PA+Land+and+Climate

Objectives:
The students will locate major cities on a grid map The students will compare and contrast weather for two cities using maps, almanacs and other graphic sources The students will understand that Pennsylvania has weather patterns unique to the region.

Standards:

 * 7.1.4.B:** Describe and locate **places** and **regions** as defined by physical and **human features.**
 * 8.2.4.A:** Differentiate common characteristics of the **social, political,** cultural, and **economic** groups from Pennsylvania.


 * 1. Creativity and Innovation:** Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology.
 * 2. Communication and Collaboration**: Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others.
 * 3. Research and Information Fluency:** Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information
 * 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.

Procedure:
1. Students read pages 4 - 9 in Pennsylvania USA textbook. 2. Students locate major cities of Pennsylvania using latitude and longitude. 3. Students use interactive map to practice locating cities using latitude and longitude coordinates. 4. Students compare and contrast weather patterns in Pennsylvania, discussion of information from graphic sources. 5. Partners will select two cities and compare the climate (temperature and precipitation) and discuss comparisons with class. 6. In groups, students will record climate data for one week and create a graph of climate results.

Differentiated Instruction Options:
1. Below level learners will be strategically grouped 2. Students may choose to collect data on temperature or precipitation for their climate graph 3. Students may collect data on temperature and precipitation and create a complex climate graph

Assessment:
1. Students can locate major cities of Pennsylvania on a map 2. Students can compare and contrast weather patterns in Pennsylvania 3. Students can understand Pennsylvania's unique weather patterns.

Resources:
Switala, W. (1996). //Pennsylvania USA//. Parsippany, New Jersey: Silver Burdett Ginn Interactive Map: Using a Map Grid. Retrieved on July 26 2011 from [] Latitude and Longitude Demonstrator. Retrieved on July 26 2011 from [] Map Maker Map Pages. Retrieved on July 26 2011 from [] Precipitation - Prism Group. Retrieved on July 26 2011 from [] U.S. Climate Data. Retrieved on July 26 2011 from [] Climate of Pennsylvania. Retrieved on July 26 2011 from [] World Weather Online. Retrieed on July 26 2011 from [] Create a Graph. Retrieved on July 26 2011 from []