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Subjects

Arts & Humanities
--Visual Arts
Social Studies
--Geography

Grade

3-5
6-8

Brief Description

Students research a state in the United States or a country in the world and create a stamp or postcard representative of that place.

Objectives

Students will

use print or Internet resources to research a state in the United States or a country in the world;
determine images representative of their assigned place;
create a stamp or postcard representative of their assigned place.

Keywords

geography, place, states, countries

Materials Needed

unlined index cards or drawing paper
art supplies
reference books about places in the world and/or Internet access

Lesson Plan

Explain to students that they are going to create a postage stamp or a postcard about a particular place -- a state in the United States or a country in the world. Assign each student the name of a different state or country, and have students research their assigned places using print and/or online resources.

Then invite younger students to design a postage stamp that might be used by residents of that place. The stamp should include a physical feature, person, or landmark that represents the place researched. Encourage students to present their stamps to the class, explaining why they chose to use the images they used.

Older students might design postcards instead of stamps. On one side of a sheet of drawing paper or an index card, have students draw an image representative of their assigned place. On the other side, they should write a message providing readers with several clues about the place. Number each postcard and post them all on a classroom bulletin board. Give students a week to read all the postcards and to jot down their best guesses as to the place each card represents. At the end of the week, award a small prize to the student(s) who correctly guessed the most places.

Assessment

Assess students based on the accuracy of the images and/or information on their stamps or postcards.

Lesson Plan Source

EducationWorld.com

Submitted By

Gary Hopkins

National Standards

FINE ARTS: Visual Arts
GRADES K - 4
NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
NA-VA.K-4.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
NA-VA.K-4.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
NA-VA.K-4.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures
NA-VA.K-4.5 Reflecting Upon and Assessing the Characteristics and Merits of Their Work and the Work of Others
NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
GRADES 5 - 8
NA-VA.5-8.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques, and Processes
NA-VA.5-8.2 Using Knowledge of Structures and Functions
NA-VA.5-8.3 Choosing and Evaluating A Range of Subject Matter, Symbols, and Ideas
NA-VA.5-8.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures
NA-VA.5-8.5 Reflecting Upon and Assessing the Characteristics and Merits of Their Work and the Work of Others
NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines

SOCIAL SCIENCES: Geography
GRADES K - 12
NSS-G.K-12.1 The World in Spatial Terms
NSS-G.K-12.2 Places and Regions
NSS-G.K-12.3 Physical Systems
NSS-G.K-12.4 Human Systems
NSS-G.K-12.5 Environment and Society
NSS-G.K-12.6 Uses of Geography