Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
Oh, California
Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 1, Lesson 1: Where on Earth Is California? (pp. 4-8)
The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Continuity California's location is traced from a distant view in space to a close-up look at it on Earth.
- Compare the relative size of California as seen on maps of the world, North America, and the United States. Have students describe what they notice about California's size and location on the map of the world, then on the map of North America. Finally, have them explain what details the map of the United States contains about California that each of the other maps do not.
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 prepare a radio broadcast from a space shuttle in which they describe California as they see it from different distances above the earth.
- Invite students to draw two views of California -- one from a space shuttle above the earth and another viewed from a small airplane above your community.
Social Studies Center |
Houghton Mifflin Social Studies |
Grade 4 Home
Education Place |
Site Index
You may download, print, and make copies of Lesson at a Glance pages for use in your
classroom, provided that you include the copyright notice shown below on all such copies.
Copyright © 1999 Houghton Mifflin Company. All Rights Reserved.