Africa

NAME: ____________________________

Grade Level(s): 3

Subject(s):

• Social Studies/Geography
• Reading/Technology

Description: Students will be learning information about Africa within a month time period. The
unit will consist of the overall features of Africa: the countries, landforms, and animals. Toward
the end of the month, students will focus one to two weeks on Kenya. The learner will do various
art, technology, and research activities to help them focus on the concepts being studied.
Through the unit, the learner will be responsible for a country and an animal. The responsibility
involves finding facts and information on the item and then sharing this information with the
class. Children will watch a live broadcast from Africa. Children will view this web site a couple
times a day to see what types of animals they see. http://www.africam.com/wildlife/index.php

Goal: Students will gain new information about Africa.

National/State Standards:

• Use maps and globes to find relative and absolute locations in regard to different communities
• Recognize that the world is divided into different communities (e.g., cultural, political, geographic, etc.).
• Locate various geographical points using latitude and longitude (e.g., map of Africa).

NETS –S Standards:

• Use input devices (e.g., mouse, keyboard, remote control) and output devices (e.g., monitor, printer) to
successfully operate computers, VCRs, audiotapes, and other technologies. (1)
• Use a variety of media and technology resources for directed and independent learning activities. (1, 3)
• Use developmentally appropriate multimedia resources (e.g., interactive books, educational software,
elementary multimedia encyclopedias) to support learning. (1)
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with peers, family members, and others when using technology in
the classroom. (2)
• Practice responsible use of technology systems and software. (2) Use technology
resources (e.g., puzzles, logical thinking programs, writing tools, digital cameras,
drawing tools) for problem solving, communication, and illustration of thoughts, ideas,
and stories. (3, 4, 5, 6)
Objectives:

1. The learner will gather information about animals, snakes, and birds of Africa.
2. The learner will appreciate the importance of preservation and beauty of animals, snakes,
and birds of Africa.
3. The learner will use technology to find out the size, latitude, and longitude of Africa.
4. The learner will use the information that was gathered to make a book.

Materials:

• pieces of paper with African animals listed on them

• books of different animals
• pictures of African animals to color
• report sheets
• toy animals
• encyclopedias
• basket
• example of toilet paper roll
• Computer
• Internet Access
• Projector
• Web page http://www.africam.com/wildlife/index.php
• Paper to make book

Procedures:

Activity One

1. Prepare classroom environment for the activity and collect necessary materials for
students to use.
2. Develop instructional materials such as the report sheet to be handed to students.
3. Play the part of the movie "I can't wait to be king" by Lion King on a DVD player.
4. Gather the class at the reading rug.
5. Demonstrate to the class that they will pick an animal out of the basket. The animal that
they pick will be the animal that they have to find information about.
6. Demonstrate to the class how they will fill in their report.
7. Show class the material that they may use to help them locate information about their
animals.
8. Each student will pick an animal out of the basket.
9. The students may work with other students (only if they need to share the same book and
have the same animal).
10. The student will fill out the report sheet that the teacher distributes (5 facts relating to
their animals).
 11. After the child has finished their report sheets, they will either draw or color a picture of
their animal.
12. Students will make a classroom presentation of the animal by discussing why they chose
their animals, explaining the 5 facts they collected, and show their drawings.
13. At the end of the period, show the class an example of a “toilet paper roll animal” that
they will make the following day.

Activity Two

• The teacher will prepare for this activity by having web sites ready in a designated folder
on the computer.
• The teacher will prepare for this activity by telling the children that they will be using the
internet to do some research on Africa.
• The teacher will tell the children that they are going to find information on the given web
sites to make their books on Africa.
• The students will work in small groups of two or three to find information about Africa
on the internet.
• The students will use Microsoft Word to write their stories for their Africa book.
• The students will use the copy and paste method to take pictures from the internet and put
them in their book. (making sure to put where they found the picture on the page under
the picture)
• The students will use Microsoft to make covers for their books.
• The students will print off their books and the teacher will help them put the books
together.

Assessment/Evaluation:

Activity One

1. The student will have to state 5 facts in front of the class individually or with another
student who did the same animal, explain why they chose that animal, and show their
artwork.
2. After the reports, ask the class which animal weighed the most? Which part of Africa do
a majority of the animals live? What type of food do the animals eat?
3. Collect the report sheets to see if each student completed the report accurately. This
activity will be worth thirty points total (20 points for the report and drawing, and 10 for
the presentation).

Activity Two

• The teacher will evaluate the students on their knowledge of how well they used the
information given.
• The students will each show their book to the class.
• The children will be graded on their creativity, how they used the available information,
and how well they followed the instructions. (30 points total 10 for each category)