National Parks Lesson Plan: Geography

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

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This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic National Parks, and supports an understanding of the importance of National Parks for society and wildlife. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Prompt students:

  • Think of a time you visited a park, went on a hike, or just enjoyed nature somewhere. What did you enjoy the most about your visit?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Read the description on the National Parks topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Have students read one of the Related Reading articles. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Students take the National Parks Challenge and Quiz, applying essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about National Parks while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

    • Make-a-Movie: Produce a documentary about National Parks that answers these questions: How did westward expansion impact natural resources in the U.S? How do National Parks help protect these resources?
    • Make-a-Map: Create a concept map identifying ways National Parks help protect endangered species.
    • Creative Coding: Code a digital museum exhibit featuring symbols, figures, and artifacts to represent the importance and impact of National Parks.
    • Primary Source Activity: Examine a letter from John Muir to Theodore Roosevelt and cite details to answer accompanying questions.

More to Explore 

Time Zone X: National Parks: ​​Place historical events in chronological order in this interactive timeline game.  

Related BrainPOP Topics: Deepen understanding of the importance and history of National Parks with these topics: Humans and the Environment, Natural Resources, and Westward Expansion.

Teacher Support Resources:

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Related:

    Filed as:  3-5, 6-8, BrainPOP, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.4, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4