How are countries and people around the world the
same and different?
Grade 5
By: Hanh Nguyen
Professor Gary Babiuk
Methods of Teaching Social Studies
Title: How are countries and people around the world the same and different?
Level: Grade 5
Estimated Time Required: Five lessons – Approximately 8 days
Rational and Overview:
This big question unit; how are countries and people around the world the same and different,
will teach students to build connection and awareness of the world. Students will learn about
other countries’ economics, cultures and people. This unit will incorporate many aspects of
social studies; geography, economics, sociology, and government. The activities will integrate
language arts, music, physical education, and English. Students will participate in engaging and
hands-on activities that will help answer the question.
National Standards:
• NCSS III People, places and environments
• NCSS V Individuals, groups, and institutions
• NCSS VII Productions, distribution, consumption
• NCSS IX Global connections
• NCSS X Civic ideals and practices
State Standards:
• Geography: Students will describe how humans influence the environment and in turn
are influenced by it.
• Geography: Students will identify physical characteristics of places and use this
knowledge to define regions, their relationship among regions, and their patterns of
change.
• Geography: Students will give examples that demonstrate how people are connected to
each other and the environment.
• Economics: Students will understand that in a market economy income is earned in
different ways.
Skills:
• Creating a Vinn Diagram
• Writing
• Building connections
• Work in groups
• Listening to directions
• Learning map symbols
• Following directions
• Learning map terms
• Learning regions of the world
• Identify countries on a map
• Social studies vocabulary
Overall Goals:
The student will explore, research, and demonstrate how countries are similar and
different.
The student will explore and demonstrate how government has an impact on its country
and people.
The student will explore where products are produced.
The students will explore and build connections between countries.
The students will explore, research, and demonstrate countries’; culture, people,
economic, and government.
Specific Objectives:
The student will make connections between countries in discussion.
The student will make conclusions why certain countries make certain items.
The student will learn map terms by creating a map of their country.
The student will distinguish regions of the world.
The student will build awareness for other countries.
Inquiry Questions:
How are people different from one country to another?
How are their cultures different?
How are their cultures similar?
What is the morality rate?
How does the government have an impact on the country and its people?
What religion does the country practice?
What are some of the country’s recreational activities?
What are some different physical features of the country?
Are there any similar physical features?
Resources/Materials:
[Link]/english United Nation website
Lonely Planet Belize by Carolyn Miller Carlstroem
Lonely Planet Thailand by Joe Cummings
[Link] World Atlas, resources on different countries
Retrieval chart
[Link] World Fact book
Markers
Paper (white/construction)
Clothing (t-shirts, shoes, etc…)
Food (fruit, chips, crackers)
Electronics (walkman, CDS, remote control, etc…)
Miscellaneous items (toys, baskets, ect…)
Retrieval charts
World map
Student Assessment Plan:
Lesson Plan #1
Completeness of chart
o 20 items listed and country of production
Map fully colored in
o Using different colors
o Countries are labeled
Three conclusions written about the map
Total possible points: 25
Lesson Plan #2
Completeness of chart (everything needs to be filled in)
Map criteria
o Map has 3 natural physical features presented
o Map has 5 man- made features presented
o A picture of the country’s flag is on the map
o Map has rose, compass, and legend
o Map is neatly done
Total possible points: 40
Lesson Plan #3
Name:__________________________________
writing rubric for fairy tale rewrites
The paper is clear, interesting, and original 5 4 3 2 1
___ written with good insight (sense of the world,
people, situations)
___writing is from a fresh perspective
___writing is supported with details
Organization helps to clearly convey the message 5 4 3 2 1
___ details fit where they belong
___ clear sense of beginning and ending
___ transitions work well (with paragraphs, as a
whole)
___ organizations flows smoothly
Voice of the writer accomplishes the purpose 5 4 3 2 1
___ reader feels an interaction with the writer
___ writing is natural and compelling
___ tone is appropriate and consistently controlled
Sentence structure helps the paper read smoothly 5 4 3 2 1
___ sentence structure clearly conveys meaning
___ writing sounds natural and fluent
___ varied sentence structure and length
Overall Grade for Paper 5 4 3 2 1
Lesson #4
Completeness of vinn diagram 15
o Vinn diagram must have 5 differences and 5 similarities in each circles
Oral presentation 10
Participation during discussion 5
Total possible points: 30
Lesson #5
1 Beginning 2 Developing 3 Accomplished 4 Exemplary
Write up 10 or more spelling 5 or more 5 or less spelling 3 or no spelling
errors. Writing is spelling errors. errors. Minor errors. No
confusing and does Minor punctuation and punctuation and
not represent punctuation and grammar errors. grammar errors.
importance of grammar errors. Explains clearly Clearly explains
product. Explains the the importance of the importance of
importance of the the product. the product and
product. how the country
uses the product.
Display table Name of country is Name of country Name of country Name of country
present. is present. is present. is present.
Product is not Map is present. Map of country Representative
clearly explained. A description of is present. can explain the
Representative is the product is on Description of product and
not knowledgeable the table. product is on the inform guest
about the country. Representative is table about the
Map is not present not Representative country.
or incomplete. knowledgeable can explain the
about the country product.
or product.
Reflection 1 or 2 questions 2 or 3 questions All questions All questions
answered. answered. answered. answered with
explanation.
