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Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home-Missouri

http://www.lauraingallswilderhome.com/

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Green Mountain Audubon Tour-Vermont

http://www.naturecompass.org/audubon/naturewalk/index.html

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San Diego Zoo-Californiahttp://www.sandiegozoo.org/

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Sugarbush-Indianahttp://www.lmsugarbush.com/pages/6/

index.htm

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The Erie Canal-New Yorkhttp://www.epodunk.com/routes/erie-canal/index.ht

ml#

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Peeps-Pennsylvaniahttp://www.marshmallowpeeps.org/

pcn.html

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Fort McHenry-Marylandhttp://www.bcpl.net/~etowner/patriot

.html

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Jelly Belly Factory Tour-New York

http://jellybelly.com/Cultures/en-US/default.htm?MSCSProfile=2B46F2608C8456A33805271318CF14652D7572E5CA36DB96B35D2586DAB59C096DCE821005773503CC08690CD23F743070A254C35ADFD9206E497055ED106796EE96878D626CDE4C801013F530FFEFF9F4094B4482FCBAFCE23B22F95235FC6129EFB

60C6C44AAA0F028905BAFC72BE28E159E95C92A87A462DD9796577F63BE&UserPref=culture%5Een-US

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Peanut Butter Farmshttp://www.fccps.k12.va.us/gm/Webs-2002/gr6-7/sushmita/Sushmita1.htm

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Symbols of the United States of America

http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/score_lessons/symbols_freedom/http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/symbols.htmlhttp://www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaHistory/AmericanIcons/AmericanIconIndex.htmhttp://www.brownielocks.com/patrioticsymbols.htmlhttp://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/symbols/

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Louisiana

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Louisiana Webs

http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/http://lsm.crt.state.la.us/education/peoplea.htmhttp://www.cajunculture.comhttp://www.rigmuseum.com/index.htmlhttp://www.sec.state.la.us/museums/cotton/cotton-index.htmhttp://www.tulane.edu/~lmiller/JazzHome.html

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Horseshoe Drive Elementary School

Alexandria, Louisianahanleyk@rapides.k12.la.us