A Roller Coaster Day 7-Hour Complete Sub Plan Thematic Unit for Common Core

A Roller Coaster Day 7-Hour Complete Sub Plan Thematic Unit for Common Core

This packet is for grades 3-4. Find the Grades 5-6 Version with more complex tasks here.

This packet includes everything you need for a complete interdisciplinary interactive unit on roller coasters. I created this unit to leave with a sub for 3rd-4th graders to complete in a day. The students work through the packet, completing activities for reading, science, social studies, and math. Then, they will turn everything they've done into a lapbook.

These plans work well to leave with a sub, but they are also great for you to do with your students yourself! Use these on one of those "odd" days before holidays when you need to keep the students on task, for the last days of school when nothing can "really" count for a grade, or as a reward for your students.

Please see the preview file for the Teacher Instructions for a detailed synopsis of what your students will be doing. Here's a quick breakdown:

2 Page Article, "Screamin' Roller Coasters" - Reading Nonfiction
Task One: Screamin' Stats - Reading Nonfiction, finding text evidence
Task Two: Roller Coaster Awards - Reading Nonfiction, finding text evidence, drawing conclusions
Task Three: Roller Coaster Timeline - Social Studies, creating a Timeline
Task Four: Map That Coaster! - Social Studies, labeling places on a map, making a map key, using a map scale to answer questions
Task Five: Kinetic & Potential Energy - Science, distinguish between types of energy, determine which type of energy is higher
Task Six: Make a Bar Graph - Math, make a table, make a bar graph from data, interpret a bar graph

The packet includes a step-by-step guide with pictures on how to construct a lapbook, a diagram of the lapbook that you will be piecing together, and detailed instructions on turning the packet into a lapbook.

The teacher packet includes a KEY for all activities, detailed instructions for your or your sub, and a schedule with number of minutes to allot for each activity.

All you have to do is print the student packet and make copies, print the teacher packet, write your own times into the schedule, and gather the materials. You'll need 1 1/2 manila folders for each student, clear packing tape, 1 sheet of card stock per student, scissors, glue, and crayons, markers, or pencil colors. That's it! All of the research is in the packet so your students will not be needing to access technology of any kind.

Optional activities include youtube links and a download link to a PowerPoint presentation that includes photos of all of the roller coasters to use as you are reading.

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More Sub Plans Available:

3rd-4th Levels:
A Dog Day 7-Hour Complete Sub Plans Thematic Unit for Grades 3-4 Common Core
A Zoo Day 7-Hour Complete Sub Plan Thematic Unit for Grades 3-4 Common Core

5th-6th Levels
A Dog Day 7-Hour Complete Sub Plans Thematic Unit for Grades 5-6 Common Core
A Roller Coaster Day 7-Hour Complete Sub Plan Thematic Unit for GRADES 5-6 CCSS
A Zoo Day 7-Hour Complete Sub Plans Thematic Unit for Grades 5-6 Common Core