Scott Foresman Reading Street

THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND

Discuss the Big Idea

How do the diverse regions and peoples of the United States reflect its greatness?

Write the unit theme and Big Idea question on the board. Ask students to think about the selections they have read in the unit. Discuss how each selection and lesson concept can help them answer the Big Idea question from this unit.

Model this for students by choosing a selection and explaining how the selection and lesson concept address the Big Idea.

Unit 1

Wrap-Up

	Critically analyze unit theme.
	Connect content across selections.
	Combine content and skills in meaningful activities that build literacy.
	Respond to unit selections through a variety of modalities.

And the Nominee Is …

Write an Essay Tell students to begin by making a list of people who they might nominate for this award. Then have each student focus on one person. You may want to give students time to research well-known figures or interview people they know. Remind them to organize ideas carefully before they begin to write.

Tour Guide

Describe a Region Students should first review the selections in this unit and choose one of the settings. Then they can jot down ideas about what a tour guide might say about this place and the people who live there. Encourage them to use appealing sensory details in their presentations, emphasizing what is special about the region and its residents.

Travel Brochure

Create a Travel Brochure Have each student choose a setting and think of categories of information to include about it, such as "fast facts," weather, attractions to see, fun things to do, and so on. Students can draw pictures and maps or print online images to illustrate their brochures. Create a bulletin board of completed brochures.

Suppose that you were asked to nominate someone
to receive an award for best representing the greatness
of the United States. (It could be a public figure or someone you know.) Whom would you nominate?
Write an essay that explains why this person deserves
to receive the award.

You are a tour guide in the setting of one of the selections in this unit. What would you tell others
about what makes the people or the region
special? Make some notes about what you
would say. Then in a small group, take
turns role-playing a tour guide for the
place you chose.

Create a travel brochure for the setting of a selection
in this unit or for the region in which you live. (You may need to do a little research.) Organize the information
in your brochure to let visitors know about the culture and important sights of the area, especially what
makes the area unique. Include some illustrations
and a map in your brochure.

Come Visit Beautiful New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware!

Research is accurate and very detailed. Sources are reliable and relevant to inquiry question.
Poster is informative, well organized, and visually appealing.

Research is generally accurate and detailed. Most sources are reliable and relevant.
Poster is informative, but has minor inconsistencies in organization or visually distracting elements.

Research includes inaccuracies, irrelevant information, or little detail. Some sources are unreliable.
Poster is somewhat informative and visually appealing, but parts are unclear.

Research is not accurate, detailed, or relevant. Most sources are unreliable.
Poster shows little or no information or organization. It is not visually appealing.