Adventures of Oliver K. Woodman

Lesson Author

Kirsten Ostergaard

Grades: 3-4

Lesson Summary

After reading the captivating story of Oliver K. Woodman, students will have the opportunity to explore one of the stops on his journey more thoroughly. Using Google Earth, students will gain insight into the physical and human characteristics of their assigned location. They will then create a booklet that details the location�s human and physical characteristics.  In addition, they will include a fictional story about their imaginative adventures in this location based on the features they found. Join in the adventures of Oliver K. Woodman!

Literature Connection

The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman by Darcy Pattison

Tameka longs to see her Uncle Ray who lives on the other side of the United States and writes him a letter inviting him to visit her in California. Her disheartened Uncle cannot make the trip as he will be working, but he sends someone special in his place. Because he is a cabinet maker, Uncle Ray builds a wooden man, Oliver K. Woodman, to hitchhike across the United States. Uncle Ray puts a letter in Oliver's backpack asking travelers who encounter him to help give him a ride towards California and to send a postcard to Uncle Ray along the way.  Their postcards make the story come alive as Oliver travels with a Brahman Bull, in a fourth of July parade, and through the redwood forest. This multicultural book is wildly original and sure to please both teachers and students alike.

National Geography Standard(s)

  • Interpret aerial photographs or satellite-produced images to locate and identify human and physical features

  • Use labels and symbols to locate and identify physical and human features

Concepts and Skills

place, human features, physical features

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

  1. Locate and identify human and physical features.

  2. Describe how these human and physical features can dictate what one does in that location.

  3. Write informative texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

Google Skills Needed

  • View and exit street level imagery

  • Navigate in street view

  • View 3D buildings and trees

Step-by-Step Teaching Procedures (download PDF)