This document provides a series of "Power Pix" slides to teach 3rd grade social studies concepts related to geography and history based on the Common Core standards of Spain. Each Power Pix slide presents a concept word, definition, gesture, and picture to reinforce learning. The slides cover topics like maps, globes, continents, oceans, rivers, and history in a multi-sensory way using Whole Brain Teaching methods to maximize instruction.

1. WholeBrainTeaching.com

2. Third Grade Social Studies Power Pix
This document highlights topics specific to 3rd grade Social
Studies by the Common Core State Standards of Spain. Based on
an idea conceived by Chris Biffle, founder of Whole Brain
Teaching.
Using Power Pix and Whole Brain Teaching methods, learning
becomes multi-modal, thereby solidifying the concepts in
students’ brains. When used as a teaching tool, the Power Pix
help the teacher with gestures and definitions to attach to each
concept. Imagine filling every spare moment of classroom time
by having students review with each other content specific
topics. Now that’s maximizing instruction!
The following slide shows how to use each pix.

3. Common Core Standard
Social Science: Geography (SG)
Social Science: History (SH)
The world
SG
Question and Answer for the topic
Grade Level
Picture
representing the
key word of the
standard
Gesture
Concept Word –
colors represent
syllables to help
students with
pronunciation
The purple background on these slides identifies them as part of the
Social Science concepts.

4. Sample Power Pix Lesson
Each WBT lesson follows a format.
1. Question – tell students the question and they repeat
2. Answer – give the answer with a gesture.
3. Expand – use examples to scaffold instruction about concept
4. Evaluate – quick assessment to guide instruction
5. Critical Thinking – students begin to internalize the concept
Question: What is a globe?
Answer: A globe represents the Earth as it is, in a sphere.
Gesture: Make a circle with your arms and hold them above your head.
Teaching Suggestions:
Write a list of words on the board. Have students classify which can be
seen in a globe.
Built a paragraph using the Genius Ladder.

5. Words Included in Power Pix
Map, globe, title, map legend compass
rose, equator, physical map, political
map, street map, continents, ocean,
sea, mountain, river, prehistory and
history.

6. Question: What is a map?
Answer: A map shows the Earth as flat and you can locate places like
cities, countries, oceans, rivers, and mountains.
Map
Third
grade
The world
S.G.
Gesture: As you say “cities, countries, oceans, rivers, and mountains” point
at different places in the air as if you were looking at a map.

7. Question: What is a globe?
Answer: A globe represents the Earth as it really is, in a sphere.
Globe
Third
grade
The world
S.G.
Gesture: Make a circle with your arms and hold them above your head.

8. Question: What is a map title?
Answer: The title is the name or kind of map.
Title
Third
grade
The world
S.G.
Gesture: Hold out the palm of one hand and write on it with the other.

9. Question: What is a map legend?
Answer: A map legend is a list of symbols used on a map and an
explanation of what each stands for.
Map Legend
Third
grade
The world
S.G.
Gesture: Lay a hand out in front of you palm side up. Point to the four
corners of the palm saying “rivers, roads, houses, schools”.

10. Question: What is a compass rose?
Answer: A compass rose shows the cardinal points: north, south, east
and west.
Compass Rose
Third
grade
The world
S.G.
Gesture: Make a circle with left hand (compass) and use right pointer
finger to wiggle on the circle (needle on a compass).

11. Question: What is the equator?
Answer: The equator is the imaginary horizontally line that goes around
the middle
of the Earth.
Equator
Third
grade
The world
S.G.
Gesture: Draw a line in front of the body from left to right. Then make hold
hands out and shrug shoulders as if to say "I don't know."

12. Question: What is a physical map?
Answer: A physical map shows the location of important natural
features, such as mountains, rivers and oceans.
Physical Map
Third
grade
The world
S.G.
Gesture: Make a square in the air and as you represent an oceans, rivers, and
mountains point at different places in the air as if you were looking at a map.

13. Question: What is a political map?
Answer: A political map shows land divided into different areas and
countries.
Political Map
Third
grade
The world
S.G.
Gesture: Make a square in the air, hand out your palms for land, close it into fist and
spread apart to say areas and countries.

14. Question: What is a street map?
Answer: A street map is a map of a smaller area.
Street map
Third
grade
The world
S.G.
Gesture: Make a square in the air, and cover your fist against your palm.

15. Question: What is a continent?
Answer: A continent is a very large body of land on the Earth.
Continent
Third
grade
The
continents
S.G.
Gesture: Open arms as wide as you can (you can also say “North
America” or the continent on which you live)

16. Question: What is an ocean?
Answer: An ocean is a very large moving expanse of sea.
Ocean
Third
grade
Gesture: Hold one palm over the other facing down and in front of you. Then,
move together from right to left making a bow roll like the motion of a wave.
The
continents
S.G.

17. Question: What is a sea?
Answer: The sea is smaller than the oceans and is usually located
where the land and ocean meet
Sea
Third
grade
Gesture: Hold one palm over the other facing down and in front of you. Then,
move together from right to left making a bow roll but shorter then the ocean.
The
continents
S.G.

18. Question: What is a mountain?
Answer: A mountain is a large, rocky area of land.
Mountain
Third
grade
Gesture: Hands up above your head and open them down side to side as drawing a
mountain.
The
continents
S.G.

19. Question: What is a river?
Answer: A river is a large natural stream of water flowing from the
mountain in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another stream.
River
Third
grade
Gesture: Wiggle your right arms from right to left as if was a stream .
The
continents
S.G.

20. Question: What is prehistory?
Answer: Prehistory is the period when the first humans existed to
when written history began.
Prehistory
Third
grade
Gesture: Clap your hands holding them, then make a 1 with finger and
point to yourself. Finally pretend writing on your palm.
History
S.H.

21. Question: What is history?
Answer: History is the period when writing began.
History
Third
grade
Gesture: Clap your hands holding them and then pretend writing on your
palm.
History
S.H.