Context: This is an integrated unit regarding parts of South America which includes math, language arts, social studies, and computer/technology skills. I created this unit in my senior year at Appalachian State University under the advisement of Mrs. Roberta Meyers-Edmisten of Appalachian State University and Mr. Ben Miller, a fifth grade teacher at Valle Crucis Elementary, Valle Crucis, North Carolina. This instructional unit begins with me writing a model report about a country and sharing it with the class. Then I assign the students a country from the region which they will research (using a computer) and write a report. They will then report their findings to the class. Once everyone has heard about all of the countries, I will ask them to write a clarification essay about which country they would prefer to visit.

Impact: In this unit, the students get to learn a great deal about many different things. The first thing they will see is an example of what a good report should look like. They will then use computer skills to do research, which incorporates technology. By having all of the students do different countries and presenting their findings, they will learn about all of the countries without to do several reports.

Alignment: This unit meets Standard 1 Indicator 5 by showing that I understand how students learn and grow in their knowledge of language. This also meets Standard 1 Indicator 8 by showing that I understand the importance of grammar in the context of a research paper and a clarification essay. This also meets Standard 2 Indicator 1 because I have written and taught lessons dealing with fractions, ratios, and addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. I have met Standard 2 Indicator 2 by writing and teaching a lesson devoted to measurement of two-dimensional figures. This unit meets Standard 4 Indicator 1 by incorporating the culture of Caribbean peoples into the lessons. I have also met Standard 4 Indicator 2 by writing lessons that deal with social studies themes but cross the lines of many disciplines. I have met Standard 4 Indicator 6 incorporating map skills such as scale into my math lessons. This unit meets Standard 7 Indicator 1 because my entire lesson is based on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study nearly in its entirety. This unit meets Standard 7 Indicator 2 because each of my lessons incorporates at least two disciplines at any one time. This unit meets Standard 7 Indicator 3 by incorporating students’ ideas about a subject prior to my teaching. Once I have taught, I compare their prior knowledge to the information they know possess. This unit meets Standard 7 Indicator 4 because I have tailored each of these lessons to incorporate multiple avenues for conveying information. That is to say, I write things on the board, include handouts, repeat myself, and anything else that may aid a child with a learning disability. Correspondingly, I have varied assessments to be fair to all learners in my classroom. This unit meets Standard 7 Indicator 7 by taking advantage of several classroom strategies for assessment in addition to a formal written test.