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RESOURCE UNIT OUR COUNTRY ED 417 TONYA
FOSTER
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TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION SLIDE
Introduction 3 Content
4 Objectives 6
Activities 8-25 Evaluation
26-28 Instructional resources
29 teacher references 29 student
references 30 media references
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INTRODUCTION The objectives of this resource
unit are to examine the structure of our country
America the Beautiful, our states, the American
flag, map skills, multiculturalism, American
history, places in history, people in history,
and special holidays. The unit will cover a two
week time period and will be taught to second
grade students.
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CONTENT Our country is the United States of
America. People who live in our country are
Americans. There are 50 states in the USA. The
flag of the United States is a symbol of
patriotism and respect for our country.
Americans are a multi-ethnic group of people.
History is the record of what happened in the
past. Americans share the history of the United
States and can learn about this history b
visiting special places. People commemorate
their heritage by celebrating certain holidays.
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CONCEPTS Country Flag Proud History St
ate
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• OBJECTIVES
• MAP AND GLOBE
• Locate states on a United States map.
• Read and interpret a political map.
• Compare maps.
• Use cardinal directions to locate places on a
  map.
• Identify natural and constructed features on a
  map.
• Identify political features on a map.
• READING COMPREHENSION
• Understand and use social studies vocabulary.
• Read and interpret a photo essay.
• Use picture clues.
• Identify a sequence of events.
• Use context clues.

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• STUDY
• Use a calendar.
• Identify the days of the week.
• Locate words in a glossary.
• Participate in group discussions.
• Listen for information.
• Alphabetize words.
• CRITICAL THINKING
• Draw conclusions.
• Compare and contrast.
• Use logical reasoning.
• WRITING
• Write sentences.
• ATTITUDES
• Appreciate the natural resources of our country.

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DAY 1 AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL Introduction 1.
Begin a discussion about our country. Elicit that
our country is called the United States of
America, but that is is often called the United
States, America, or U.S.A. 2. Elicit that our
country has many beautiful outdoor areas. Have
children describe their favorite neighborhood
places. They may have visited or seen pictures
of gardens, fields, or waterfalls. Discuss how
these places are important in peoples lives.
Development 1. Write the word country on the
chalkboard. Elicit that our country is the
United States of America. Point to the
underlined word country in this sentence, People
who live in this country are Americans. Have a
child read the sentence. You may wish to have the
children find the word in the Word List.
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2. Show the students pictures of some scenery in
the U.S. One should be a nature scene, one should
be something man-made. Explain that the pictures
show some interesting and beautiful places in our
country. Ask them which pictures show places
made by nature. Explain that the trees are giant
sequoias in which runs into the Hudson River in
New York State. Ask the students which pictures
show things made by people. Elicit that a farm is
made by both nature and people. Ask the
students to write a response to this question If
you could visit one of the pictured places, which
would you choose and why? Have the children
explain their responses in terms of what they
find beautiful. 3. What are people who live in
our country called? (Americans) What is our
country called? (the United States of America)
have children describe the natural and
constructed things of beauty they read about.
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Culminating Activities 1. Ask the children the
name of our country and the name of the people in
it. 2. Ask the children why beautiful outdoor
areas are important in peoples lives. 3. Have
the children make a collage. Use pictures of
beautiful places in our country from old
magazines or brochures. Have the children tell
what they like about each picture.
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DAY 2 OUR STATES Introduction 1. Remind the
children that our country is the United States of
America. Ask them to tell the name of their
state. Have volunteers tell about vacations they
have taken in their state and describe lakes,
rivers, mountains, and other things they have
seen. Explain that the state they live in is
just one part of our country. 2. Display an
American flag. Have children describe the flags
colors, design, and shape. Explain that the
American flag has fifty stars on it. Have
children read to find out what the stars stand
for. Development 1. Give the students a map of
Ohio and the four states that border it. Explain
that the map shows the state of Ohio. Have
children trace the states outline. Elicit that
the states next to Ohio border it and have the
students read the names of these four states.
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2. Explain that the arrows tell in what direction
from Ohio each of Ohios neighboring states is
located. Have children name the states that are
north, east, south and west of Ohio. Also point
out Lake Erie on the map. 3. Write state and flag
on the chalkboard. Remind children that Ohio is
one of our 50 states. Remind them that our flag
is red, white, and blue, and has fifty stars.
