Introductory Activity :

Motivation/Purpose (5 min.) : Today we will learn more about what a state, city and country is and locate them on a map.Purpose: To help students develop an understanding of the concept of state, country, city and the "USA", town etc.
Review: General Washington choose stars to decorate the 1st American flag.
Ask: How many stars did they use on the first flag and why? (thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; representing 13 colonies (states) were thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.
Review : Our flag is red, white and blur with stars, rectangles, squares, and stripes.
Ask: How does our flag differ from other countries.( http://www.usflag.org/history/flagevolution.html)
Review : We live in Baltimore, Maryland of the USA.
Ask:What does a state look like? What does Maryland look like? What is a city? What is a country?
Review : America has different landmarks, animals etc. that represent the country.
Ask: What are some American symbols? (www.internet4classrooms.com) (www.StatueOfLiberty.org)

Body :

Engagement (10 min.) : Using the computer will we take a virtual tour of some of the most famous symbols of American History : the Statue of liberty, Liberty Bell and bald eagles. (See technology connection for site location.)

Exploration (15-20 min.) : When our first flag was created we have 13 stars to represent the colonies. We now have 50 states in America and our flag has 50 stars to represent each state.Using an American Map with the states printed on it find and color the following locations:
The Statute of Liberty is located in the state of New York. Find New York on the map and color it(choose a color).
The Liberty Bell is located in the state Pennsylvania. Locate Pennsylvania on the map and color it (choose a color).
Rhode Island is the smallest state on the map locate it and color it (choose a color).
Find the largest state on the map. What letter does it start with? Color it (choose a color).
Color all the states that start with C (choose a color).
Color all the states that start with W (choose a color).
Color all the states that start with M (choose a color).
Color all the states that start with G (choose a color).
Color all the states that start with V (choose a color).
Color all the states that start with F (choose a color).
Color all the states that start with O (choose a color).
Hawaii is located at the bottom of the map. Find and Color it (choose a color).
Continue until all states have been located and the entire map is colored.

Explanation: Read Aloud (5-8 min.) America's Own Holiday by Sue Alexander These are very short (1-2 short paragraphs)
We will identify several American holidays and the reason they are celebrated
Independence Day: The Fourth of July is considered America's birthday.
Columbus Day

Elaboration/Extension (3-5 min.): What is a country? Using a map of the World, locate the following:
America : This is where we live as Americans
Atlantic and Pacific Ocean: The blue represents water surrounding the different countries
England: This is where the people of America were leaving.
Africa: This is where our ancestors come from.
How is a map helpful to us?

Conclusion Activity :

Closure (3 min.) : We will say the pledge of allegiance to the flag followed by singing the selection America the Beautiful (learned in a previous class).

Vocabulary Words :

• state
  
• country
  
• city
  
• citizen
  

Evaluation Activity :

Evaluation (10 min.) : Students will write a statement about who they are (name and nationality and state).
Model:
My name is
I am an American
I live in America
Work will be check for handwriting (letter formation, best work etc) accuracy.
Work will be modeled on the board.
The words America, name, Maryland, map will be added to the Word Wall.

Internet Resources Referenced in this Lesson :

www.timeforkids.com/
www.internet4classrooms.com
www.StatueOfLiberty.org
http://teacher.scholastic.com/fieldtrp