Introduction
Explore how landforms shape life across the United States in this interactive geography and coding project. In this lesson, you’ll research real U.S. landforms, write about how they formed and how people interact with them, then build a clickable map using Elementari. You'll use simple code blocks so that when a character is dragged over a landform, it opens a new page filled with your writing, visuals, and sounds.
Objectives
Students will:
- Research and summarize information about two U.S. landforms
- Explain how landforms form and how they affect people
- Write structured nonfiction paragraphs using academic vocabulary
- Design and code an interactive U.S. map using Elementari
Code Stories and Games with Elementari
Elementari helps students turn nonfiction into interactive storytelling. In this project, students design a U.S. map where a character can explore two different landforms. Each landform leads to a new page with student writing and design. Students will use On Drag Over, Go To Page, and optional animation blocks to create a fun and educational geography experience.
New to Elementari? Click on the orange Start button to jump right into the lesson for free. Check out our Getting Started Guide for an overview of how Elementari works with your class. Get started for free for up to 35 student accounts.
Teacher Notes
Before Going on Elementari:
- Have students complete the Landform Pre-Writing Organizer
- Use the Research Choice Board to select landforms
- Model the example project and interactions
- Review landform vocabulary and adaptation concepts
After Building:
- Students test character movement and page connections
- Students paste and edit their paragraphs into Elementari
- Use the Final Project Rubric and Peer Review Checklist for feedback and evaluation
- Encourage final touches: music, background, visuals, animation
Lesson Resources
Coding Concepts Covered
User Navigation Functions in Sequence DurationStudent Instructions
Pick two U.S. landforms to research using the Landform Research List.
Complete your Landform Pre-Writing Organizer for each landform.
See the Example Project.
Write your project title and add your name(s).
Set the background to a U.S. map. Add the draggable character and the first landform icon.
Code Overview: Use the On Drag Over block to make your character go to the next page when it touches the first landform.
Answer: Where is it? What type of landform is it? How was it formed? What’s the environment like?
Answer: How does this landform affect people? How do people adapt to it? Why is it important?
Code Overview: Update the Go To Page block to direct the reader back to the map.
Place your second landform icon.
Code Overview: Use the On Drag Over block to set up the code for the second landform. (You’ll update the page later.)
Code Overview: Code an animation sequence for your fun fact when you click on it.
Fade (in) → Wait → Fade (out)
Answer: Where is it? What type of landform is it? How did it form? What’s the environment like?
Answer: How does this landform affect people? How have people adapted? Why is it important?
Use the Lock Navigation Next Page block so your story can’t be clicked through — it must be explored by dragging the character. Update the navigation for your second landform.
Test your project by dragging the character across the map.
Add extra creativity:
🖼️ Backgrounds, icons, or details
🎶 Music or sound effects
🎤 Voiceovers
💫 Animations (bounce, fade, etc.)
Interactive Project Example for Students
Play through this lesson's example project created on Elementari. Use this example to guide and motivate your students.
Standards
CSTA K-12 Computer Science Standards (2017)
Algorithms & Programming
2-AP-10 - Use flowcharts and/or pseudocode to address complex problems as algorithms.
2-AP-13 - Decompose problems and subproblems into parts to facilitate the design, implementation, and review of programs.
2-AP-17 - Systematically test and refine programs using a range of test cases.
ISTE Student Standards
Creative Communicator
6b - Students create original works or responsibly repurpose or remix digital resources into new creations.
6d - Students publish or present content that customizes the message and medium for their intended audiences.
6c - Students communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively by creating or using a variety of digital objects such as visualizations, models or simulations.
Computational Thinker
5a - Students formulate problem definitions suited for technology-assisted methods such as data analysis, abstract models and algorithmic thinking in exploring and finding solutions.
Innovative Designer
4a - Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.
4d - Students exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.
4c - Students develop, test and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process.
4b - Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.
AASL Standards
Inquire
I.A.2 - Recalling prior and background knowledge as context for new meaning
I.B.3 - Generating products that illustrate learning.
I.C.4 - Sharing products with an authentic audience.