After reviewing natural (physical) and human characteristics from Lesson 1, students use maps to identify and describe significant natural (physical) characteristics of Michigan including mountain ranges, sand dune areas, the Great Lakes, inland lakes and important rivers. In a connection to science students briefly explore how glaciers helped to create some of these natural (physical) characteristics. The lesson uses multiple resources including informational text, legends and photographs.

Important bodies of water include the Great Lakes, inland lakes, rivers and waterfalls. In a connection to science students briefly explore how glaciers helped to create some of these natural (physical) characteristics. The lesson uses multiple resources including informational text, legends and photographs.

The Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. In this lesson students continue their study of the geographic theme of ‘place’ by exploring significant human characteristics of Michigan including bridges, cities, highways and lighthouses. In addition, students explore how people interact with natural (physical) characteristics by creating human characteristics (e.g. bridges are built over rivers, towns are built along bays.)

The Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3 and GIANTS all in one place. This lesson expands upon the concept of region by having students invent ways to divide Michigan into regions. Students compare the Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula of Michigan and then explore other ways in which Michigan can be divided into regions based on common characteristics (e.g., the Thumb, the Fruit Belt). Finally students examine regions to which Michigan belongs. (e.g., Great Lakes Region, Midwest).

The Roadmap is a remix of Michigan Open Book, MC3, and GIANTS all in one place. In this lesson students apply what they have learned about the study of history to American Indian cultures in Michigan. They explore early American Indian groups in Michigan. Students then identify similarities and differences among the groups known as the “Three Fires.” Geography concepts are applied when students examine how American Indians used, adapted to, and modified the environment. The lesson concludes as students connect the past to the present by investigating American Indians in Michigan today.

The Roadmap is a remix of Michigan Open Book, MC3 and Giants all in one place. In this lesson students learn about early pioneer life in Michigan, including why settlement in Michigan was slow at first. Through primary sources and literature, students explore the challenges pioneers faced. They also analyze artifacts of an early settler cabin from an archaeological dig. Finally, students use what they have learned to construct a historical narrative about daily life in the early settlements of Michigan.

This is a Roadmap that is a remix of Michigan Open Book, MC3, and GIANTS all in one place. In this lesson, students first explore factors that led to increased population growth in Michigan. Students create a timeline and use maps and other resources as they learn how Michigan attained statehood. A focus is placed on the causal relationships between various events. In addition, the influence of individuals in creating history is addressed through examples such as Lewis Cass, Stevens T. Mason, and the many early settlers who came to Michigan.

This Roadmap is a full year plan that covers the geography, economics, government and history of Michigan.

In third grade students learn about Michigan history. The Michigan eLibrary has compiled a number of websites suitable for children to learn more about our state. There is information on Michigan Native Americans, folklore, wildlife, birds, bugs, and much more.

This Roadmap is a remix of the Michigan Open Book, MC3, and GIANTS all in one place. In this unit students use primary and secondary sources of information to explore the early history of Michigan. They begin by examining the work of historians and the types of questions they ask. Then, they apply historical thinking skills to a study of American Indians in Michigan, exploration and early settlement. The unit provides a strong link to geography as students analyze ways in which both American Indians and settlers used, adapted to, and modified the environment. Through stories and informational text, students examine Michigan’s past. Civics is naturally integrated as students explore how Michigan became a state. Throughout the unit, emphasis is placed on major historical concepts such as chronology, cause and effect, and point of view.

Students are introduced to air photos. They first view a neighborhood from a bird’s-eye view, a photo taken from a kite. They next compare two air photos of Shelby
Township, MI. The air photos show the land use change during the period from 1980 to 2010. The students compare, contrast, and use evidence from the air photos
to explore the changes.

Michigan. The Mitten State. Surrounded by the Great Lakes, filled with many natural wonders and a rich history. Learn about Michigan in our third grade offering from the Michigan Open Book Project.

What do you think makes Michigan special? You might be thinking that Michigan is special because it is your home. Maybe it is special because the people you care about live in Michigan. These are wonderful reasons. This resource will help you learn about many other ways that Michigan is special.

UMCDC 3rd Grade MiOpenBook SS Chapter 1 Section 6 "What are the Important Human Characteristics in Michigan?" (20-21)