Chapter 4 Chapter 4

Young GeographersYoung Geographers

What does Geography look like?What does Geography look like?

Sample lessons—Sample lessons—• Flat StanleyFlat Stanley• The Erie CanalThe Erie Canal• Sending exchange packagesSending exchange packages• Making adobe housesMaking adobe houses• The World Wide Travel AgencyThe World Wide Travel Agency• Making classroom mapsMaking classroom maps• School wide Geography immersion School wide Geography immersion

1. What is Geography?1. What is Geography?

Geography is the study of the Geography is the study of the connections between people and connections between people and places on Earth.places on Earth.

It is the science of space and place.It is the science of space and place. It brings together the physical and It brings together the physical and

human dimensions of the world in human dimensions of the world in the study of people, places, and the study of people, places, and environments.environments.

Geography - The study of:

WHERE places are located,

WHY places are located where they are,

HOW those places affect the lives of people, and

HOW people interact with their environment.

What Is Geography?What Is Geography?

Why Geography?Why Geography?

2. Why is Geography important?2. Why is Geography important?

Global Society/interconnected worldGlobal Society/interconnected world Illiteracy of students in USIlliteracy of students in US Four reasonsFour reasons

• Existential: understand where you areExistential: understand where you are• Ethical: understand interdependency and Ethical: understand interdependency and

basis for cooperatingbasis for cooperating• Intellectual: become better informed; Intellectual: become better informed;

therefore make better decisionstherefore make better decisions• Practical: better equipped to solve problemsPractical: better equipped to solve problems

The Power of The Power of GeographyGeography

Economic Reason

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The Power of The Power of GeographyGeography

Environmental Reason

The Power of The Power of GeographyGeography

Geo-Political Reason

The Power of The Power of GeographyGeography

As our world becomes ever more interconnected, a practical knowledge of geography becomes more critical. Citizens need to understand people and cultures in order to make informed decisions about our role in world affairs.

Geo-Political Reason

The Power of The Power of GeographyGeography

Aesthetic Reason

The Power of The Power of GeographyGeography

Geography is visual. It captures the imagination and stimulates curiosity about the world; its diverse inhabitants and places, as well as about local and regional diversity. Often the classroom is a student’s first “window on the world.”

Aesthetic Reason

3. What is the content of 3. What is the content of Geography?Geography?

National Geography Standards National Geography Standards Six Essential ElementsSix Essential Elements

• The World in Spatial TermsThe World in Spatial Terms• Places and RegionsPlaces and Regions• Physical SystemsPhysical Systems• Human SystemsHuman Systems• Environment and SocietyEnvironment and Society• Uses of GeographyUses of Geography

NC Standard Course of StudyNC Standard Course of Study

3. What should young geographers 3. What should young geographers know and be able to do? know and be able to do?

Five Themes of GeographyFive Themes of Geography (a way of (a way of organizingorganizing the content) the content)

• LocationLocation• PlacePlace• Relationships within Places (Human-Relationships within Places (Human-

Environmental Interaction)Environmental Interaction)• MovementMovement• RegionsRegions

4. How should Geography be 4. How should Geography be taught?taught?

Teacher Guided DiscoveryTeacher Guided Discovery• ObservationObservation• SpeculationSpeculation• Investigation Investigation • ExtensionExtension• ReinforcementReinforcement• EvaluationEvaluation

Independent ProjectsIndependent Projects• OpeningOpening• Investigating or producingInvestigating or producing• Culminating activityCulminating activity

5. Maps: the Tools of 5. Maps: the Tools of GeographersGeographers

A map is a graphic representation of the A map is a graphic representation of the Earth’s surface drawn to scale, as seen Earth’s surface drawn to scale, as seen from above. from above.

Students need the basic skills to construct Students need the basic skills to construct maps and to interpret maps.maps and to interpret maps.

Map skills and understandings are Map skills and understandings are developmental—children must build and developmental—children must build and play before formal map reading can begin. play before formal map reading can begin.

Basic map skills for early gradesBasic map skills for early grades• Locating placesLocating places• Recognizing and expressing relative locationRecognizing and expressing relative location• Interpreting map symbolsInterpreting map symbols• Developing a basic idea of relative size and Developing a basic idea of relative size and

scalescale• Reading directionsReading directions• Understanding the globe is the most Understanding the globe is the most

accurate representation of the earth’saccurate representation of the earth’s

surfacesurface

Some types of maps for early Some types of maps for early elementaryelementary• Three dimensional classroom mapsThree dimensional classroom maps• Flat mapsFlat maps• Model communitiesModel communities• Story mapsStory maps• Mental mapsMental maps

Refining map skills – primary gradesRefining map skills – primary grades• Map SymbolsMap Symbols• DirectionDirection• ScaleScale• The GlobeThe Globe

Understand the basic roundness of the EarthUnderstand the basic roundness of the Earth Understand the differences between land Understand the differences between land

(continents) and water areas(continents) and water areas Begin to locate the poles, major cities and Begin to locate the poles, major cities and

the USthe US

Basic map skills for upper Basic map skills for upper elementaryelementary• Place location and directionPlace location and direction• Latitude and longitudeLatitude and longitude• Relative locationRelative location• Map symbolsMap symbols• ScaleScale• Reading a globeReading a globe

Some types of maps for upper elementarySome types of maps for upper elementary• Political mapsPolitical maps• Physical mapsPhysical maps• Topographical mapsTopographical maps• Raised relief mapsRaised relief maps• Weather mapsWeather maps• Special purpose maps Special purpose maps • Historical mapsHistorical maps• Road maps Road maps • GlobesGlobes

Teacher Reference Websites for Teacher Reference Websites for GeographyGeography

National Council for Geography EducationNational Council for Geography Education

http://www.ncge.orghttp://www.ncge.org National Geographic SocietyNational Geographic Society

http://www.ngsednet.orghttp://www.ngsednet.org North Carolina Geography AllianceNorth Carolina Geography Alliance

http://www.ngsednet.org/ncgahttp://www.ngsednet.org/ncga Google Earth Google Earth

http://www.Earth.google.comhttp://www.Earth.google.com