Explain that a flags design stands for the state
or country it represent. Have children read the
sentences containing the underlined
words. Culminating Activities 1. Ask the
children to tell the name of their state. 2. Ask
the children what the stars on the United States
flag represent. 3. Have the children make
classroom banners. Encourage them to include
pictures of things that stand for classroom
objects. 4. Have the students make their own
flags out of construction paper and popsicle
sticks. Make a class bulletin board with them.
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DAY 3 YOURE A GRAND OLD FLAG Introduction
1. Help the children define loyalty as being
true to something. Discuss that one way of
showing loyalty to the United States is by making
a promise. This promise is called the Pledge of
Allegiance. 2. Point out that another way of
showing loyalty to ones country is by singing
patriotic songs. Tell the children they will
learn a patriotic song about the American
flag. Development 1. Show the students a
picture of a class saying the Pledge of
Allegiance. Explain to the children that a
pledge is a promise to do something and that
allegiance is loyalty. When we say the Pledge of
Allegiance, we are promising to be loyal to the
United States. 2. Have the students recite the
Pledge of Allegiance.
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3. Point out that the children in the picture
have their hands over their hears. Explain that
this is a symbol-something that stands for
something- that shows love and respect. 4.
Display the words to the song Youre a Grand Old
Flag. Read the words of the song as the
children follow along. Explain that emblem is
another word for symbol. Then sing the song
several times, having children join in as they
learn the words. Culminating Activities 1. Have
the children name one way in which they can show
loyalty to their country. 2. Help the children
sing Youre a Grand Old Flag together. Ask them
why it is important to sing songs about our
countrys flag. 3. Tell the children that states
have flags too. Have them try to find a picture
of their state flag. 4. Discuss other symbols of
the United States, such as the Presidential Seal,
the White House, the Washington Monument, the
Statue of Liberty, the bald eagle, and the
Liberty Bell.
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DAY 4 AMERICANS ALL Introduction 1. Discuss
the fact that people are alike in many ways. Ask
the children to think about ways in which they
are like their classmates. Then explain that they
have something else in common with their
classmates and with all the other people in this
country they are all Americans. Tell the
children that they are going to learn about some
way sin which Americans are alike. 2. Ask
children if the world would be an interesting
place if everyone were exactly alike. Discuss the
importance of variety. Explain that the United
States is unique in that its people live in a
variety of different regions and come from a
variety of different backgrounds. Have the
children find out how Americans are
different. Development 1. Explain that people
are alike and that they desire friendship. 2.
Explain that most Americans are alike in that
they live in neighborhoods.
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3. Have children compare houses, cities and
country locations with other students in the
class. 4. Explain that sports is another way in
which Americans are alike. Have children share
their experiences in playing different sports. 5.
Have a volunteer describe the sequence of events
that take place when a child gets up to bat at a
baseball game. Encourage them to describe the
sequence of events that take place in the games
they like to play. 6. Help the children summarize
the ways in which most Americans are
alike. Culminating Activities 1. Ask the
children to name some ways in which all Americans
are alike. 2. Discuss with the children some of
the ways in which Americans are different,
stressing the idea that the differences make the
United States unique and special.
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3. Discuss with the children the fact that
everyone in the United States-with exception of
American Indians-came from some other country
originally. Have the children tell or find out
where their families came from originally. Make
little flags with childrens names on them.
Attach the flags to a map or globe to show the
countries from which the childrens families
came. Invite children from different ethnic
backgrounds to bring in an article of clothing, a
special food, a song, a folk dance, or a story to
share with their classmates.
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DAY 5 WE SHARE OUR HISTORY Introduction 1.
Help the children recall some of the ways in
which Americans are alike and different. Explain
that another way in which Americans are the same
is that they share a history. Tell the children
that they are going to find out what history
is. 2. Ask children if they have ever heard their
parents tell stories about things that happened
to them when they were younger. Explain that they
are going to learn about the first permanent
English settlement in this country. Ask them to
find out where the first people settled and what
life was like for them. Development 1. Point
to Jamestown, Virginia on a map and tell the
children that three ships form England landed
here in the early 1600s-more than 401 years ago.
