WS/FCS
Unit Planning Organizer
Subject(s)
Grade/Course
Unit of Study
Unit Title
Pacing
Social Studies
2nd
Unit 4
Geography
15-20 days
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Conceptual Lenses
Location
Physical attributes
Unit Overview
The points of focus for this unit include interpreting maps and the meanings of symbols to
designate locations, discovering ways in which people depend on the environment, and how
people affect the environment. Students will develop and understanding and an awareness of:
 Maps of the school and community using symbols, legends, and cardinal directions
 The meaning of those symbols and the location of physical and human features
 Ways in which people depend on the physical environment and natural resources
 People positively and negatively affecting the environment
Unit Enduring Understanding(s)
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Maps contain symbols, legends, and
cardinal directions.
People use maps to help them find
different locations like streets, roads,
schools, etc.
People depend on the environment they
live in.
Vegetation, animal life, and water are
some of the ways the environment helps
meet people’s needs.
People often settle in places where their
needs are met.
Changing the physical environment may
affect the vegetation, animal life,
ecosystems, etc.
People may affect the environment in
positive or negative ways.
Recycling, conserving, and littering are
different things people can do that affect
our environment.
Unit Essential Question(s)
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How do I use symbols on a map to
interpret a map?
Why do we use geographic tools such as
maps and their symbols to find locations?
What is the purpose of using map/atlas?
How are human features and physical
features the same/different?
How do people depend on the physical
environment for natural resources?
How does our physical environment affect
the way we live?
How do people affect the environment
positively/negatively?
What kinds of things can we do to protect
our physical environment?
Essential State Standards
Priority Objectives
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Supporting Objectives
2.G.1.1- Interpret maps of the school and
community that contain symbols, legends,
and the cardinal directions.
2.G.1.2- Interpret the meaning of symbols
and the location of physical and human
features on a map (cities, railroads,
highways, countries, continents, oceans,
etc.
2.G.2.1- Give examples of ways in which
people depend on the physical
environment and natural resources to meet
basic needs.
2.G.2.2- Explain how people positively and
negatively affect the environment.
“Unpacked” Concepts
(students need to know)
People depend on the physical
environment and use natural
resources to meet basic needs.
Physical environment molds the way
people live.
People settle in areas depending on
the physical environment and
availability of natural resources.
When the physical environment is
changed, it can affect the
environment.
People can affect the environment in
a positive or negative way.
People need to manage and protect
resources for future generations in
ways such as conserving water and
reducing the amount of waste.
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2.C.1.1- Explain how artistic expressions
of diverse cultures contribute to the
community (stories, art, music, food, etc.)
“Unpacked” Skills
(students need to be able to do)
 Use map symbols to
represent streets, roads,
buildings, etc.
 Definition of natural
resources
 Various ways in which
people use the
environment to meet their
needs
 What it means to recycle,
litter, and conserve
 Ways that people impact
the environment positively
and negatively
COGNITION
(RBT Level)
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Understand
Apply
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Essential Vocabulary
Natural resources
Geographic tools
Physical features
Human features
Physical environment
Ecosystems
Standards
2.G.1.1
Interpret maps
of the school
and community
that contain
symbols,
legends and
cardinal
directions.
Unit “Chunking”
& Enduring
Understandings
Using maps and
map elements
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Enrichment Vocabulary
Cardinal directions, legends, symbols
Map and atlas
Environment
Recycle
Conserve
reduce
Suggested Lesson
Essential Questions
Possible Factual
Content
What is the purpose of
maps and atlases?
The purpose and
use of a variety of
maps and
atlases.
How do I use map
elements to interpret a
map?
Using map
elements such as
title, compass
rose, legend/key,
date and author
to interpret a
map.
Maps, legends,
keys, symbols,
cardinal
directions, and
compass rose,
etc.
Why do we use
geographic tools?
Example(s)
from
Unpacked
Standards
Use map
symbols to
represent
streets, roads,
buildings, etc.
Interpret maps
2.G.1.2
and map
Interpret the
elements
meaning of
symbols and the
location of
physical and
human features
on a map (cities,
railroads,
highways,
countries,
continents,
oceans, etc.).
How do I interpret
symbols on a map?
Interpret symbols
such as a
character, letter
or similar graphic
representation
used on a map.
How do I find the
location of physical
features on a map?
Physical features
Continents,
oceans, etc.
How do I find the
location of human
features on a map?
Human features
Cities,
railroads,
highways, etc.
How do I interpret map
symbols to find locations
of physical and human
features on a map?
2.G.2.1
Give examples
of ways in which
people depend
on the physical
environment
and natural
resources to
meet basic
needs.
People depend
on the physical
environment and
use natural
resources to meet
basic needs.
What are natural
resources?
Definition of
natural resources
People depend
on it to meet
basic needs.
Use map
symbols to
represent
streets, roads,
buildings, etc.
Vegetation,
animal life,
landforms,
and bodies of
water, etc.
Trees,
rainwater, etc.
What is the physical
environment?
Why do people depend
on their physical
environment and use of
natural resources to
meet basic needs?
People depend
on it to meet
basic needs.
Vegetation,
animal life,
landforms, bodies
of water, natural
resources
Various ways
in which
people use the
environment
to meet their
needs.
2.G.2.2
Explain how
people positively
and negatively
affect the
environment.
Changing the
physical
environment may
affect the
environment.
How does the physical
environment and natural
resources affect where
people live?
How do people affect the People may affect Recycling,
environment in positive
the environment
conserving
ways?
in positive ways.
water, etc.
How do people affect the People may affect Polluting
environment in negative the environment
lakes,
ways?
in negative ways. streams,
littering
How does changing the
Interactions of
physical environment
human beings
affect the environment
and their physical
as a whole?
environment
impact the uses
of land and
ecosystem
changes.
How can we manage
Managing
resources for the future? resources
effectively in the
environment such
as conserving
water, reducing
the amount of
waste, etc. may
protect these
resources for
future
generations.