Lesson Plan #1
Duration: 2 days
Note: prior to lesson, place in front of the classroom items made from different countries.
Clothing (t-shirts, shoes: Nike, Adidas, and etc…)
Food (candy, fruits, and etc…)
Electronics (walkman,
Miscellaneous items (Picture frames, staplers, water bottles etc…)
Introduction:
Ask students where they think these items are made.
Have students guess, keep tally of what students guessed correct and wrong.
Once every item has been presented, discuss with students why certain items are
made in certain countries.
o Where are most of our fruits from?
o Where is most of our clothing made from?
o Where are most of our electronics made from?
o Doest it depend on the brand?
Are certain electronics better because of where it’s produce?
Why?
Learning activity
Each student will receive a retrieval chart and a map of the world
Students are to go home and find 20 different items.
Students need to name the items and state where (country) it’s made.
Once students have completed their search they need to locate the country on the world
map and color the country in.
After coloring all the countries (where their items were made) the students need to write
3 conclusions about their map.
o Examples: the majority of clothing at my house was made in South East Asia or
Mexico.
*(Give to students if they look confuse)
Closing:
Once students have completed their worksheets, have a group discussion.
Have students create a chart as a class
o Labels for chart:
• Electronics
• Foods
• Clothing
• Miscellaneous
Once the students have completed the chart ask for students conclusions.
Name: _________________________________________ Date:_____________
Directions: shade in the countries where your items were made, each country should be a
different color. Label the countries
Write 3 conclusions about your map:
1._______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ____________________
Made in……
What is the item? Where was the item produced?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Lesson Plan #2
Duration: 1 to 2 days
Introduction:
Have students take out their completed retrieval chart
Have a class discussion
o What do where are most products made? Over seas or in America?
o Why is that?
Define terms:
o Legend/ key
o Rose
o Compass
Learning Activity:
Students will be divided into 4 groups, 4-5 students per a group.
Get group will pick from a hat what country they will become an expert in:
o Belize
o Latvia
o Botswana
o Thailand
Students will receive a retrieval chart.
Students will use books, encyclopedias, internet to fill out retrieval chart.
Each student will be responsible for a section on the retrieval chart.
Along with completing the retrieval chart, the group must create a map of the country.
Closing:
Once the maps are completed, students will hang the maps up in the classroom.
Retrieval chart Name:
Information Needed United States Country’s name:
Health Indicators of Infant Mortality
Standard of living Life Expectancy
Medical facilities
(Are there any?)
Disease
Other
Education Indicators Literacy rate
of Standard of living
Other
Geography of country Area
Population density
Natural hazards
Environmental issues
Economic Indicators Gross Domestic
of standard of living Product (GDP)
Resources
Export
Import
Culture descriptors Languages
Religions
Recreation
Government type
Lesson Plan #3
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Introduction:
Read the story Cinderella from two different countries.
o Tam’s Golden Slipper (Vietnamese version)
o The Maiden, the Frog and the Chief's Son (from William Bascom, "Cinderella in
Africa," 1972)
After the story discuss, similarities and differences.
o How were the stories the same?
o How were the stories different?
People?
Places?
Names?
Learning activity:
Students choose a fairy tale or legend and rewrite the story to fit their expert country:
o Belize
o Thailand
o Latvia
o Botswana
The story needs to be similar to the original version.
Students will write a rough draft, revise it with a peer, then with the teacher.
The student will have opportunity to type the story on the computer.
A drawing or picture will be optional.
Closing
Once students have completed their stories it will be put into a book.
The book will be place in the classroom for everyone to view.
Lesson #4
Duration: 1 day
Introduction:
• Introduce the topic to students: How are countries and people around the world the same
and different?
• Discuss with students the United States and Japan similarities and differences.
o Create Vinn Diagram
Japan
United States
• Discuss with students, are there more differences or similarities?
• Have students explain why there are more differences or similarities.
Learning activity
Students create a vinn diagram comparing their expert country to the United States.
Students will use vinn diagram to present/share the differences and similarities in front of
the class.
Vinn Diagram
Country’s name:
United States
_________________
Closing:
Students will hang vinn diagram next to their country’s map.
Have a whole class discussion after presentation
o What do these five countries have in common?
o What are some differences between these five countries?
o Ask students, “Why do you think I choose these countries?”
Lesson #5
Duration: 2 to 3 days
Introduction
Discuss with class about celebrations in the United States
o What do Americans celebrate?
o What do we have at celebration?
o What types of food?
o Are there special clothing?
o What types of games?
Ask students what were some of the ways their expert countries celebrate
o Do they have food?
o What kinds of games do they have?
o Are there special clothing?
Learning activity
Students will work in their expert country group and choose one of the country’s
o traditional food, games, music, or art
*(if a group has something else they want to do, they can discuss it with the
teacher.)
Allow students time in class to plan a day before the Feast of Nations day.
Students will create and bring it in to the class for Feast of Nations.
Students must also prepare a write up about what they choose to do and how it represents
their expert country.
Closing
Each group will have a table to display their product.
Everyone will have a chance to visit each table.
Students will complete a reflection.
Name: ________________________________ Date: __________________
Student Reflection for Feast of Nations…
1. What was your favorite country? Why?
2. How is that country similar to your expert country?
3. How is that country different from your expert country?
4. How is that country different from the United States? How is it similar?
Any other comments…..
