MGA Teaching World Regions Through Big Ideas

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. 2

Each unit, about a world region, is based on a BIG IDEA 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. 3

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 4

All the resources for a region are contained in 4 folders. This diagram outlines the scaffold for the big idea. This diagram outlines the scaffold for the big idea. 5

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. 6

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.

·     Scaffolding the concept ·     Making interdisciplinary links ·     Indicating opportunities to develop map ·     To the many consequences of the core concept for the region which a geographically literate student should understand ·     To a possible regional investigation.   ·     Which creates a fireworks diagram to use with both our in-service teachers and as a framework for helping our pre-service teachers develop regional units.   

is the prior knowledge students bring. 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 This document aligns the scaffolding ideas to Michigan’s GLCEs and HSCEs Distance in Australia Scaffold Steps Grade Level Content Expectations/Major Missing/cross curriculum Learn position words   Measure rooms and make maps to scale K-G1.0.2: Use environmental directions or positional words(up/down, in/out, above/below) to identify significant locations in the classroom E.ES.01.32 Observe and collect data of weather conditions over a period of time. 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 Measure distance on a globe 4-G1.0.1: Identify questions geographers ask in examining the United States (e.g., Where is it? What is it like there? How is it connected to other places?) Use scale to determine distances 15

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? 6-G1.2.1: Locate the major landforms, rivers and climate regions of the Western Hemisphere (Also 7-G1.2.1: Eastern Hemisphere) *Parts of a Hamburger: Making a Fast Food Meal 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. *Elevation and Capital Location 6-G1.2.6: Apply the skills of geographic inquiry to analyze a problem or issue of importance to a region of the Western Hemisphere. Thermographs in Ecuador 6-G1.2.3: Use data to create thematic maps and graphs showing patterns….. and propose two generalizations about the data. 6-G3.1.1 Construct and analyze climate graphs for two locations at different latitudes and elevations in the region to answer geographic questions and make predictions based on patterns. (Also 7-G3.1.1) You really should read this one. 16

17 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 versions- one as a presentation and one with questions. Open it to see . . . In some cases there are additional PPTs included. 17

18 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 Clickable PDF Teacher Notes/Questions Objectives: The student will be able to: Slides 1-9 – geography background Rivers Mountains Hills Forests Satellite image Equator Borders Great overview of the geography of South America What geographic feature helps you locate the Equator?. Locate geographic features of SA Describe the natural vegetation of several areas of SA 18

19 presentations, extra maps or data, or accommodated versions. 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. 19

20 The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do in order to learn. 20

21 Match maps with short text The activities feature a variety (Reading) The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do in order to learn. 21

22 Analyze data and graphs The activities feature a variety (Math) The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do in order to learn. 22

23 Make and analyze map The activities feature a variety (Writing) The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do in order to learn. 23

24 Use simulation software on CD The activities feature a variety (Economics) The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do in order to learn. 24

25 Compare places by using maps The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do in order to learn. 25

26 Interpret photograph The activities feature a variety (writing) The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do in order to learn. 26

27 Do whole-class or small-group simulations The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do in order to learn. 27

28 Trace origins of products in their lives The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do in order to learn. 28

29 student activities…. About the The numbers show approximate ©2012 P Gersmehl Teachers may copy for use in their classrooms. Contact pgersmehl@gmail.com regarding permission for any other use. The numbers show approximate grade level: 1 = lower 2, 3 = middle 4 = upper 29

The core item for each region is a 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. 30

31 Note, for example, how many ancient empires were located in a narrow range of latitude: Colonies Empires River floods Languages Crops Animals Malaria Fires Ecoregions The big idea in Africa is latitude. The maps in the mini-Atlas are all designed to show important consequences of latitude (distance from the Equator). The mini-Atlas is a set of maps designed to illustrate one big idea in each world region. Growing season Rainy days 31

32 icon to see invisible on screen 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). 32

33 Each Atlas also has an orientation activity that you can use (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. 33

34 Each folder has at least one printable work map for students to use while taking notes. 34

and then assembled like a puzzle 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. 35

Nine major components in four folders for each region. 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 36

MGA Teaching World Regions Through Big Ideas Copyright Michigan Geographic Alliance ©2014 Teachers may copy for use in their classrooms. Contact mga@cmich.edu or pgersmehl@gmail.com regarding permission for any other use.