1. Question

Maryland may be a small state, but it has a lot to offer! Within its borders, our state has many geographic features that are found throughout the whole country – that is why Maryland’s nickname is “America in Miniature”.

Can you identify physical features found within our borders? How are people who live in Baltimore different from people who live in Western Maryland?

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How do the physical characteristics of Maryland's geographic regions

affect the people who live in each region?

America in Miniature

Image Source: Microsoft Office

2. Information Sources

The resources below will help you identify and describe the different regions of Maryland.

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Map Resources Maryland Fact Resources

More Resources

Interactive Maryland County Map

Interactive County Map of Maryland

Landform Region Map

Maryland Fact Page

Maryland Facts

Maryland Attractions

Maryland Facts and Stats

Rural, Suburban, and Urban Communities video

World Book: Maryland

3. Student Activity

Use the graphic organizer on the right to assist you in identifying what each region has to offer the citizens of Maryland.

Use the resources on the previous page to help locate the information.

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Image Source: BCPS

4. Assessment Activity

You need to choose one region in Maryland to create an ad campaign to promote that area. Use this organizer to narrow down the information you have previously collected.

Choose the type of ad campaign you would like to create:

A brochureAn ad posterAn audio public service announcement using AudacityA video public service announcement using your device or a video camera

Use this rubric to help you create your ad campaign.

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Image Source: Microsoft Office

5. Enrichment Activities 1 2 3 654 Next

Image Source: Microsoft Office

Visit Historic St. Mary’s City

Chesapeake Bay

Visit AntietamImage Source: World Book

Student

Image Source: netTrekker by subscription

State SymbolsImage Source: Microsoft Office

6. Teacher Support Materials

Grade Level and Content AreaBCPS Curriculum / Maryland State CurriculumGrade 4 Social Studies/Library Curriculum Social Studies StandardsStandard 3.0 Geography See attached document for all standards.Common Core State Standards Reading: 1. Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text.Writing: 7. Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.Standards for the 21st Century Learner 1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g. textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning.2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas, real-world situations, and further investigations.

ISTE NETS - National Educational Technology Standards for Students3. Research and Information Fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and

use information.b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.

4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making: Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources. c. Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions.

Time Frame: Three 50 minute Lessons

Differentiation strategies for this lesson:

Direct students to use learning tools included in our BCPS-licensed databases, such as: audio read-aloud, labeled reading levels/Lexiles, and embedded dictionaries.Students can work individually, partners, or small groups to complete the slam dunk. Silver stars on grade level resources and gold stars are challenging text.The brochure and posters can be printed and created by hand if necessary.

Learning Styles addressed in this lesson:

Auditory, Visual, Kinesthetic, Reflective, Sequential, Field Independent

Notes to the teacher: This lesson is for the Library Media Curriculum. Teachers WILL need to show the YouTube video to students on page 1, as students do not have access to YouTube.

Last updated: July 2014 Created by Marlena Aumen, Library Media Intern

BCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2013, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. The models may be used for educational, non-profit school use only. All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Lesson module.

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