1. MGA Teaching World Regions Through Big Ideas

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. ·     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.   

9. is the prior knowledge students bring.
The “scaffold”
is a “rocket”
of basic concepts
The launch pad
is the prior knowledge students bring.

10. At the “top” is the big idea that permeates the whole unit
on South America
the importance
of elevation
as a cause.

11. The “scaffold” is supported by interdisciplinary links.

12. Map skills are important, too.

13. Like fireworks
on the 4th of July,
the big idea
“explodes”
into a number
of consequences.

14. The final element
is a question
that can be
discussed
at any time.

15. 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 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

16. 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. 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. 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. 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. 20 The activities feature a variety of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn. 20

21. 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. 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. 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. 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. 25 Compare places by using maps The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn. 25

26. 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. 27 Do whole-class or small-group simulations
The activities feature a variety
of “engines” – things students do
in order to learn. 27

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

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

30. 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. 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. 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. 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. 34 Each folder has at least one printable work map for students to use
while taking notes. 34

35. 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

36. 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

37. MGA Teaching World Regions Through Big Ideas
Copyright Michigan Geographic Alliance ©2014
Teachers may copy for use in their classrooms.
Contact or
regarding permission for any other use.