Grade 3 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 3, Lesson 1

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
From Sea to Shining Sea

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 3, Lesson 1: Touching the Clouds (pp. 44-47)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Interconnectedness A mountain affects the land, the kind of animals and plants that live there, and weather around it.

Ask children if they have ever hiked or been to the top of a mountain. Discuss their impressions of the climate and vegetation, pointing out that the air temperature is cooler at the top of mountains, and that different plants and animals live there than on flat land.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Have students write a brochure for a hiking trip up a large mountain, such as Mount Washington or Mount Rainier. Have them write a description of what they would find as they walk up the mountain. Have them describe plants and animals they see along the way, as well as describe the weather conditions.
Using natural materials, paints, and a large mountain-shaped rock, have students make a model of a mountain based on the diagram on page 47 of their textbooks. On the west side, they can show green vegetation and clouds. On the east side, they can show desert-like vegetation. Ask students to show the different plants and animals that live at each level.

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