Enhanced Scope and Sequence - Virginia Department of Education ...

Grade 3
Session 1: Geography and Physical Characteristics ___________________________________
Materials
A large wall or floor map of the world
Dry-erase markers
Map handout of ancient Rome (Attachment A)
Map handout of present-day Rome (Attachment B)
Crayons or colored pencils
9" x 12" pieces of colored construction paper (1 per student)
Instructional Activities
1. As a review, have students locate the seven continents and five oceans, the United States’ lakes and mountain
ranges, Egypt, the Nile River, China, Greece, and the Mediterranean Sea on a map.
2. Use a large wall or floor map of the world, and have students locate the continent of Europe, the country of
Italy, and the city of present-day Rome. If you have a laminated or dry-erase map, students may circle these
with a dry-erase marker. Explain to the students that Rome today is actually a city in Italy located on the
continent of Europe. That city is also next to a river called the Tiber River. However, ancient Rome (long
ago) was a country (and empire) that encompassed a lot of land around the Mediterranean Sea. The ancient
Roman Empire was actually located on three continents—Europe, Africa, and Asia.
3. Give students the map of ancient Rome. Have them color in the land area of ancient Rome (Attachment A)
with a brown or green crayon (representing land) and the Mediterranean Sea with a blue crayon (representing
water). Have the students color in present-day Rome on the present-day Rome map (Attachment B) and
compare the two land areas.
4. Have students begin making a review booklet of ancient Rome by designing a cover out of construction paper
and placing the map of ancient Rome as page 1. Have students save the booklet as a study guide for their test.
2010 History and Social Science Standards of Learning Enhanced Scope and Sequence
Virginia Department of Education 35