Grade 4 Social Studies

Instructor: Megan McHale November 27 - 30

Stage 1: Desired Results

General 4.1: Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how
Learning elements physical geography, climate, geology, and paleontology are integral
Outcome(s) to the landscapes and environment of Canada

Specific 4.1.2.2: What are the major geographical and natural regions, landforms and
Learning bodies of water in Alberta? (e.g., prairie region, forests, rivers, hoodoos,
Outcome(s) Rocky Mountains, oilsands)
4.1.3.2: What geological features make Alberta unique? (e.g., hoodoos, Rocky
Mountains, foothills, oilsands)

Learning Students will:

Objective(s) 1. Discuss what a Hoodoo is and their importance in the Grassland
Region
2. Design and recreate the shape and layers that Hoodoos have using
the provided materials

Stage 2: Assessment Evidence

Summative N/A Formative - Group discussions
Assessment Assessment - Observations
- Creation of chalk Hoodoo

Stage 3: Learning Experience

Tech to Slideshow and Resources - chalk
Do videos to Bring - sandpaper
- grasslands box

Time Content/Description Notes

Total Lesson Time: ·

47 Minutes

12:18 pm ‘What is a Hoodoo?’ Video (2 minutes 47 seconds)

4 minutes ● Explain that we will be focusing on the Hoodoos https://www.youtube.com/
that are located in the Grassland Region watch?v=z_tHOpuv-kk
● Before video, ask:
○ If anyone has ever visited the Hoodoos
and what they saw

1
Grade 4 Social Studies
Instructor: Megan McHale November 27 - 30

○ If anyone remembers how the Hoodoos

are formed
● Show video
·

12:22 pm Hoodoo Intro Slideshow

12 minutes ● Talk about where the hoodoos are located, what
they are made of, how they are formed, etc.
● Ask guiding questions:
○ ·

12:34 pm Making Hoodoos Activity Encourage students to use

28 minutes ● Demo to students how to simulate making a colours to show the
Hoodoo using the chalk and sandpaper different layers of the
○ Explain the similarity between soft rocks Hoodoo
such as in the chalk (limestone) and in the
hoodoos (sandstone)
○ Explain the different colours/layers of a
Hoodoo
● Provide students with materials needed and have
them make their own Hoodoo to add to the
Grasslands box
·

1:02 pm Clean Up
3 minutes ● Students will clean up and put away all materials
(chalk, sandpaper, craft supplies, etc.)
·

Reflections and What went well:

Follow Up - Students were engaged, willing to answer, and for the most part,
seemed to be understanding the content
- Feedback from my TA told me that I am doing well with keeping the
language that I use at an appropriate level for grade 4, and that I
am breaking down concepts in a way that the students will
understand
- I think that it was good to include a hands on activity that would
help solidify the information that we were focusing on
- Students even realized that we were missing the hard rock
‘cap’ that goes on top of the Hoodoos and suggested that
we go outside and find small rocks/pebbles that we can
glue on top of our chalk Hoodoos

2
Grade 4 Social Studies
Instructor: Megan McHale November 27 - 30

Things to consider:
- I think that in the moment, when students are raising their hands
and giving answers, I want to give everyone a chance to speak and
would also like to thoughtfully consider each person’s contribution
to the conversation. Though this is definitely an important thing to
consider at some points, after talking with my TA, I realize that I
need to be more aware of this time.
- Time management is something that I have been working on
improving since I first started with my lessons. I am realizing that it
is not possible to hear from every single student that raises their
hand; that I need to be more selective when allowing students to
speak. In order to stay on track with my lesson plan, I need to be
able to redirect irrelevant conversations and take control of the
lesson time.
- I have also been hesitant about telling students that they are
wrong when they give an answer. After receiving some feedback, I
understand that it is important to let students know when they are
on the wrong track so they do not retain incorrect information in a
subject area. It is my goal to be more aware of this when teaching
and direct students in the right direction when they are mistaken
by either going over the concept again or checking in with that
student afterwards

3
Grade 4 Social Studies
Instructor: Megan McHale November 27 - 30

Stage 1: Desired Results

General 4.1: Students will demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of how
Learning elements physical geography, climate, geology, and paleontology are integral
Outcome(s) to the landscapes and environment of Canada

Specific 4.1.2.2: What are the major geographical and natural regions, landforms and
Learning bodies of water in Alberta? (e.g., prairie region, forests, rivers, hoodoos,
Outcome(s) Rocky Mountains, oilsands)
4.1.3.2: What geological features make Alberta unique? (e.g., hoodoos, Rocky
Mountains, foothills, oilsands)

Learning Students will:

Objective(s) 1. Recall learned concepts from the previous lesson
2. Design and recreate the shape and layers that Hoodoos have using
the provided materials

Stage 2: Assessment Evidence

Summative N/A Formative Observation of student progress
Assessment Assessment

Stage 3: Learning Experience

Tech to N/A Resources Rocks/pebbles?
Grasslands word search
Do to Bring

Time Content/Description Notes

Total Lesson Time: Before lesson, inform students that if they would like to
47 minutes use rocks/pebbles as the cap to their Hoodoos, to
collect some (very small), during their lunch recess

1:05 pm Google Earth Virtual Tour https://www.google.com/e

5 minutes ● As a class, explore the Hoodoos in the Drumheller arth/
regions and review some of the information that
we learned during previous lesson (what they are
made of, how they are formed, etc.)

4
Grade 4 Social Studies
Instructor: Megan McHale November 27 - 30

1:10 pm Give Instructions

5 minutes ● Inform students that this will be the last day for
them to work on sanding/decorating their
Hoodoos
● Have one table group at a time come and get their
Hoodoos from the box at the front·

1:15 pm Making Hoodoos Activity

33 minutes ● Provide students with this time to work on
finishing sanding and colouring their chalk
Hoodoos.
● When finished, they can hand them in to me,
where I will arrange them in the ‘Grasslands’ box
with hot glue
○ If enough rock ‘caps’ are collected, I will
also attach these to the completed
Hoodoos
● If students are finished this activity early, they can
finish their Grasslands title page, climate fact
sheet, natural resources cut and paste, or the
Grasslands word search
·

1:48 pm Clean Up
4 minutes ● Have students clean up any materials that they
were using (chalk, rocks, sandpaper, craft supplies,
etc.) before they leave for recess
·

Reflections and Today’s Social Studies lesson went very well. Every student was able to
Follow Up finish their chalk Hoodoos and we were even able to go outside and get
some small rocks to glue on top.
Students were very productive and after giving them a chance to talk to
their table groups, it seemed that they all understood what a Hoodoo was,
what it is made of, and how it is formed
Many students finished early and were able to work on some of the other
activities that they have not yet completed (wordsearch, title page, foothills
brochure, etc.)
I don’t know if there is much that I would have changed after completing
this lesson! :)