Transcript "how-to" guide for World Regions Big Id​e​as

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A version was included in:
Teaching Geography, 3rd edition,
New York: Guilford Press, 2014
authored by Dr. Phil Gersmehl
The book and its accompanying CD
contain many more activities,
multimedia presentations, and resources.
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A big idea is a powerful cause
that can help us understand
many things about places.
Every big idea used in these units actually applies in every region in the world.
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Nine units are being planned,
each based on a big idea.
Watch for announcements about availability.
Regions in North America
Distance in Australia
Elevation in South America
Latitude in Africa
Size in Russia
Resources in SW Asia
Population in China
Complexity in Europe
Combinations in South Asia
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All the resources for a
region are contained
in 4 folders.
This diagram outlines
the scaffold
for the big idea.
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The scaffold
indicates some of the
skills that may need
to be reviewed or
taught and some of
the consequences of
the idea in that
region.
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Example: Elevation
In South America
Elevation is a measurable geographic fact that
has some obvious consequences –
lower temperature, higher precipitation,
difficult transportation,
metallic mineral deposits, and so forth.
Elevation has similar consequences in every part
of the world.
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The “scaffold”
is a “rocket”
of basic concepts
The launch pad
is the prior knowledge
students bring.
At the “top”
is the big idea
that permeates
the whole unit
on South America
------------------
the importance
of elevation
as a cause.
The “scaffold” is supported
by interdisciplinary links.
Map skills are
important, too.
Like fireworks
on the 4th of July,
the big idea
“explodes”
into a number
of consequences.
The final element
is a question
that can be
discussed
at any time.
Back to Teacher
Information…..
This document aligns the
scaffolding ideas to Michigan’s
GLCEs and HSCEs
Distance in Australia
Scaffold Steps
Learn position words
Measure rooms and make maps to
scale
Measure distance on a globe
Grade Level Content
Expectations/Major
K-G1.0.2: Use environmental
directions or positional
words(up/down, in/out, above/below)
to identify significant locations in the
classroom
1-G1.0.3: Use personal directions (left,
right, front, back) to describe the
relative location of significant places in
the school environment
2-G1.0.2: Use maps to describe the
spatial organization of the local
community by applying concepts
including relative location and using
distance, direction, and scale
4-G1.0.1: Identify questions
geographers ask in examining the
Missing/cross
curriculum
E.ES.01.32 Observe
and collect data of
weather
conditions over a
period of time.
Use scale to
determine
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This document contains
information for the teacher
about the activities, including
GLCEs, HSCEs and curriculum
connections.
Teacher Notes South America
Big Idea - Elevation
Spatial Thinking Skill - Association
Scaffold Outline:
3-5: The primary school activities focus on two important geographical associations – the kinds of plant
cover, animal life, and human land use that are associated with different elevations, and the kinds of mineral
and energy resources that are associated with the geologic processes that make areas of high elevation.
These activities can often be used as scaffolding for middle school activities.
Activities
Michigan Content Expectations
Where are the
Mountains?
*Parts of a
Hamburger: Making
a Fast Food Meal
*Elevation and
6-G1.2.1: Locate the major landforms, rivers and climate regions of the Western
Hemisphere (Also 7-G1.2.1: Eastern Hemisphere)
6-G1.3.2: Explain the locations and distributions of physical and human characteristics
of Earth by using knowledge of spatial patterns.
6-G1.3.3: Explain the different ways in which places are connected and how those
connections demonstrate interdependence and accessibility.
6-G1.2.6: Apply the skills of geographic inquiry to analyze a problem or issue of
You really
should
read this one.
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The Big Idea Presentation
contains the PowerPoint
for the region,
and PPT notes.
The PPT file shows
one “story” you could tell
with the clickable Atlas.
It comes in two versionsone as a presentation
and one with questions.
Open it to see . . .
In some cases there are
additional PPTs included.
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The Big Idea Presentation
is the PowerPoint
for the region, and includes
PPT notes.
This document
contains more
suggestions for
using the PPT.
South America
Big Idea: Elevation:
•Climate is affected by differences in elevation: air that goes up a mountain gets cooler and more likely to cause precipitation
•Geographic patterns are affected by differences in elevation: where people settle (population and capitals); where resources are found
(mining, cattle farming); where land use changes are occurring (tourism, deforestation).
PPT slides
Slides 1-9 –
geography background
Clickable PDF
Rivers
Mountains
Hills
Forests
Satellite image
Equator
Teacher Notes/Questions
Great overview of the geography of South America
What geographic feature helps you locate the
Equator?.


Objectives:
The student will be able to:
Locate geographic features of SA
Describe the natural vegetation of
several areas of SA
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The Activities Folder
includes a list of activities
arranged approximately
by grade level,
but which can also
be used as scaffolding.
Some are in Word
documents allowing
revisions or reformatting.
A few activities have explanatory
presentations, extra maps
or data, or accommodated
versions.
Complex activities have
multi-page teacher notes.
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The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn.
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Match maps
with short text
(Reading)
The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn.
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Analyze data
and graphs
(Math)
The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn.
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Make and
analyze map
(Writing)
The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn.
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Use simulation
software on CD
(Economics)
The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn.
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Compare
places by
using maps
The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn.
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Interpret
photograph
(writing)
The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn.
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Do whole-class
or small-group
simulations
The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn.
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The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn.
Trace origins
of products
in their lives
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About the
student activities….
The numbers show
approximate
grade level:
1 = lower
2, 3 = middle
4 = upper
©2012 P Gersmehl
Teachers may copy for use in
their classrooms. Contact
[email protected]
regarding permission for any
other use.
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The Atlas folder contains
maps and clickable pdfs
used for the ppt. and
activities
The core item for each
region is a
clickable
Atlas
and supporting files.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
To ensure “clickable”
functionality, download pdf
and save it to your computer.
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Note, for example, how many ancient empires
were Colonies
located in a narrow range of latitude:
Empires
River floods
Languages
Crops
Animals
Malaria
Fires
Ecoregions
Growing season
Rainy days
The big idea in Africa
The
mini-Atlas
is latitude
. is
a set of maps designed
Thetomaps
in the
mini-Atlas
illustrate
one
big idea
areinalleach
designed
show
world to
region.
important consequences
of latitude (distance from the Equator).
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The Atlas
is a clickable
pdf file.
Click on this
“stack of paper”
icon to see
available layers.
Click on
an empty box
to make that layer
visible on screen
(and printable).
Click on
an “eyeball” sign
to make that layer
invisible on screen
(not printable).
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Each Atlas also has
an orientation activity
(called Atlas Activity)
that you can use
as a discussion guide
or hand to students
to get them started.
It has instructions
about how to open
and use the clickable file.
It also has a set
of questions
that start easy
and gradually use
more and more layers.
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Each folder
has at least one
printable work map
for students to use
while taking notes.
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Some folders also have
tile map pdf files,
which can be printed
on ordinary 8-1/2x11 paper
and then assembled like a puzzle
to make a large work map
for a project, activity,
or bulletin board.
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That’s it:
Nine major components in four folders for each region.
Teacher Information
scaffold diagram
teacher notes
content expectation alignment
Big Idea Presentation
Student Activities
Atlas
Clickable PDF
Atlas orientation activity
Work Map
Tile map
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Copyright Michigan Geographic Alliance ©2014
Teachers may copy for use in their classrooms.
Contact [email protected] or [email protected]
regarding permission for any other use.
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