Geography skills and your town
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/gk2/geoskills.html
A lesson plan for grade 2 Social Studies
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In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore the five themes of geography by creating books, Web sites, or multimedia presentations showcasing the unique features of their town.
Students will:
- discuss the meaning of the word “geography”;
- view pictures of places in the United States, and compare what they see in them to their own town;
- locate their town on a map and discuss its relation to state landmarks;
- describe their town’s people, animals, and landscape;
- describe changes they have noticed in their town;
- identify from where current and past residents originally came;
- identify unique characteristics of the region where the town is located;
- discuss why geography skills are important; and
- create booklets or skits about their town.
Xpeditions provides a link to the National Geographic web resource that explains the five themes of geography, detailed instructions for completing each activity, and suggestions for assessment and extension assignments.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Social Studies (2003)
Grade 2
- Goal 5: The learner will understand the relationship between people and geography in various communities.
- Objective 5.01: Define geography and use geographic terms to describe landforms, bodies of water, weather, and climate.
- Objective 5.02: Describe the role of a geographer and apply geographic tools, such as maps, globes, compasses and photographs, in the understanding of locations and characteristics of places and regions.
- Objective 5.03: Compare and contrast the physical features of communities and regions.
- Objective 5.04: Identify the absolute and relative location of communities.
- Objective 5.05: Interpret maps, charts, and pictures of locations.
- Objective 5.06: Identify and describe the people, vegetation, and animal life specific to certain regions and describe their interdependence.
