1 Exploring the United States with Technology Kelly M. Hanley Horseshoe Drive Elementary School Alexandria, Louisiana LACUE 2006

2 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?

3 What Can We Do? Combine Social Studies/Geography Education classes with technology classes! G + T = Well Educated Students! + =

4 Step 1: Know Your GLE’s To research the Social Studies/Geography GLEs for your grade level please go to:

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7 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.

8 Step 3: Identify Useful Forms of Technology Use of website lincs. Use of virtual field trips. Use of presentation software.

9 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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12 Exploring The United States of America In Miss Hanley’s 3 rd -5 th 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 Please make sure that you click each link in blue to find the correct answers 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: _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

13 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.

14 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? Mt. McKinley

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16 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? Pele

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18 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? ational_park.html Stalactite

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20 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

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22 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 eldTrip/index.htm

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24 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 100 th anniversary and explore historical photographs of these pueblo cliff dwellings. In the Spanish language was does Mesa Verde translate to mean? Green Table

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26 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

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30 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.

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32 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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43 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!

44 Monticello, The Home of Thomas Jefferson-Virginia

45 Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Home- Missouri

46 Green Mountain Audubon Tour- Vermont

47 San Diego Zoo-California

48 Sugarbush-Indiana

49 The Erie Canal-New York

50 Peeps-Pennsylvania

51 Fort McHenry-Maryland

52 Jelly Belly Factory Tour-New York US/default.htm?MSCSProfile=2B46F2608C8456A CF14652D7572E5CA36DB96B35D2586DAB59C096DCE CC08690CD23F A254C35ADFD9206E497055ED106796EE96878D626CDE4C801013F530FFEFF9F4094B4482FCBAFCE23B22F95235FC6129EFB60C6C44AAA0F BAFC72BE28E159E95C92A87A462DD F63BE&UserPref=culture%5Een-US

53 Peanut Butter Farms /gr6-7/sushmita/Sushmita1.html

54 Symbols of the United States of America _freedom/ icanIcons/AmericanIconIndex.htm ml mbols/

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61 Louisiana

62 Louisiana Webs index.htm

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69 Horseshoe Drive Elementary School Alexandria, Louisiana