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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Yours, mine, and ours: Determining boundaries

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/13/g912/yoursmine.html

A lesson plan for grades 10–12 Social Studies

Provider: National Geographic


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Consider the term “boundary.” Now apply it to Earth. Earth is crisscrossed and layered with a system of complex divisions. Beyond the familiar political boundaries of countries, states, provinces, cities, towns, and counties, there are legislative districts, school districts, police precincts, sewer or water districts, the property lines of residential subdivisions, and many more boundaries within which people live. Some boundaries are blurred, based largely on personal or group perceptions: ethnic neighborhoods (Little Italy, Chinatown) or larger perceptual regions (Tidewater, the Middle East).

In this lesson, students assume the roles of decision makers in a boundary dispute. They are asked to consider existing boundaries and other characteristics of an area to reach a consensus on whether an area should be divided or remain a single political entity.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 10

  • Goal 10: The learner will develop, defend, and evaluate positions on issues regarding the personal responsibilities of citizens in the American constitutional democracy.
    • Objective 10.02: Develop, defend, and evaluate positions on issues regarding diversity in American life.
    • Objective 10.05: Describe examples of recurring public problems and issues.

Grade 11–12 — Geography

  • Goal 5: The learner will understand mental maps and recognize how mental maps shape people's willingness and unwillingness to travel to certain places.
    • Objective 5.01: Define concept of mental map and identify different types
    • Objective 5.02: Identify factors that shape a person's mental map such as the mass media, geographic education, prejudices, and travel experience.