Please download the complete lesson plan for the worksheets, resources and rubrics. Below is an overview of the lesson plan. This Lesson Plan is divided into five separate lessons.
- Lesson One: The Great Pyramid I
- Lesson Two: The Great Pyramid II
- Lesson Three: Vacationing in Africa
- Lesson Four: Working with Numbers
- Lesson Five: Fractions, Decimals and Percents
Lesson Objectives
The aim of these curricular materials is to encourage and empower students to make meaningful connections between what they know about their own lives in Canada and what they can learn about the lives of peoples in the Continent of Africa. Students will be encouraged to expand critical thinking skills, literacy skills and Mathematical reasoning skills by engaging in meaningful dialogue about their world.
Lesson One: The Great Pyramid I
Country of Interest: Egypt
Description
Students will access a Picture Tour of the Great Pyramid in Egypt to visually experience the vastness of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, read about how it was constructed and view schematic diagrams of pyramid design. Using the given base and height measurements, students will calculate the perimeter of the pyramid and compare personal reference points to support their understanding of measurement relationships as a specific expectation for the course.Teacher Preparation:
- The teacher should visit the website below to ensure that it is accessible, up to date and appropriate;
- Introduce topic of Pyramids; history of, structural greatness;
- Teacher should photocopy the provided work sheet and prepare student for its use;
- Teacher should photocopy Metric Measurements conversion chart
Resources
- Included Work sheet
- Metric Measurements Conversion
The Lesson
- Activate prior knowledge about Egypt and pyramids using the Picture Tour of the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.
- Visit Picture Tour website: www.gizapyramid.com/newtour1.htm
- Read along with the students as they follow the Picture Tour; Ask questions to verify understanding;
- Encourage students to ask questions about material they are not familiar with;
- Generate a list of why pyramids are not prevalent in North American society
- Using the given base and height measurements, students will calculate the perimeter of the pyramid and compare personal reference points to support their understanding of measurement relationships
- Students may access websites included for further information (please click: “Online Resources”)
Possible Extension Activities
Build a pyramid using manipulatives or nets;
Determine the Volume and Surface Area using Formulas
**Download the Complete Lesson Plan for the Worksheets for this Activity.**
Lesson Two: The Great Pyramid II
Country of Interest: Egypt
Description
Students will access a Picture Tour of the Great Pyramid in Egypt to visually experience the vastness of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, read about how it was constructed and view schematic diagrams of pyramid design. Using the given base and height measurements, students will calculate the area and volume of the pyramid and solve additional problems to support their understanding of measurement relationships as a specific expectation for the course.Teacher Preparation
- The teacher should visit the website below to ensure that it is accessible, up to date and appropriate;
- Introduce topic of Pyramids; history of, structural greatness;
- Teacher should photocopy the provided work sheet and prepare student for its use;
Resources
- Included Work sheet
The Lesson
- Activate prior knowledge about Egypt and pyramids using the Picture Tour of the Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt.
- Visit Picture Tour website: www.gizapyramid.com/newtour1.htm
- Read along with the students as they follow the Picture Tour; Ask questions to verify understanding;
- Encourage students to ask questions about material they are not familiar with;
- Generate a list of why pyramids are not prevalent in North American society
- Using the given base and height measurements, students will calculate the area and volume of the pyramid and solve additional problems to support their understanding of measurement relationships
- Students may access websites included for further information (please click: “Online Resources”)
Possible Extension Activities
Build a pyramid using manipulatives or nets;
Students are to asked to determine the quantity of sand required to fill 10 pyramids (dimensions to be decided upon) constructed as decorations for a School Dance, Egyptian theme.
Amount of sand/ Cost of sand/bag/alternate fillings, etc.
**Download the Complete Lesson Plan for the Worksheets for this Activity.**
Lesson Three: Vacationing in Africa
Countries of Interest: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania
Description
Maps of each of the counties involved in the Small World Big Picture, Expedition Africa have been provided. The maps show the major cities/towns, capital city, surrounding countries and associated water systems. Students can follow the route of the Expedition through each country and determine distances between cities/towns using the scale given on each map. Calculating the distance and the time required to travel between two distances based on kilometres per hour or miles per hour will support the student in comprehending measurement and rates using both the Imperial and Metric system. As well, comparing distances in African countries to similar distances in Canada provides a reference base.Teacher Preparation
- Teacher should photocopy the provided work sheets and prepare students for its use;
- Collect tool(s) to use for measuring/duplicating map scale (rulers, string, etc)
- Review how to determine how long the journey will take based on rate of km/hr or miles/hr and distance to be traveled.
