Geographical Regions of the United States

3rd Grade Lesson Plan

Tricia Garton
Lesson Objective
Third grade students will compare and
contrast regions of the United States and be
able to identify specific landforms or
environments associated with each region.
They will use the story Grandfathers
Journey by Allen Say and the song This
Land is Your Land as a guide through the
various regions of our country. Students will
then write a journal entry as if they are an
individual traveling across the regions of the United States. Students will be expected to
incorporate unit vocabulary such as region names as well as specific geographic features of each
region.
NCSS Standards
This lesson relates to the second NCSS standard of Time, Continuity and Change because
through the lesson, they will acquire regional knowledge of the United States along with specific
identifiers of each of those regions.
Materials Needed
Song, regional map of the United States and book listed below
Interactive projection of regional map onto whiteboard (uses special pen on board in order to
save information that is added)
Access to the internet for groups or students
Procedure
Day One
1. Begin by posting a large, regional map of the United States.
a. The map will be color-blocked, and will include the names of each region.

b. Ask students to listen to the book Grandfathers Journey by Allen Say and think about how his
journey and the map may be connected.
c. Read the book aloud.
d. Guide a student-based discussion. Ask questions such as:
What
do you think the book was about?
Where did the
Grandfather go in the story?
How do you think this map relates to
the book?
Can you make any connections between them?
2.
a.
b.
c.

Project regional map onto white board.

Start with having students identify what they know about these regions.
Explain that there are five regions: Northeast, Southeast, Middle West, Southwest and West.
Using the map and handout (examples are following) as a guide, have students come to the board
and write (with special pen) what they know about each region: mountain ranges, rivers,
cities, forests, lakes, oceans, landmarks, vegetation, etc.

3. Close discussion by saving student additions to map and asking them to fill out a 3-2-1 slip with
three things they found interesting, two they learned and one question.

1.
a.
b.
c.

2.

Day Two
Investigating the five regions.
Students will break into five small groups and be responsible for investigating one region.
As a group, they will read the provided classroom text and handout materials, and then
investigate five facts about their assigned region via resource books or an internet search.
They will be expected to answer questions such as:
Whereisthisplacelocated?
Whatisitnear?
Whatisthisplacelike?
Whatfeaturesaboutthisplacesetitapartfromotherplaces?
Each group will create a poster to share with the class. They will be responsible for teaching
the rest of the class about their specific region.

Day Three
1. The lesson will begin with small group poster presentations.
2. As other groups listen to the presentations, each student will complete a graphic organizer, taking
notes and compiling key information from each small group poster presentation. (Example)

3. After completing the organizer, students will listen to the song This Land is Your Land via a
YouTube video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGKU8awk7Vg
a. We will repeat listening/watching, actively engaging conversation as we listen.
b. Students will be asked to raise their hand for a PAUSE and then we will identify specific
regions that are being referenced within the song.
c. Discussion will be encouraged, as the video has many images that could exist in more than one
region.
d. Students can include (if they feel they need to) more notes or information on their organizer from
this activity and discussion.

4. Students will then revisit their 3-2-1 slips and see if they can answer their own questions
through the new information that they have learned.
Day Four
1. Students will be asked to take a mental journey of their own through the five regions of the
United States.
a. They will write a journal entry that reflects travel across the U.S.
b. Students will need to incorporate and name the five regions, as well as describe (in
depth) at least three identifiers of each region as they write about their journey.
c. Students will be provided with a word bank (power words) relating to the regions and
all of the geographical features, landmarks, etc. that were discussed throughout the
lesson.
Grouping
This lesson provides opportunities for students to work individually, in small groups and as a
class.
Differentiation
Extension: Gifted students can extend this project by focusing on a state within a specific region.
They can create a Prezi or PowerPoint presentation that focuses on landforms, waterways,
landmarks, capital city, etc. of the state and share it with the class.
Adaptations: Small group investigative work will help students that struggle with reading. Also,
the incorporation of literature, music and the video offers students a variety of ways to process
the information without reading a text.
Assessment
The 3-2-1 slip acts as a formative assessment in the early stages of the lesson. The journal entry
on the last day also provides formative assessment. This entry will need to include evidence that
the students can associate certain features with specific regions of the U.S. and compare and
contrast them in terms of the region in which they are located. Students and teacher will utilize
the same rubric in order to evaluate the journal project. Students will also be able to provide
feedback regarding the assignment.

Resources
Regional identifiers: http://www.teachtci.com/programs/elementary/social-studies-alivetextbook/regions-of-our-country/ES-Social-Studies-Alive-Region-of-Our-Country-TextbookSample-Chapter.pdf
Five regions map: http://teach.fcps.net/trt14/US%20Regions/regions_copy.jpg
Landforms map:
http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/newgraphics/uslandfm.gif
Graphic Organizer: http://mcdn1.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Five-Regions-of-theUnited-States-Northeast-Region-Scrapbook/original-113500-1.jpg
3-2-1 exit slip borrowed from Jenna Smith Lesson Plan example for Underground Railroad.
Song and video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGKU8awk7Vg