• TRAINING TOOLKIT
• GUIDES
• LESSON PLANS
• TRAINING SERVICES
• OTHER RESOURCES

Afterschool Lesson Plan Database

Lesson Plan

This lesson was excerpted from the Afterschool Training Toolkit under the promising practice: Building Skills and Understanding

Description:

In this lesson, students play online puzzle games that challenge their knowledge of U.S. and world geography. The puzzles, which vary in difficulty, engage students in a new learning experience that enriches this subject area.

Learning Goals:

• Build or enhance geography knowledge of continents, world countries, U.S. states, and capital cities.
• Learn new concepts regarding world continents.

Materials:

• Computers with Internet access
• Electronic projector for instructor computer (optional)

Preparation:

Instructors should ensure students have basic computer mouse and keyboard skills and have experience operating a digital projector (if available).

• Review and practice the various online activities found on these Web pages:
  • All About the United States http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm (Drag-and-drop puzzles that require students to correctly identify U.S. states and their capitals)
  • Geography Gameshttp://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Geography.htm (A variety of puzzles that invite students to learn about world countries, their capitals, and geography)
  • Test Your Geography Knowledgehttp://www.mccollam.com/fun/geoquiz/ (A point-and-click activity that quizzes students on all regions of the world)
• Determine student pairings for the lesson

What to Do:

• Engage students by inviting them to take a virtual trip around the world with online puzzle games that will challenge their geography knowledge of the United States and other countries.
• Group students in pairs and demonstrate how to access and play the online games using a projector if available.
• After the students have played, ask them what they have learned. How much did they already know? Were the games easy or difficult for them?
• Explain that understanding geography could one day help them circumnavigate the globe by boat or plane using a variety of other technology tools, such as the Global Positioning System.

Evaluate (Outcomes to look for):

• Student participation and engagement
• Enhanced understanding of geography

Standards:
Click this link to see additional learning goals, grade-level benchmarks, and standards covered in this lesson.

Learn More:

• Have students use the online tool Google Earth, http://earth.google.com, to find locations in their city or neighborhood.
• You will need to download a free copy of the application to each computer.