Iowa - Here We Come!

GED 2002 Lesson Plan
Social Studies - Math - Writing

Judy Tomenga

• Goals & Objectives
  • Students will:
    • demonstrate their knowledge of geography within their own state
    • compute mileage, gas costs and estimated travel times using Casio fx-260 calculator
    • create a budget to determine cost of trips
    • write an essay on their travel plan
• Materials needed:
  • Iowa maps
  • Historical Site informational brochures
  • Rulers/string for measuring
  • Casio fx-260 calculators
  • Dictionary

 

• Introduction
  • Locate present location on Iowa map
  • Introduce Mileage Chart, City Reference Guide, Map Symbols
  • Point out "state location" and highway accessibility of sites
  • Calculate mileage/time/cost with calculator
  • Review essay format / create essay
• Activity
  • Divide class into groups of three
  • Have students locate where they are on the Iowa map
  • Have each group select at least two historic sites to visit
  • Have groups decide who will measure, who will calculate, who will record and who will present
  • Students will determine mileage/time/cost of each trip and spots to visit along the way
  • We will review the essay format and students will each write an essay of the plan their group created
  • Optional - Groups will present their trip plans to the class
• Calculating vehicle miles per gallon
  • Fill gas tank and record mileage (a) listed on odometer (or set tripmeter)
  • At next fill up record odometer mileage (b) and the number of gallons of gas (c) you put in the vehicle. Subtract mileage (a) from (b). Then divide the number of gallons (c) into the miles you have traveled. If you have tripmeter, use that mileage and divide the number of gallons (c) into it.

• Calculating Mileage
  • Using map legend, determine mileage between starting point and destination
  • Point out mileage information on roads
  • Remember - double this for the return trip.
• Calculating Time
  • Divide the average miles per hour (speed limit for the roads to be traveled) into the miles to be traveled
  • Add any time for stops
  • Remember - double this for the return trip.
• Calculating Cost
  • Divide vehicle's miles per gallon (#1) into miles to destination poin (#2)
  • Round number up to highest gallon
  • Multiply that number of gallons times the cost of gas at present time. Also multiply it by anticipated gas cost at time of trip.
  • Remember - double this for the return trip
• Creating a Trip Budget
  • Add:
    • gas cost
    • snacks (if stopping)
    • camp ground or motel costs
    • meal costs
• Create Written Trip Plan
  • List highways to be traveled
  • Spots to be visited along the way and towns for extra stops
    • food
    • restrooms
    • lodging
• Debriefing/Evaluation Activity
  • Discuss whay they learned new about reading a map
    • calculating mileage/time/cost
  • Any surprises from whay they learned?
  • Provide evaluation to determine:
    • three things they learned
    • what they liked best about the activity
    • suggestions for improvement
• Real-Life Connection
  • State Historical Society brochures
  • Invite a member from local museum or historical society to speak to class on volunteerism as well as operations.