Island IDU

A "SOCIAL STUDIES" ACTIVITY

*This project works well with students in cooperative groups.

*This unit is written in steps not days, you may want to take several days for some of the steps.

*Hang on because the kids have a lot of fun doing this unit..

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Salt Dough Islands

------------Flour ----------Cardboard (all pieces same dimension)

------------Salt ------------Blue construction paper

------------Water----------Tempra Paints

STEP 1:(social studies)

Have students list as many formations they can think of on a piece of paper. (ex. river, bay, ocean, mountain, hill, valley, etc.). Discuss the list and think of examples of each.

STEP 2:(social studies)

Have students make salt dough (2 parts flour, 1 part salt, and 1/4 part water). Students can also fasten the blue construction paper to the cardboard. When the construction paper is fastened, the students should decide what shape they would like their island to have. Remind the students to include as many features as they can on the perimeter of their island (ex. bay, harbor, inlet, peninsula, gulf). When the salt dough is ready, students can then form their islands by staying within the perimeter of their lines. When the island's perimeter is complete, interior land features and elevations can be established. Have students name their islands and allow them to harden over the weekend works well.

STEP 3:(social studies)

Students should decide on a legend to use for their islands. This should be a class wide decision. This legend should include elevation and scale miles. Students should also decide what colors of paint to use for each specific elevation. Have students measure the heights of their land features and paint them according to the legend. Paint all interior water features blue.

Note: It is a wise decision to make the elevation scale different than the miles scale, otherwise the heights of your mountains could be several miles high. Also, limit the height of your islands to 3 inches max. this results n a more natural looking island.

STEP 4:(social studies)

Have students label all of their land forms. Let the students be creative with the labeling. Small strips or pieces of paper work well for this.

STEP 5:(math)

With a piece of string have students start measuring their islands. Have them measure perimeter, length, width, perimeter of lakes, length of rivers, etc. Students will need to convert these measurements to the scale that the class decided on. Write the converted measurements on a 3x5 note card. This information should be large enough for everyone to see. Students should also use their land features' names when presenting this information (ex Largest Mountain: Mount Stacey-3000 feet)

STEP 6:(language arts)

If you have students working in groups, at this time they should work individually for a while. Have students write persuasion stories to persuade guest to come to their island. You may need to discuss persuasion speeches beforehand so the students understand. Students should then read their speeches to the rest of their group After students have read their speeches, they should then combine their ideas to form one main speech.

STEP 7:(drama?)

With the speeches combined into one, students should then create a commercial, complete with script and wardrobe. Give students time to rehearse their commercials and set a day for taping to begin.

STEP 8:(drama?)

Tape commercials (Have groups act out their commercials while you tape them with a video recorder.)

STEP 9: EVALUATION

With all of the island being on cardboard of the same size, you can lay them on the floor and form a grid. (longitude and latitude lines.) Also include a compass rose and or a blank square. You will need to label longitude and latitude lines on your newly formed grid. Next ask students a series of questions like: What island lies at 45 N, 30 E? or if you travel NW from ? island, what island will you cross first?

Again this is an extremely fun unit for the students to do. It does incorporate many of the disciplines including use of the video camera. Have fun!
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