Resources
- Included Work sheets for the following countries: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania
- Included Maps for Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho
The Lesson
- Introduce the activity with a map of Africa showing all of the countries included in the African Expedition. Indicate that today’s lesson will concentrate on five of the nine countries.
- Students must list one international development site within each of your five countries
- Make reference to the fact that prior to internet sites such as Map Quest, maps and atlases were used to determine distances between cities/towns.
- Have students make replicas of the scale for kilometer and mile as indicated on each map. Some may have similar scales.
- Review how to determine how long the journey will take based on rate of km/hr or miles/hr and distance to be traveled.
- Using the maps of the countries chosen for this activity, measure the distance between the cities listed on Work Sheet.
- Having students round to the nearest 100 provides uniformity in responses.
- Respond to the questions as outlined on the work sheet.
- Compare distances to Canadian cities for reference points.
Possible Extension Activities
- Use the maps of the countries not covered in the work sheets to determine distances between countries;
- Using gas prices and a pre determined km obtained per litre of gas, determine costs;
- Car rental costs per km or mi;
- Measure distances between other towns/cities;
- Estimate the distances; then measure.
**Download the Complete Lesson Plan for the Worksheets for this Activity.**
Lesson Four: Working With Numbers
Countries of Interest: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho
Description
A variety of statistics from the nine countries of the African Expedition have been collected for analysis and comparison purposes. Students will use the statistics to complete work sheets where addition, subtraction, rounding numbers, and determining percentages, is practiced. Associated questions follow the worksheet so that the student can analyze, interpret and make comparisons to the Canadian statistics for the same categories thereby expanding their learning of the African countries chosen.Teacher Preparation
- Review converting from fraction, to decimal, to percents;
- Review rounding up;
- Preview maps of the countries (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Botswana, South Africa) making reference to the total population life expectancy and land area for each; Discuss the implications of life expectancy for a country.
- Photocopy work sheets and fact sheets; prepare students for its use;
Resources
- Included Small World Big Picture African Expedition Fact Sheet #1
- Included Work Sheets
The Lesson
- Students will use the statistics to complete work sheets where addition, subtraction, rounding numbers, and determining percentages is practised.
- Associated questions follow the worksheet so that the student can analyze, interpret and make comparisons.
- Discuss the implications of life expectancy for a country;
- Make reference to the total population in comparison to the land area per country
Possible Extension Activities
- Using the website, http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blccanada.htm,
find other statistics such as the number of males/females per age group 0-15; 16-64; 65+;
**Download the Complete Lesson Plan for the Worksheets for this Activity.**
Lesson Five: Fractions, Decimals and Percents
Countries of Interest: Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Botswana, South Africa
Description
A variety of statistics from five of the nine countries of the African Expedition have been collected for analysis and comparison purposes. Students will use the statistics to complete work sheets where converting from fractions, to decimals and finally percents is practiced. Associated questions follow the worksheet so that the student can analyze, interpret and make comparisons to the Canadian statistics for the same categories thereby expanding their learning of the African countries chosen.Teacher Preparation
- Review converting from fraction, to decimal, to percents;
- Review rounding up;
- Preview maps of the countries (Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Botswana, South Africa) making reference to the total population and literacy rates. Discuss the general economic conditions of said countries.
- Photocopy work sheets and fact sheets; prepare students for its use;
Resources
- Included Small World Big Picture African Expedition Fact Sheet #2
- Included Work Sheets (4)
The Lesson
- Review converting from fraction, to decimal, to percents;
- Review rounding up;
- Encourage students to discuss the possible reasons behind the statistics
Possible Extension Activities
- Using the internet site http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blccanada.htm find similar statistics for the remaining countries involved in the African Expedition for further comparison;
- Estimate the total dollar amount for cell phone usage per month; based on a flat rate;
- Estimate the total dollar amount for internet fees per month; based on a flat rate;
**Download the Complete Lesson Plan for the Worksheets for this Activity.**
Please download the complete lesson plan for all activities, worksheets and detailed information of the lesson plan.
This is an overview of the lesson plan.