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2. Write the word history on the chalkboard.
Remind the children that when they read, a word
or sentence may give them clues to the meaning of
a new word. Culminating Activities 1. Ask the
children to tell what history is. 2. Have
children tell where the first permanent English
settlement in America was and something about
what life was like then. 3. Ask the children to
imagine that they are packing for a trip to a new
country-a place where there are no houses and no
places to buy food or clothes. Ask them what
they would take on their tip. Remind children of
their basic needs. Help them establish a list of
things that would be essential to surviving in
such a place.
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DAY 6 PLACES IN HISTORY Introduction 1. Ask
the children if they or their parents have any
souvenirs-things they want to keep to remind them
of the past. Explain that countries keep things
to remind them of their history. Tell the
children that they will read about places in
history. 2. Explain that people can read to learn
about history, but that seeing places where it
actually happened help us understand and
appreciate what life was like long ago. Have
children read to find out what kinds of things
have been saved to remind us of our
history. Development 1. Show the children a
picture of the Statue of Liberty. Explain that it
is one of the largest statues ever made. Like our
flag, the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of
freedom in the United States. It was a gift from
France and stands in New York Harbor to welcome
newcomers to this country.
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2. Show the students a picture of Yorktown,
Virginia long ago. Explain that Yorktown is the
place where the last battle in the War for
Independence from England was fought. 3. Invite
any children who have visited historical places
like these to describe their experiences. Culmina
ting Activities 1. Help the children list the
historical places they read about. Have them tell
something about each. 2. Have the children tell
what kinds of things become historical places.
Discuss the fact that they are saved, built, or
rebuilt to help Americans remember their
history. 3. If any children have visited
historical places, ask them to bring in pictures,
pamphlets, or maps to share with their
classmates. 4. Help the children find New York
Harbor on a map and discuss why this is a good
location for the Statue of Liberty.
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DAY 7 PEOPLE IN HISTORY Introduction 1.
Remind the children that America once belonged to
England. Explain that the Declaration of
Independence declared our freedom. That is what
we celebrate on the Fourth of July. Tell
children that they will find out who wrote the
Declaration of Independence. Then explain that
some people in America did not always have the
right to be free or to vote. 2. Ask what the
class can do to show how they feel about our
country. Development 1. Show the students
pictures of Elizabeth Cady Stanton-the woman who
fought for the womens right to vote. Discuss
with the students how women are allowed to vote
today and why they think there is a plaque with
her picture on it.
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2. Show the students a picture of Thomas
Jefferson, and explain that he is the one
responsible for writing the Declaration of
Independence. 3. Write the word proud on the
chalkboard. Explain that when we feel really
pleased about something, we are proud of it. 4.
Teach children how to sing America. discuss how
this song shows our pride in the accomplishments
of our ancestors and expresses our pride in our
country. Culminating Activities 1. Have the
children name the important people in history
that they read about. Ask them to tell something
about Elizabeth Cady Stanton, George Washington
and Thomas Jefferson. 2. Discuss with the
children why we can feel proud of the
accomplishments of the people they read about and
how singing America helps show that feeling.
3. Read the Preamble and the Declaration of
Rights of the Declaration of Independence to the
children. Show them a picture.
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DAY 8 SPECIAL HOLIDAYS Introduction 1. Ask the
children how they celebrate their birthdays, or
the birthdays of their friends and family
members. Explain that the United States
celebrates the birthdays of important people,
too. There are special holidays so that people
can take time to remember their history. Have the
children name some holidays they celebrate. Tell
them they are going to read about some special
American holidays that help us remember our
history. 2. Explain to the children that there
are different ways to celebrate holidays. Have
them read to find out how some holidays are
celebrated. Development 1. Make a bulletin
board during the month of February that displays
the holidays we celebrate during that month.
