### Lesson Plan: Geography (Physical Features, Map Skills)
#### Year 3 Social Studies
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**Lesson Title:** Introduction to Geography: Physical Features and Map Skills
**Duration:** 60 minutes
**Key Learning Objectives:**
1. Students will recognise and identify basic physical features of the Earth's surface.
2. Students will understand the basics of map reading and familiarise themselves with basic map symbols and compass directions.
3. Students will develop an ability to create a simple map of their local environment.
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**Materials Needed:**
- World maps
- Local area maps
- Printed worksheets with map symbols and compass rose
- Colouring materials (crayons, markers)
- Interactive whiteboard (if available)
- Chart paper and markers
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### Introduction (10 minutes)
1. **Greeting and Objective Overview:**
- Begin the class with a friendly greeting.
- Explain the objectives of the lesson: learning about physical features of Earth and practising map skills.
- Show a globe or a large map of the world and point out various physical features (mountains, rivers, oceans, forests, etc.).
2. **Engagement Question:**
- Ask the students, “Can anyone name a physical feature they have seen before?” Encourage responses and briefly discuss each one mentioned.
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### Direct Instruction (15 minutes)
1. **Introduction to Physical Features:**
- Use the interactive whiteboard to display images of mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and forests.
- Briefly describe each feature.
- Highlight how different regions around the world have unique physical features.
2. **Basic Map Skills:**
- Introduce a simple map of the local area (school grounds or nearby park).
- Explain the compass rose, pointing out North, South, East, and West.
- Introduce common map symbols (trees, water bodies, mountains, buildings).
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### Guided Practice (20 minutes)
1. **Map Reading Exercise:**
- Distribute printed maps of the local area to students.
- Guide students through identifying and labelling key features using common map symbols.
- Practice using the compass rose to understand basic directional terms.
2. **Physical Features Identification:**
- Provide a worksheet with images of different physical features and have students match them to the correct terms (mountain, river, forest, etc.).
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### Independent Practice (15 minutes)
1. **Creative Map Drawing:**
- Hand out chart paper and coloring materials.
- Instruct students to draw a simple map of the classroom or their own garden, including at least three physical features (e.g., rug as a pond, desk as a mountain range).
- Encourage creativity and correct use of map symbols and compass directions.
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### Conclusion and Assessment (10 minutes)
1. **Sharing and Discussion:**
- Invite a few students to share their maps with the class.
- Have a brief discussion on what they learned and what they found most interesting.
2. **Review Objectives:**
- Recap the physical features and map skills learned today.
- Answer any lingering questions.
3. **Homework Assignment:**
- Ask students to observe a physical feature on their way home (like a hill, stream, or park) and draw it on a small map along with its surrounding area.
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### Extension Activities:
- **Interactive Map Games:** Use online resources for interactive map games to reinforce map skills.
- **Class Project:** Create a large class map of the local community with contributions from all students.
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**Teacher’s Notes:**
- Ensure that all students are engaged during the map drawing activity by providing assistance as needed.
- For students who may struggle with certain aspects, pair them with a buddy or provide additional visual aids.
**Assessment:**
- Observe participation during class discussions and activities.
- Review of worksheets and the students’ maps for accuracy and understanding.
- Collect and review homework assignment to gauge retention of lesson content.
This lesson plan aims to provide a balanced mix of instruction, hands-on activity, and creative expression to help Year 3 students grasp the fundamentals of geography and map skills.