Reflection: Map skills (group 1)

Teaching Map skills 

• Globe: a model of earth that shows the two major lines: the equator and the prime median.
• Many ancient civilizations believed that the earth was flat. This made sailors and explorers worried they would sail right off the earth.
• Equator: an imaginary line that circles Earth at its widest point between the North and South poles.
• Prime meridian: an imaginary line that extends from the North and South poles. It passes through the Greenwich, England .
• Parallels: lines of Latitude that circle the Earth
• Meridians: lines of Longitude that circle the Earth
•  Longitude and Latitude: imaginary lines that help us find locations on earth
• Latitude lines tell us how many degrees north or south of the equator a location is.
• Longitude lines tell us how many degrees east or west of the prime meridian a location is.
• Hemisphere: the earth being divided into half spheres

        Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western

How to teach this lesson effectively?
1st direct instruction: Model and demonstration are very significant. 


Reflection:

I really like that the teachers showed the google map. By asking/showing the location of places where students might know, students seemed very involved in the activity. They also made a good transition from the introduction to the next part. Good explanation on map vocabularies with pictures and definitions. I liked that the teacher asked the students if they had any question on what they were learning. Marie provided gestures and keywords (hand motions on latitude and longitude). It seemed that the students remember the terms better! The teachers played a video clip on the map skills. It was a great resource and appropriate to the age of class. Word wall activity was a good way to develop their knowledge. Students seemed very engaged to the activity. However, I wish all students have a chance to participate in this activity. I liked that the teachers provided the world map so all students can look at. Students who participated seemed very engaged with teachers by asking different questions. I thought that the closure was very smooth and clearly emphasized what the students learned today.