Teacher's Page

Overview

  This project teaches the students about  the four regions of New Jersey.  They will learn where the four regions are located, what they're called, and what makes up each region's physical features.  It is geared for fourth graders. The children will need to investigate the different points on the map and identify why the region is so special.  The object of this mappler project is for the children to look at the towns in each region and notice what region they are located. At the end of the project the children will be able to add a point on the map of a place they've been to in New Jersey that they've enjoyed. As a final project each team will make a New Jersey map that will represent the four regions of New Jersey. The map is made on a poster board, but the four regions will need to be present and different materials such as yarn, grass, cotton balls, candy, clay, etc. can be used to identify the characteristics of each region.  I suggest that you print out the checklist and rubric for each student, so that they can refer to it as they are making their maps. There should also be an accessible computer so that the children can take a closer look at New Jersey.  When the children are done they can go to the Extension Activities, do that they are busy while others are still working.  I hope they enjoy this project. Have fun and e-mail me if there is anything I should change.

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Objectives

The students will be able to name the four regions of New Jersey.

The students will be able to locate the four regions on a political map.

The students will be able to identify the geographic features of the Piedmont, Atlantic Coastal Plain, Highlands, and Ridge and Valley Regions.

The students will be able to learn important cities or landmarks of each region.

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New Jersey Core Curriculum Standards

Reading 3.1 G-5:  Follow simple multiple-steps in written instructions. The children will need to read the step by step instructions in order to complete the task.

Writing 3.2 D-11: Demonstrate higher order thinking skills through responses to open-ended questions. Through the worksheet the children will be answering questions such as compare and contrast the Piedmont Region to the Ridge and Valley Region.

Social Studies 6.6 A.1: Use physical and political maps to identify locations and spatial relationship of places within local and nearby communities. The children will be looking at points on a political map and they will be able to zoom in and out on the map to see how far away or how close places are to where they live.

Social Studies 6.6 A.4: Identify the major cities in New Jersey.  During the students investigation of NJ they will be discovering where the major cities such as Camden, Newark, and Trenton are located in their state.

Social Studies 6.6 B-3: Describe the geography of New Jersey. While they journey through New Jersey the students will be able to see what landforms make up each region.

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Lesson Plans

1. As a class we will talk about what continent New Jersey is located on and briefly describe how New Jersey is divided into four different regions.
2. Next, all of the children will go onto the computer and start their investigation of the mappler project.
3. They will print out the worksheet and answer the appropriate questions.
4. When the children finish the worksheet they will be able to add a point to the map of a place they've visited.
5. After the class is done with the mappler project their will be a class discussion about their findings. On chart paper we will map a list of the physical characteristics of each region and of the cities and bodies of water found in the regions.
6. Pass out the rubric to the students and discuss the components of making a map. Assign each child a partner.
7. They will start by making a huge map of New Jersey on tag board  and by dividing New Jersey into the four regions.  Then, they will continue by using the rubric provided.
8. The children will continue creating their maps.
9. When some of the children are finished they can do the extension activities.
10. Finally, the children will present their maps to the class.

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Extension Activities

1. Create a tourism pamphlet of New Jersey.

2. Make a billboard on construction paper advertising one of the regions.

3. Design a licenses plate of the region you live in.

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E-Mail Mrs. Kutsup:    dkutsup@optonline.net

Last Date Updated:  May 09, 2008