Costa Rica Geography: Redesigning Room#16

Objectives:

• Students will become familiar with the geography of Costa Rica.
• Students will apply previous map skills.
• Students will actively simulate the geography of Costa Rica.

Materials:

• Teacher will need:
  direction note cards border signs
  tape mountain signs
  direction signs
  mile markers
• Students will need:
  Costa Rica handbooks and pencils

Introduction:

1. Explain that in order to study Costa Rica, we need to immerse ourselves in the country. In order to do so, we will have to turn our room into the country. Our first step is to do the geography of the country.

Sequence of Instruction:

1. Tell students that they will be put in groups for this activity. Each group will receive a note card with a direction that they are to carry out as a group.
2. When they are finished with their direction, they are to go back to to their seats and wait for the other groups.
3. Give students 5 - 10 minutes and give extra assistance to groups as needed.
4. When groups are finished, have each group present their direction and what they did to the room. Ask the group to explain their reasoning.
5. As a group decide where the capital should go. Place the capital marker where the class decides where it should be.
6. Read an description of where the 4 mountain regions are. As you read each one, stop and ask the class where they are in relation to the room.
7. Group students into mountain ranges by moving their desks into 4 rows forming the mountain ranges.
8. Move one mountain range at a time and place the name of the mountain range on the side of the desks.

Closure:

1. Go over the parts of the room that are labeled with geographical markers with students.
2. Ask students what they learned as a result of activity.
3. Open up Costa Rica handbook and have students fill out the geographical highlights page.

Evidence of Learning:

1. Students will become familiar with the geography of Costa Rica through participation in activity.Teacher will look for groups to correctly place their geographical markers according to the directions. Teacher will also listen for correct reasoning behind the group's logic for placing the signs where they did.
2. Students will apply previous map skills through participation in activity. In order to accomplish activity, students must use map skills. Teacher will look for correct placement of signs and listen for reasoning behind their placement.
3. Students will actively simulate the geography of Costa Rica through participation in activity. Teacher will look for students participating in groups to place the signs correctly.

Reflection:

1. Did students understand the directions?
2. Did students enjoy the activity?
3. Did students demonstrate cooperation with each other?
4. Could students provide a correct reasoning behind their placements?

Adaptations:

For groups that are having trouble, provide extra assistance by giving clues to where the markers should go.
Place a higher level student with lower a one to help each other.