Exploring Our World

Title: Exploring Our World
Current Content:

Unit 1: Discovering the U.S. Location (Days 1–5)

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Day 1: Where is the U.S.?

Common Core Standards:

• Social Studies Standard 2.G.1: Identify the geographic location of the U.S. in relation to the world.
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.1: Ask and answer questions about key details in texts.

Learning Objectives:

• Students will understand that the United States is a country located on the continent of North America.
• Students will identify the U.S. on a globe and a flat world map.

Time	Activity	Details
5 mins	Engage	Show a colorful globe to the class. Ask: "What do you see? Where do you think we live?"
10 mins	Direct Instruction	Teacher explains continents and briefly introduces North America. Define the U.S. as a country in North America. Shows the U.S. on the globe and world map.
10 mins	Guided Practice	In pairs, students explore laminated world maps identifying: the U.S., continents, and oceans near the U.S. Teacher circulates helping and asking questions.
15 mins	Independent Practice	Students draw their own simple globe map with a large circle for Earth. They color and label the U.S. and North America. Then, write or dictate: “The U.S. is in North America.”
5 mins	Closure	Quick quiz: Teacher points to maps/globe; students say “U.S.” or “North America.” End with “Why is it important to know where the U.S. is?” (short group discussion)

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Day 1 Slides

Engage Slide:

• Image of a colorful globe with continents visible.
• Question: "What do you see? Where do you think we live?"
• Visual prompts to encourage observation.

Direct Instruction Slide:

• Map highlighting continents with North America emphasized.
• Text defining the U.S. as a country in North America.
• Globe and flat map images showing the U.S. location.

Guided Practice Slide:

• Laminated world map image with labels for continents and oceans.
• Instructions: “Work with a partner to find the U.S., continents, and oceans near the U.S.”
• Teacher prompts: “Can you find the U.S.? What ocean is nearby?”

Independent Practice Slide:

• Template of a large circle representing Earth for students to draw on.
• Instructions: “Draw and color the U.S. and North America. Write or dictate: ‘The U.S. is in North America.’”
• Suggestion: Use research books on EPIC.com about continents and countries for reference.

Closure Slide:

• Teacher questions:
  • “Can you point to the U.S. on the globe or map?”
  • “What continent is the U.S. on?”
  • “Why is it important to know where the U.S. is?”
• Space for student responses and brief group discussion.

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Day 2: Oceans Around Us

Common Core Standards:

• Social Studies Standard 2.G.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.1: Participate in collaborative conversations.

Learning Objectives:

• Name the oceans bordering the U.S.: Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Gulf of Mexico.
• Understand that oceans are large bodies of water that surround continents.

Time	Activity	Details
5 mins	Engage	Show ocean animal pictures and ask where the animals live around the U.S.
10 mins	Direct Instruction	Using a map, point out and name the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic Oceans, and Gulf of Mexico. Explain “border” means “next to.”
10 mins	Guided Practice	Students work in small groups with world maps to identify and label the oceans around the U.S.
15 mins	Independent Practice	Ocean coloring and labeling worksheet featuring the U.S. map with four oceans to color and label
5 mins	Closure	Ocean chant: Repeat ocean names with claps or stomps to embed learning. Class shares why oceans are important for the U.S.

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Day 2 Slides

Engage Slide:

• Pictures of ocean animals (e.g., whale, crab, sea turtle).
• Question: “Where do these animals live around the U.S.?”
• Visual cues linking animals to oceans.

Direct Instruction Slide:

• Map showing the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic Oceans, and Gulf of Mexico around the U.S.
• Definition of “border” with arrows pointing to oceans next to the U.S.
• Labels and pronunciation guides for ocean names.

Guided Practice Slide:

• Group map activity instructions: “Find and label the oceans around the U.S.”
• Visual checklist of oceans to identify.
• Teacher prompts: “Which ocean is on the east coast? The west coast?”

Independent Practice Slide:

• Ocean coloring worksheet with U.S. map and four oceans outlined.
• Instructions: “Color and label each ocean.”
• Suggestion: Use EPIC.com books about oceans for additional information.

Closure Slide:

• Ocean chant lyrics with claps/stomps for rhythm.
• Teacher questions:
  • “Name the oceans around the U.S.”
  • “Why are oceans important for the U.S.?”
• Space for student sharing.

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Day 3: Our Neighbors – Canada and Mexico

Common Core Standards:

• Social Studies Standard 2.G.1
• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.2.3: Describe the connection between sentences and paragraphs in a text.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify Canada and Mexico as countries neighboring the U.S.
• Understand borders on maps.

Time	Activity	Details
5 mins	Engage	Show photos of Canadian and Mexican flags. Ask: “Have you seen these before? What do you know?”
10 mins	Direct Instruction	Teacher explains who our neighbors are and locates them on the map with the U.S. in the center.
10 mins	Guided Practice	Students label the two countries on their map worksheets. Teacher checks understanding through Q&A.
15 mins	Independent Practice	Cut-and-paste activity: students match pictures/flags of Canada and Mexico with their map locations.
5 mins	Closure	Class discussion: “How is living next to neighbors helpful?” Students share ideas verbally.

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Day 3 Slides

Engage Slide:

• Photos of Canadian and Mexican flags.
• Question: “Have you seen these before? What do you know about these countries?”
• Space for student responses.

Direct Instruction Slide:

• Map showing the U.S. with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.
• Text explaining neighbors and borders.
• Visual border lines highlighted.

Guided Practice Slide:

• Map worksheet with blank labels for Canada and Mexico.
• Instructions: “Label Canada and Mexico on your map.”
• Teacher questions: “Which country is north of the U.S.? Which is south?”

Independent Practice Slide:

• Cut-and-paste activity sheet with flags and country shapes.
• Instructions: “Match the flag to the correct country on the map.”
• Suggestion: Use EPIC.com books about Canada and Mexico for research.

Closure Slide:

• Discussion prompt: “How is living next to neighbors helpful?”
• Teacher records student ideas.
• Encourage verbal sharing.

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Day 4: Finding the U.S. – Using Directions

Common Core Standards:

• Social Studies Standard 2.G.1
• CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.MD.A.1: Measure length using standard units (introducing spatial thinking).

Learning Objectives:

• Use basic cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) to locate the U.S. on maps.
• Gain spatial reasoning skills related to geography.

Time	Activity	Details
5 mins	Engage	Play “Simon Says” incorporating N, S, E, W directions (e.g., “Simon says, turn north.”)
10 mins	Direct Instruction	Teacher explains the four cardinal directions and models how to find the U.S. on a world map using directions.
10 mins	Guided Practice	In pairs, students practice giving and following directions to find the U.S. and other locations on the map.
15 mins	Independent Practice	Students complete a worksheet that requires coloring sections on a map using given directions (e.g., color the country north of the U.S.).
5 mins	Closure	Review the directions learned. Students share one new thing they learned about finding places using directions.

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Day 4 Slides

Engage Slide:

• Instructions for “Simon Says” game