Classroom Action Plan--Mary Crampton--Minnesota
Using The Greatest Places in the Geography classroom

Classroom Plan includes:
integration into units taught--Mapping, land form development, climate

Lesson/Unit Title: Mapping the Greatest Places

Teacher: Mary Crampton
Central Middle School
8025 School Rd.
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
(612) 975-7300
fax: (612) 975-7320
e-mail: [email protected]

Overview:
Mapping unit:
lesson on map projections will use Greenland to show distortion, and comparative scale
lesson on latitude and longitude includes a search game. I plan to change the locations to Greatest Places locations.
Landform unit includes plate tectonics--location focus will be Tibet.
Landform unit includes erosion and deposition--glacial, water, wind. Use Greenland, Namib, Iguascu falls to show effects of erosion; Namib and Okavanga Delta for evidence of deposition.
climate unit includes deserts, rain forests, icecaps, etc. Locations case studies from Greatest Places.

Grade Level or Ages: 7th and 8th grade students
Greatest Places Theme(s):
Spatial aspects
Landforms
Weather, Climate, Systems and Interaction
Diversity
Unity of features

Geography Standards Alignment:
Maps and other geographic tools for information in a spatial perspective
Mental maps and spatial context
Spatial organization of the earth
Physical and human characteristics of places
Regions interpret Earth's complexity
Physical processes shape patterns of the earth's surface
Physical systems affect human systems

Integration Strategies: See overview.

Outcomes:
Students use similar square method of mapping to map Greenland according to a variety of map projections.
Students will use latitude and longitude to find places on the earth's surface.
Students will understand how internal (tectonic) and external (erosion and deposition) forces shape the landscape of the earth. The will be able to identify Great places which typify these physical processes.
Students will be able to explain the factors which determine climate.
Construct and analyze climate graphs for selected places (great places) and suggest reasons for similarities and differences.
Compare regions of the world with similar physical features.

Time Needed: Time will vary.

Objectives: See outcomes above.

Materials: Atlases, Texts, Teacher produced materials

Key Words:

Activity(ies):

Assessment Strategies: