TEACHER INTRODUCTION

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Chapter 2

Exploring Idaho's Land

Teacher's Page

The purpose of Chapter 2 is to help students understand the following ideas related to Idaho's geography:

1. Idaho has a widely varied landscape.
2. Each type of land surface has particular uses.
3. Geography determines how people live.
4. People in different parts of Idaho live in different ways because of the different geography where they live.
5. Geography has decided many things about our history.

Following the numbered suggestions below, you will find a link to five Student Activity Modules. Each module contains a section for teachers and a section for students. A link is provided to take the teacher directly to the student material for each module. Students may also access the student material through the Kids' Compass side of the web site. The modules for Chapter 2 are the following.

Module 1	Make a 3-D Idaho Map
Module 2	Crazy Bad Awful Mixed-Up Map of Idaho
Module 3	Idaho's 44 Counties
Module 4	The Fossils of Hagerman Valley
Module 5	Idaho's Gem Stones

Suggestions

1. Students should learn the major features of the Idaho landscape, including the location of mountain regions, desert regions, rolling prairie plateaus, major rivers and canyons, and major cities.

2. Students should learn the chief resources, occupations, products, and other activities in each part of the state.

3. "Do You Know?" questions can be used for checking comprehension and reviewing.

4. The Inquiry Activities should be used to stimulate discussion and to lead the students to explore information outside the textbook.

5. Photograph and illustration captions should be discussed and answered in class.

6. Begin each reading assignment (silent or oral) with a Directed Reading Activity. Use every opportunity to build literacy.

7. The vocabulary words listed under Chapter Review should be reviewed orally---perhaps more than once. I strongly discourage the practice of requiring students to look up and write out definitions, then using the definitions as test material. Vocabulary should be learned in context.

8. When testing, it is reasonable to test the students over some of the more important definitions. However, a good test will examine ideas and relationships---the same things that
good teaching stresses. Short-answer essay tests are the best way to do this, and even fourth grade is not too early to begin teaching students how to formulate written answers to questions.

Appropriate testing is an important step in building literacy. You might find it satisfactory to use a mixture of objective and short essay questions.

9. Please note that some modules are more challenging than others. On the Teacher's Module Page, I have suggested some that are especially appropriate for "Gifted and Talented" students.

These materials are suggestions only, and you should feel free to choose among them for ideas that fit your own students and teaching style. The materials contained here are organized to support The Story of Idaho, Millennial Edition; however, they will enhance the teaching of Idaho history, regardless of the textbook being used.

Click here to go to the Teacher's Module Page.

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