Context: This artifact was completed during student teaching in the spring of 2006.  The unit was completed under the direction and supervision of my cooperating teacher, Ms. Edith Ferguson, of Banner Elk School.  The unit is based on the fourth grade curriculum and designed specifically for the four/five combination classroom I was working in. 

Impact: I will be able to use this unit as a guide for future units that are "centers based."  I can also use this unit if I were to teach fourth grade in the future. 
NCSOCS alignment: Social Studies; Grade 4: 1.01, 1.02, 1.03, 1.04, 2.01, 2.04, 4.02, 5.02. English Language Arts; Grade 4: 1.04, 2.01, 2.03, 2.06, 2.07, 3.06. Visual Arts; Grade 4: 2.03, 5.01, 5.08.

NCDPI Alignment:
Standard 3-1: This artifact demonstrates my ability to convey a message of conservation of wildlife as well as the environment.  The zoo center specifically focuses on animals both in the zoo and in their natural habitat as well as ways we can protect the animals from extinction.
Standard 3-3: This artifact allows for the exploration the earth and it's living systems through the zoo center's focus on animal conservation through eliminating pollution. 
Standard 11-1: This artifact demonstrates my ability to incorporate communication into the social studies curriculum.  By having the students arranged into small groups, I have established a comfortable environment for each student to voice his or her knowledge about the social studies lesson they are learning at that time.
Standard 11-5: Within this artifact I included a lesson specifically designed for use on the computer.  By using technology within the classroom to collect data, the students are becoming aware of the usefulness of technology.
Standard 12: This artifact demonstrates my ability to incorporate the arts into the curriculum.  Through the pottery lesson and the slavery lesson, the students are creating works of art through multiple mediums.