Social Studies - 3rd Grade (2024)
Lesson Plans

Strand 2: Your Community

Students analyze the communities in which they live, including geography, relative size, and interdependent relationships.

Compelling Questions:

• What are some of the different communities to which you belong?
• What is your culture?
• What do communities need to thrive?
• What are some unique aspects of your community?
• How has your community changed or remained the same with the passage of time and why?

Standard 3.2.2

Describe how geography (that is, physical features and natural resources) has shaped where and how their community developed, how it sustains itself, and how it will sustain itself in the future.

• Father Sky & Mother Earth: A Navajo Legend
  Caring for the Earth is an important part of responsible decision-making and global citizenship. Our Father Sky and Mother Earth provide for our most basic needs. We need to protect and care for our environment. Through this lesson, students will strengthen thier social and emotional learning skills by reading a Navajo legend - "Father Sky and Mother Earth." Student will explore how they can be good stewards of the Earth and Sky in protecting our natural resources. 
• Geography and Settlement
  This is a lesson that uses collaboration and technology to discuss and view earth's geography and human settlements and how the landforms support life on earth. Cover image source:https://www.freeimages.com/photo/apple-1327446
• Northwestern Shoshone Fish Song
  Sing a Northwestern Shoshone song.
  Write a narrative story about an experience in nature.
  Create music compositions patterned after the song.
  This lesson is written in partnership with and approved by the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation Cultural Specialist, Patty Timbimboo-Madsen and Paula Watkins, library consultant to the tribal nation. Before teaching this lesson, please explain to your students that there are many Indigenous tribes in Seal for the Northwestern Shoshonethe United States and that this lesson specifically focuses on a song of the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation and does not represent other Native American groups. It is the hope of the Northwestern Shoshone that other native tribes will respect their choice to share this aspect of their culture.
• The American Revolution Genius Hour Plan
  Students would learn in the shoes and place of the American Revolution as well asking themselves questions of what is in place. The image is created by Jasmine Hall through Canva. 
• The Eye Juggler Coyote
  This lesson utilizes the Ute Indian Tribe of the Uintah and Ouray Reservation (UIT) tale, ?The Eye Juggler Coyote? to enhance comprehension skills, provide an introduction to how force affects motion and give information about the UIT. The students will read the tale and then use the story to learn about gravity and balanced forces. The connection of the Ute people to the bison will also be explored. The Ute people tell stories about Coyote and other animals to their children. Based on Coyote?s mistakes, the elders teach children about proper behavior and positive attitudes. The lessons learned help them avoid making the same mistakes Coyote made and suffering the consequences in their own lives.

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http://www.uen.org - in partnership with Utah State Board of Education (USBE) and Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).  Send questions or comments to USBE Specialist - Robert  Austin and see the Social Studies website. For general questions about Utah's Core Standards contact the Director - Jennifer  Throndsen.

These materials have been produced by and for the teachers of the State of Utah. Copies of these materials may be freely reproduced for teacher and classroom use. When distributing these materials, credit should be given to Utah State Board of Education. These materials may not be published, in whole or part, or in any other format, without the written permission of the Utah State Board of Education, 250 East 500 South, PO Box 144200, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-4200.