McConnell Springs

Integrated Unit of Study

Linda Reilly, Doris Kummer, Ann Denny

Lexington Traditional Middle School

 

Organizer

McConnell Springs – Why Be A Friend?

Essential Questions

1.       What and where is McConnell Springs?

2.       What is the importance of McConnell Springs to you and your community?

3.       What is the purpose of keeping McConnell Springs alive?

4.       Who are the Friends of McConnell Springs, what have they done and do I want to be one?

Academic Expectations

1.1  Students use reference tools such as dictionaries, almanacs, encyclopedias, and computer reference programs and research tools such as interviews and surveys to find the information they need to meet specific demands, explore interests, or solve specific problems.

1.3 Students construct meaning from messages communicated in a variety of ways for a variety of purposes through observing

1.11  Students communicate ideas and information to a variety of audiences for a variety of purposes in a variety of modes through writing

2.19  Students recognize the geographic interaction between people and their surroundings in order to make decisions and take actions that reflect responsibility for the environment

1.5-1.9 Students use mathematical ideas and procedures to communicate, reason, and solve problems

1.16 Students use computers and other kinds of technology to collect, organize, and communicate information and ideas.

 

Culminating Performance

Students work collaboratively in small groups to create a brochure to inform citizens, promote interests and persuade peers to become a Friend of McConnell Springs.

 

Scoring Guide

Premier Promoter

·        Brochure contains content which include who, what, when, where and why of the history of McConnell Springs.

·        Brochure contains a specific number of

·        Brochure contains personal observations and descriptions of at least three features at McConnell Springs

·        Brochure contains persuasive language which addresses the social, economic and environmental reasons to preserve and become a Friend of McConnell Springs.

·        Brochure must contain one graph which supports the social, economic and/or environmental reason(s) to preserve and to become a Friend of McConnell Springs.

·        Brochure contains at least three illustrations.  One must be a digital photo taken by a student at McConnell Springs.

·        Brochure contains either a physical map of McConnell Springs area or a political map of the downtown area of Lexington showing the location of McConnell Springs and its immediate surroundings.

·        Brochure contains an original, captivating title that will peek the reader's interest.

 

Master Promoter

 

Classic Promoter

 

Content Knowledge

1.       Historical and geographical background of McConnell Springs.

2.       Karst Topography, sink holes, spring, amphitheatre, landfill

3.       What is the climate?

4.       How has man interacted with the environment at McConnell Springs?

5.       What types of graph to use?

6.       Different factors effect where human activities are located and how land is used.

7.       Places can be made distinctive by human activities that alter physical features.

 

Skills/Abilities (Demonstrators)

1.       Write transactive/persuasive pieces based on personal experiences, reading, listening, observing, and/or inquiry

2.       Collect, compile, compare and display data (line graph, bar graph, line plot) to interpret situations.

3.       Research skills

4.       Express information and ideas creatively using technology

5.       Cite sources

6.       Mapping Skills

7.       Observing

Instructional/Assessment Activities

          Classroom Activities

o       Lesson on using online resources

o       Create both a Physical and Political Map

o       Town Meeting/Debate

o       Surveys, Graphing Results

o       Plotting Coordinates, Choosing Appropriate form of graph

 

          Field Activities

o       Have a guest speaker who is a Friend of McConnell Springs share with the classes why he/she joined the group.

o       Alphaboxes

o       How Man has effected McConnell Springs

o       Digital photography

 

          Activities Completed

o       Create a Postcard of McConnell Springs

§        contained a picture, descriptive writing

o       Area and Perimeter Activity

§        Average, mean, median, mode

o       Initial Research

o       Connection of the amphitheatre to the amphitheatre in Rome

o       Crossword Puzzle Vocabulary Activities

 

 

 

Activities

Dec

Research, Writing

 

Jan

Research, Writing, Speaker, Factual Alphabox, Graphing

 

Feb

Affective Alpha Boxes, Mapping

 

March

Creating Brochures, Scan Maps, Insert Maps

 

April

Take photos, Insert photos

 

 


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