GEO-Poems and GEO-Poems and ECO-PoemsECO-Poems

Lesson adapted from Lesson adapted from Focus on Focus on Economics: GeographyEconomics: Geography, National Council , National Council

on Economic Education, 1996on Economic Education, 1996

PurposePurpose

►To organize and present informationTo organize and present information►To use creativity when developing the To use creativity when developing the

“poems”“poems”►To demonstrate understanding about a To demonstrate understanding about a

place in a fun, but non-traditional wayplace in a fun, but non-traditional way►To identify differences between To identify differences between

geographic and economic perspectivesgeographic and economic perspectives

GEO-PoemsGEO-Poems

► City or Country NameCity or Country Name► Four physical features describing the Four physical features describing the

placeplace► Three cultural featuresThree cultural features►Neighbor ofNeighbor of or bordering…. or bordering….►Description of climate (temperature, Description of climate (temperature,

precipitation, etc) in a season or yearprecipitation, etc) in a season or year►Home of Home of three distinct items that the three distinct items that the

place characterplace character► Three historical trends or events that Three historical trends or events that

have shaped this placehave shaped this place► Two issues or problems of the place.Two issues or problems of the place.► Country or region nameCountry or region name

Morocco Morocco (Sample GEO-Poem)(Sample GEO-Poem)

Morocco.Morocco.

Bounded by the Atlas Mountains, Bounded by the Atlas Mountains, Mediterranean shore, encroaching Mediterranean shore, encroaching deserts and a rugged Atlantic deserts and a rugged Atlantic coast,coast,

Her people speak Arabic, French, Her people speak Arabic, French, Spanish and the dialects of Spanish and the dialects of nomadic Berber herdsmen; most nomadic Berber herdsmen; most share a Sunni Muslim faith.share a Sunni Muslim faith.

Algeria lies beyond the mountains; Algeria lies beyond the mountains; Mauritania challenger to her claim Mauritania challenger to her claim to the Western Sahara, is farther to the Western Sahara, is farther south; and Spain is within eyesight south; and Spain is within eyesight across the Strait of Gibraltar.across the Strait of Gibraltar.

Coastal dwellers bask in her Coastal dwellers bask in her Mediterranean climate of warm Mediterranean climate of warm winters and comfortable summers winters and comfortable summers while others enjoy her hot arid while others enjoy her hot arid deserts and snowcapped deserts and snowcapped mountains.mountains.

Berbers, Arabs and Europeans, Berbers, Arabs and Europeans, surrounded by traditional Islamic surrounded by traditional Islamic architecture, design and art, architecture, design and art, populate old and new cities – populate old and new cities – Marrakesh, Fez, Tangier, Rabat, Marrakesh, Fez, Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca – each has a Casablanca – each has a distinctive history and personality.distinctive history and personality.

Shaped by centuries of struggle between Shaped by centuries of struggle between invading Arab and resident Berber invading Arab and resident Berber cultures; she has absorbed the cultures; she has absorbed the languages, political, economic and languages, political, economic and social institutions of the Portuguese, social institutions of the Portuguese, Spanish and French traders and Spanish and French traders and colonizers; while she has evolved into a colonizers; while she has evolved into a constitutional monarchy, uniting church constitutional monarchy, uniting church and state in the person of the King.and state in the person of the King.

Large numbers of uneducated young Large numbers of uneducated young men migrate to urban centers seeking men migrate to urban centers seeking non-existent jobs while educated non-existent jobs while educated young women already living there young women already living there wrestle with conflicts between their wrestle with conflicts between their modern ideas and Islam’s traditional modern ideas and Islam’s traditional roles for women.roles for women.

Morocco, Pearl of North AfricaMorocco, Pearl of North Africa

Extending the lessonExtending the lesson

►Draw a country or region outline of the Draw a country or region outline of the place on colored paper, cut it out and place on colored paper, cut it out and mount the outline on a poster.mount the outline on a poster.

►Write the GEO-Poem on the outline of Write the GEO-Poem on the outline of the country or region.the country or region.

►Decorate the borders with small Decorate the borders with small pictures, symbols or diagramspictures, symbols or diagrams

ECO-PoemsECO-Poems

►City or Country nameCity or Country name►Four abundant resources in this Four abundant resources in this

placeplace►Three economic activitiesThree economic activities►Major trading partnersMajor trading partners►Type of economy and/or governmentType of economy and/or government►Home ofHome of three historic landmarks three historic landmarks►Three events or historical trends that Three events or historical trends that

have shaped this placehave shaped this place►Two economic issues or problems of Two economic issues or problems of

current importancecurrent importance►Country or region nameCountry or region name

BostonBoston(sample ECO-Poem)(sample ECO-Poem)

Boston.Boston.

Renown for succulent lobsters, Renown for succulent lobsters, high tech companies, brilliant high tech companies, brilliant university students and world university students and world class medical care.class medical care.

Tourism, finance and education Tourism, finance and education are among our specialties.are among our specialties.

We import oil from OPEC, lend We import oil from OPEC, lend money to Latin America and money to Latin America and sell razor blades worldwide.sell razor blades worldwide.

Our markets obey rules of the Our markets obey rules of the Boston City Council, the Boston City Council, the Commonwealth of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the United Massachusetts, and the United States Congress.States Congress.

Old and new merge in our Old and new merge in our landmarks – the John Hancock landmarks – the John Hancock Tower, Fanueil Hall and Quincy Tower, Fanueil Hall and Quincy Market, and the World Trade Market, and the World Trade Center.Center.

We were first with the Boston We were first with the Boston Latin School, the Boston Public Latin School, the Boston Public Library and the Boston Library and the Boston Marathon.Marathon.

Like other American cities, we Like other American cities, we struggle to improve our struggle to improve our schools and care for our schools and care for our homeless.homeless.

Welcome to Boston, USA.Welcome to Boston, USA.

Extending the LessonExtending the Lesson

►Draw a country or region outline of the Draw a country or region outline of the place on colored paper, cut it out and place on colored paper, cut it out and mount the outline on a poster.mount the outline on a poster.

►Write the ECO-Poem on the outline of Write the ECO-Poem on the outline of the country or region.the country or region.

►Decorate the borders with small Decorate the borders with small pictures, symbols or diagramspictures, symbols or diagrams

Closing QuestionsClosing Questions

►How does a geographic perspective How does a geographic perspective differ from an economic perspective?differ from an economic perspective? Geographic focus on physical processes Geographic focus on physical processes

and systems shaping the earth’s surface.and systems shaping the earth’s surface. Economic focus on resources used to Economic focus on resources used to

produce goods and services that produce goods and services that consumers want or need, and how those consumers want or need, and how those goods and services are distributed. goods and services are distributed.

►What did you learn from writing the What did you learn from writing the poems?poems?

►How did this lesson improve your How did this lesson improve your understanding of a new or different understanding of a new or different place?place?

►What was your favorite part of doing What was your favorite part of doing this activity?this activity?

►Would you like to visit one of the places Would you like to visit one of the places depicted in the poems?depicted in the poems?

for additional information….for additional information….

►Sue Lynn Sasser, PhDSue Lynn Sasser, PhD► President, Oklahoma Council on Economic President, Oklahoma Council on Economic

EducationEducation► 100 N. University Drive, Box 103100 N. University Drive, Box 103► Edmond, OK 73034Edmond, OK 73034► 405.974.5627405.974.5627► ssasser@ucok.edussasser@ucok.edu