Grade Level/Subject: 6-8, Social Studies                         Length: 90 minutes

    I. OBJECTIVES:

1. Locate the Hawaiian islands on a globe.
2. Locate and name all the Hawaiian islands and be able to locate the capital of the state and major geographical sites on a map.
3. Use their textbooks or other materials to label a map of the Hawaiian Islands, then show on the map where Hawaii is located in relation to the rest of the world.
4. Appreciate an interest in Hawaiian geography, as one of our newest states and how important it is politically and militarily to U.S. interests in the Pacific region.

    II.  MATERIALS

• Paper/Pens/pencils
• Markers, crayons, highlighters
• Magazines with articles about Hawaii
• Globe
• Large map of Hawaii on blackboard
• Resources (textbooks, Internet, encyclopedias, atlas, etc.)
• Blank Hawaii map (one per student)
• Geography Quiz (one per student)

A. Opening

  1.  At the beginning of the unit, have students "brainstorm" a list of words (on the blackboard) that come to mind when they think of Hawaii. (Get 25-30 words, keep copy of the list).

B. Development

  1.  Following the brainstorming activity, give students 20-30 minutes to write a creative story in their Interactive Notebooks about Hawaii, using all (or nearly all) of the words on the "blackboard list." Remind students to be creative! Then:

  2.  Have students illustrate their story using markers and colored pencils and pictures from the magazines. "Share" the Hawaii stories orally in class.

  3.  Divide students into small groups of 4-5 and have them research by using the Internet, textbooks, atlas, a globe or encyclopedias the geography of the Hawaiian islands. Pass out the '50 States' blank map of Hawaii and have students make a rough draft of a map of Hawaii that they will share with their group to make sure theirs is correct. On their 'map', they want to find the following:

·  Name of all the islands in the Hawaiian chain.
·  Name the capital of Hawaii and which island it is located on.
·  Name the ocean that Hawaii resides in.
·  Locate Hawaii on a globe in relation to where the rest of the United States is.
·  Locate a main city of the island of Hawaii and a mountain range.
·  Find out what explorer discovered the Hawaiian islands.




         4.  When students are finished with that, keep them in their groups and have them go to the Internet and look for Hawaiian recipes. Have them make a copy of the one they think would taste the best. After they do this, have them turn the recipes in to teacher, who will use them for possible meals for the Luau.

        5.  Pass out the Geography Quiz ditto. In groups, allow students to take the quiz using their notes gathered in their cooperative learning groups, answering each question on the quiz. They are not allowed to talk during quiz, but can use their notes.

C.   Closure

        1.  WRAP-UP/HOMEWORK: Have students exchange quizzes and grade each other's as the teacher gives out the correct answers orally.

        2.  In a teacher-led discussion, point out each Hawaiian island on the large map that would now be attached to the blackboard and go over any mistakes or questions from the 'Geography Quiz.' Have students turn in the quizzes to teacher. Remind them for homework to study the geography of Hawaii again for the closed-book map quiz they will be having tomorrow.

 

IV.  ASSESSMENT

     Students will be evaluated based on initial brainstorm exercise, participation in group work, the writing exercise, the Hawaiian map classwork and Geography quiz.








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