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Explain that in February, we celebrate the
birthdays of two presidents who were important to
American history. 2. Explain that George
Washington was an important general in the War
for Independence with England and that he was our
countrys first President. 3. Explain that
Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and was
President during the Civil War that divided our
country 4. Explain that we celebrate Martin
Luther King Jr. day in memory of an important
leader in the fight to get equal rights for black
people. 5. Elicit that many schools and
businesses are closed for the birthdays of
important people to give us a chance to remember
our history. Culminating Activities 1. Have the
children name the special American holidays they
have learned about. Discuss how they help us
remember special times. 2. Ask the children to
tell how some holidays are celebrated.
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EVALUATION--OUR COUNTRY Multiple Choice Circle
the letter of the answer that best completes the
question. 1. The colors of the American flag
are a. red, white, blue b. red, yellow,
purple c. orange, black, white d. white, blue,
pink 2. The United States of America is a a.
state b. amusement park c. country d. city
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3. What happened long ago is a. future b.
present c. past d. history 4. When we feel
______, we feel happy. a. proud b. sad c.
scared d. bored 5. Each star on the flag stands
for a a. city b. country c. town d. state
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Objective Questions Fill in the blanks with the
term that best completes each sentence. 1. The
name of our country is ___________________________
__. 2. People that live in our country are
called __________________. Short Essay 1.
Explain why the month of February is so important
to Americans. Include specific days that we
celebrate and why. 2. Explain how Americans
show loyalty to our country.
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INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES TEACHER
REFERENCES Ready-to-Go Lesson Plans Social
Studies This attractively illustrated,
grade-specific series of lesson plans includes
subjects ranging from history and geography to
economics, government, and citizenship. It
includes 23 different short and easy lesson plans
for grades one through five. Super Social
Studies Scholastic This great book of quick and
easy activities, games and manipulatives has
fifty crafty projects that provide a fresh
alternative to the time-honored but stale report
including flip books, four-flap books, step
books, pop-up books, accordion books, shape
books, snapshot books, trioramas, history webs
and suggestions for seven different timeline
presentations. Create a Community Reproducible
activity book The activities is this book are
hands-on where the students actually get to
construct their own communities.
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Neighborhood Map Machine Easy to use and fun,
this map-making program allows students to create
maps of their own neighborhoods or places theyve
imagined. A 95-page teachers guide connects the
program to the curriculum. Our Town A Guide for
Studying Any Community The lessons include 38
reproducible activity sheets which ask your
students to design a community flag, interview a
local worker, conduct a survey, make a population
graph, and explore a vacant lot to decide how the
land should be used. STUDENT REFERENCES America
n Symbols True Books This complete 5-book
paperback set explores the origin and meaning of
Americas national symbols for young
readers. Woodrow, the White House Mouse Follow
the adventures of Woodrow G. Washingtail and his
family at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Their work
and play mirrors the day-to-day activities of the
countrys other chief executive and first
family.
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House Mouse, Senate Mouse This lively tale
introduces some distinguished folks on Capitol
Hill-Longworth McMouse, Squeaker of the House,
Mouse-jority Leader Russell Mouse, and lots of
Senate and Congress mice. Marshall, the
Courthouse Mouse This book illustrates nine
little mice justices fighting to protect the
Mouse Constitution. A Mice Way to Learn about
Government Curriculum Guide for Teaching the
Three Branches of Government This book contains a
wealth of activities for students to complement
the three branches of government including,
designing charts, doing diagrams, crossword
puzzles, mock presidential debates, staging
elections, and much more. Smoky Night by Eve
Bunting Winner of the 1995 Caldecott Medal for
its luminous illustrations, Smoky Night is a
story about cats-and people-who couldnt get
along until a night of rioting brings them
together. This book helps young readers
understand their feelings about fear, prejudice,
and social violence.
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Famous Native Americans by Diane Shaughnessy and
Jack Carpenter Six well-known chiefs,
peacemakers, and leaders from Native American
nations are thoughtfully portrayed in these
attractive books. Geography Facts and
Experiments Young Discoverers Series by Barbara
Taylor Young readers get easy-to-read facts plus
45 do-it-yourself experiments in this
introductory series. It also includes project
instructions, materials, steps to follow, safety
tips, and suggestions. Children Just Like Me by
Barnabas and Anabel Kindersley This photographic
celebration of children around the world
introduces readers to 37 children from the
Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Southeast
Asia and Australasia. Peoples and Their
Environments by Robert Low This appealing set of
6 hardbacks reveals how people, especially
children, interact with their natural
surroundings.
