UNIT PLAN
Grade Level:
Unit #:
Unit Name:
3
1
Regions of South Carolina and Physical Features
Big Idea/Theme: South Carolina has six geographic regions with special
physical features, natural resources, and agriculture that make it a unique state.
Culminating Assessment: Create a map of South Carolina using objects, such
as, rice, cotton balls, sand, goldfish, wood, etc to show the geographic regions,
landforms, river systems, major cities, natural resources, and agriculture.
Unit Understanding(s)
Students will understand that…
South Carolina has 6 distinct
regions.
Each region has unique
landforms.
The location of major cities in
South Carolina is based on the
needs of the population.
South Carolina’s river systems
provide transportation and
irrigation for their communities.
Climate affects the different
regions of the state.
Each region has different natural
resources and types of
agriculture based on location.
Human systems affect the
physical landscape of South
Carolina over time.
Unit Essential Question(s):
What are the 6 regions in South
Carolina and where are they
located?
What unique landforms are
found in each region?
Where are the major cities and
why are their locations
important?
What are the major river
systems in South Carolina and
how are they important to their
communities?
How does climate affect the
different regions of the state?
What natural resources and
types of agriculture are found in
each region?
How do human systems affect
the physical landscape of South
Carolina over time?
Students will know… / Students will be able to…
Identify South Carolina’s location in relation to the United States.
Identify South Carolina’s bordering states and the Atlantic Ocean.
Identify the characteristics of significant land forms in SC such as
mountains, foothills, the fall line, sand hills, rivers, swamps, plains,
marshes, beaches, and dunes.
Identify and locate the major river systems in SC including the Pee Dee
River Basin, Santee River Basin, Edisto River Basin, and the Savannah
River Basin.
Explain that South Carolina has no natural lakes and SC lakes are manmade, formed by damming of the rivers.
Locate the major cities of South Carolina such as Greenville, Columbia,
and Charleston.
Read a map legend to find the symbol for cities; cities are typically shown
by a dot on a map.
Identify Charleston as a port city because of its location on the Atlantic
Ocean.
Identify Columbia as the capital often shown by a star on a map.
Explain that South Carolina is located in only one climate region, the
humid subtropical region.
Interpret information from a thematic map, including making inferences
about map content that includes population distribution, land use, and
highway and interstate systems in SC.
Show how to use map elements such as legend, orientation, grid, and
scale.
Use maps to understand the relationship of major SC industries to
geography such as tourism being located predominantly on the Atlantic
Coast.
Using a map, identify the six geographical regions; Blue Ridge, Piedmont,
Sand Hills, Inner Coastal Plain, Outer Coastal Plain, and Coastal Zone.
Analyze the positive and negative impact of human systems on the
geography of South Carolina.
South Carolina Academic Standards:
3-1.1 Identify on a map the location and characteristics of significant physical
features of South Carolina, including landforms; river systems such as the
Pee Dee River Basin, the Santee River Basin, the Edisto River Basin, and
the Savannah River Basin; major cities; and climate regions.
3-1.2 Interpret thematic maps of South Carolina places and regions that show
how and where people live, work, and use land and transportation.
3-1.3 Categorize the six geographic regions of South Carolina- the Blue Ridge
Mountain Region, the Piedmont, the Sand Hills, the Inner Coastal Plain,
the Outer Coastal Plain, and the Coastal Zone- according to their different
physical and human characteristics.
3-1.4 Explain the effects of human systems on the physical landscape of South
Carolina over time, including the relationship of population distribution and
patterns of migration to natural resources, climate, agricultural, and
economic development.
Interim Assessment (formative)
Classroom discussion
Homework assignments
Quizzes
Teacher observation
Key Criteria (to meet the standard/rubric)
Rubric
SC Regions/Landforms Map Rubric
Name: __________________________
Regions
Landforms
Natural Resources
Agricultural
River Systems
(Savannah, Edisto,
Pee Dee, and
Santee)
4
All regions are
present and in
the correct
location.
All key
landforms are
represented
and placed in
the correct
region.
Each region is
represented
with one
example.
Date: ___________________
3
4-5 regions are
present and in
the correct
location.
4-5 of the
regions have
key landforms
which are
represented
correctly.
4-5 regions are
represented
with one
example.
2
2-3 regions are
present and in
the correct
location.
2-3 of the
regions have
key landforms
which are
represented
correctly.
2-3 regions are
represented
with one
example.
Each of the
Three major
Two major river
four major river
river systems
systems are
systems is
are accurately
accurately
accurately
represented on represented on
represented on
the map.
the map.
the map.
Major Cities
Three major
Two major
One major city
cities are
cities are
is correctly
correctly
correctly
identified on
identified on
identified on
map.
map.
map.
Map Key
All regions are 4-5 regions are 2-3 regions are
shown on the
shown on the
shown on the
map key and
map key and
map key and
are accurate.
are accurate.
are accurate.
Creativity/
All regions
4-5 regions
2-3 regions
Neatness
have creative
have creative
have creative
landform
landform
landform
representations representations representations
and are neat.
and are neat.
and are neat.
Total points: ____/28
Teacher Comments:
Parent Comments:
1
1 region is
present and in
the correct
location.
1 of the regions
has key
landforms which
are represented
correctly.
One or fewer
regions are
represented
with one
example.
Two or fewer
major river
systems are
accurately
represented on
the map.
No major cities
are correctly
identified on
map
1 region is
shown on the
map key and is
accurate.
1 region has
creative
landform
representations
and is neat.