| Subject:
Geography/History |
| Grade:
4-12 |
| Presented by:
Karen Litz, Boise, Idaho |
| Geography Themes:
Place, movement, and regions |
| Geography Standards:
4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 |
Skills:
Critical thinking, observing, speculating, computing, organizing, synthesizing,
writing, presenting, mapping. |
Objectives:
1. Gather information about the physical and human characteristics of the
geographic area in which they travel. 2. Compare the physical and human
geographic information about their home region to the region(s) through which they
travel. 3. Synthesize and construct information into a
presentation. 4. Evaluate how the physical and human
characteristics of a geographical area influence the lives of the people who live there. 5.
Utilize computer technology to research and present information that arises from their
observations. |
Method:
While taking a trip with their family, students will write a daily travel journal
about their activities. During the trip, students will utilize the five skills in
geography: (a) asking geographic questions, (b)
acquiring geographic information, (c) organizing geographic information, (d)
analyzing geographic information, and (e) answering geographic questions.
The trip can be as short as a day or much longer. |
Materials:
Journal or notebook, pen or pencil, anything else collected during the journey.
Art sketchbook optional. |
Procedures:
The following are recommended activities. The student should perform as
many as are feasible. The teacher may require specific activities from the list.
- Be the navigator of the family trip and use a
map to determine direction and routes to be traveled.
- Ask (formulate) questions that can be answered
by observation and inquiry.
- Write in a journal daily about activities and
travels.
- Gather such items as postcards, photographs,
menus from restaurants, maps, advertisements, local newspapers, and magazines.
- Observe and describe the climate (weather),
the landscape. (Was there a river nearby, a lake, mountains, forest, plains, canyons, or
hills? Was it near the ocean?). Make notes of local weather reports and plant
and animal-life. Conduct research, including using the Internet, to find out more
about the area visited. Produce a video journal of the trip along with the written
one.
- Observe and describe special attractions,
events.
- If visiting family, tell how he/she is related
to the family members and a little about the family background, such as how long they
lived in that area and from where they moved. Have someone relate a family
story. For example, a grandmother might tell about the area when she first arrived
and how it has changed over time. Have a parent tell what it was like growing up and
living in that area. Have family members write an entry in the journal.
- Draw illustrations of the landscape, weather,
buildings, and people.
- Gather samples of anything that makes the area
special or different from where they live. For example, gather seashells (if permitted),
sand, soil, rocks, leaves from trees that grow there, but not in the area where they are
from. Or press wild flowers and other plants.
- Organize the information and compare and
contrast it with information about their home region. Use a computer database
program to organize this information.
- Generate a presentation. Student can choose a
written report with illustrations, an oral presentation utilizing presentation software,
host an art exhibit of illustrations, or write a memoir or novella from his/her journal
notes.
|
| Evaluation: Assess
the activities, with emphasis on the presentation (# 11 above). |
Extension:
Have the student do one or more of the following.
- Plan the trip with parents, including reading
a map and plotting the route, figuring out what clothing might be appropriate, and
calculating mileage.
- Conduct research, including using the
Internet, to find out more about the area visited.
- Produce a video journal of the trip along with
the written one.
|
Notes:
Students will :
- Gain an awareness and appreciation of
differing landscapes and human characteristics.
- Apply their technological skills to research,
organize, and present information.
- Understand and apply organizational and
critical thinking skills to research and information gathering.
- Gain an understanding of the importance of and
demonstrate the ability to document "exploration."
|