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MEDIA REFERENCES It Takes Many Colors to Make a
Rainbow Simplifying the ideas of discriminations,
stereotypes, and prejudice, this charming video
program includes a six-page teachers guide with
discussion starters, activities, and jumprope
song. Amazing Grace This video narrated by Alfre
Woodard teaches lessons in gender and race
relations, self-confidence, and courage. Cinco
de Mayo This video explains why Cindo de Mayo is
celebrated, how its celebrated, and how the
celebrations reflect the culture of Mexico and
the heritage of Mexican Americans. An American
Tail Directed by Don Bluth, this video is an
animated fable of the 19th century immigrations.
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Fievel Goes West An American Tail Directed by
Phil Nibbelink and Simon Wells, this delightful
animated sequel to An American Tail follows
Fievel and the rest of the Mousekewitz family as
they travel to the Wild West, where a young mouse
can stand tall and dreams can come
true. Cultural Rainbow Posters/Banner An
American Alphabet Providing both a stunning
display banner and rich multicultural resource,
these six posters with 26 brilliant color
photographs illustrate an A-to-Z collection of
artifacts, clothing, food, words of art, and more
from a variety of cultural groups. Carmen
Sandiego Junior Detective Edition This CD-ROM is
Carmens first adventure specifically designed
for younger students that provides a basic
introductions to world geography, focusing on
individual geographic regions and countries
around the world. My First Amazing World
Explorer This CD-ROM contains entertaining
exercises that offer an excellent way for younger
students to acquaint themselves with world
geography. The CD-ROM puts users in a virtual
bedroom where they can access an A-to-Z country
finder, an interactive world map, and basic
information about countries and continents,
capital cities, famous places, bodies of water,
and natural wonders.
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People and Places TalkAbout Posters Beautifully
rendered, these full-color posters combine
essential information, simple activities, global
myths and folktales,and scenes from childrens
literature to initiate discussion about places
throughout the world and the peoples who live in
them. A Multicultural Christmas Visiting
Scandinavian, Native American, Korean, Mexican,
and Ethiopian families, this informative
introduction to the history of Christmas
celebrations emphasizes how people fro a variety
of cultural backgrounds bring distinctive customs
to a holiday they share in common. Countries and
Cultures for Young Explorers This appealing
series introduces the sights, sounds, and people
of six nations. This series includes books,
videos, and Web sites for added learning. Japan
Culture Kit This set of cross-curricular
activities can be used as a complete unit on the
celebrations, arts, crafts and cultures of Japan.
Students can work at a map learning center, make
a volcano, perform a tea ceremony, create a
counting book, fold an origami dog and cat, and
much more.
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Schoolhouse Rock! School Editions This CD-ROM is
wacky, with endearing characters to meet,
surprise-filled cartoon environments to explore,
plenty of good music and silly sound effects, and
points to win as players fulfill cartoon-world
quests, these animated games and activities with
multiple skill levels encourage students to have
fun while learning. Schoolhouse Rock! This video
contains memorable music, lively lyrics, and
amusing animation interwoven in this
award-winning series of programs that acquaint
students with important topics in U.S. government
and history, parts of speech, the multiplication
tables, and science. Famous U.S. Documents
Bulletin Board Set Four full-color posters of the
Declaration of Independence, the Constitution,
the Bill of Rights, and the Emancipation
Proclamation. Diorama Designer This imaginative
CD-ROM program helps students design original
three-dimensional dioramas on the computer and
then print and assemble them.
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U.S. Songs and Poems This VHS videocassette
contains segments from The Star Spangled
Banner, America the Beautiful, etc. U.S.
History Timeline Eight posters join to make a
16-foot timeline that traces American history
from before 1400 to the present. Native American
Folktales Four gently animated tales help
students see how stories in any culture
entertain, pass on knowledge, and teach children
important lessons. 10 American History Plays for
the Classroom Highlights in American history are
dramatized in brief reproducible plays suitale
for Readers Theatre or for simple staging.
Topics include Pilgrim Thanksgiving, Boston Tea
Party, Trail of Tears, Oregon Trail, Seneca Falls
Convention, Emancipation Proclamation, etc.