Module 8: Comparing the US to Other Countries- Social Studies 3 - Course Guide

Module Overview:

In this module, students will learn to collect and display evidence about the specific geographical features and human characteristics of the region where they live and differentiate and draw conclusions about similarities and differences in the physical characteristics of a region of the United States with one of the other countries/regions in North America (Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean). They will learn to organize information in a way that best communicates it to others, compare and contrast the human characteristics of a region of the United States with one of the other regions in North America, and apply concepts they have learned to present a project that compares/contrasts a region of the U.S. with another country/region in North America.

Module Materials:

  • Pencils
  • Crayons or colored pencils
  • Notebook
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Highlighter
  • Markers
  • Blank paper

Module Objectives:

Lesson # Lesson Title Objective(s)
1 Learning About My Region
  1. Collect and display evidence about the specific geographical features and human characteristics of the region where you live.
2 Comparing My Region to Another Region
  1. Differentiate and draw conclusions about similarities and differences of the physical characteristics of a region of the United States with one of the other countries/regions in North America (Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean).
3 Designing a Presentation
  1. Organize information in a way that best communicates it to others.
4 Regions of North America 
  1. Compare and contrast the human characteristics of a region of the United States with one of the other regions in North America.
5 Presenting My Work
  1. Apply concepts they have learned to present a project that compares/contrasts a region of the U.S. with another country/region in North America.

Module Key Words:

Key Words
geographical features
climate
historical events
current events
physical characteristics
Canada
United States
Mexico
Caribbean
presentation skills
communication
population
culture
language
economic activity
political activity

Module Assignments:

Lesson # Lesson Title Page # Assignment Title
1 Learning About My Region 5 My Region Assignment
3 Designing a Presentation 5 Ways to Present Assignment
5 Presenting My Work 5 How Do Regions Compare? Assignment

Learning Coach Notes:

Lesson # Lesson Title Notes
1 Learning About My Region After completing this lesson, ask your student to describe the physical and human characteristics of the region they live in that makes it unique.
2 Comparing My Region to Another Region After completing this lesson, ask your student to describe the similarities and differences of their region to another region in North America.
3 Designing a Presentation After completing this lesson, ask your student to describe ways to present information.
4 Regions of North America  After completing this lesson, ask your student to compare the human characteristics of their region to that of another region in North America.
5 Presenting My Work After completing this lesson, ask your student to explain how completing a project helps to communicate their learning.

Module Guiding Questions:

When a student starts a lesson ask them questions to check for prior knowledge and understanding and to review concepts being taught. At the end of the lesson ask the questions again to see if their answer changes.

Lesson Title Question
Learning About My Region
  1. What makes my region unique?
Comparing My Region to Another Region
  1. How are the physical characteristics of my region similar to and different from those in another region in North America?
Designing a Presentation
  1. How can I best present information that I have gathered?
Regions of North America 
  1. How are the human characteristics in my region similar to and different from another region in North America?
Presenting My Work
  1. How can I communicate what I have learned to others?

Module Video Questions:

When a student watches a video take time to ask them questions about what they watched. Suggested questions for the videos in this module are listed here. Suggestion: Have the student watch the entire video first all the way through. Then have them watch the video a second time, as they watch it pause the video and ask the questions.

Lesson Title Video Question

Module Suggested Read Aloud Books:

Take time to read to your student or have them read aloud to you. Read a different book each day. While reading the book point out concepts being taught. You may purchase these books or find them at your local library. Suggested things to discuss while reading the book:

  • What is the main idea?
  • What are three things new you learned?
  • How does this book relate to what you are learning about?

# Book Author Lexile Level

Module Outing:

Take some time to apply what your student is learning to the real world. Suggested outings are below.

# Outing