Unit I Performance Task

We have spent the last few weeks studying geography and the impact it can have on people. To finish the unit, your task must be completed!

TASK: Write an article for National Geographic Magazine about an Eastern Hemisphere country. (You will pick whichever one you want from the list) In your article, pretend that you have traveled to the country you selected. Write about your journey and try to persuade others to visit this country.

Planning:
Use the handouts to guide you as you research your country. Keep in mind, you may find more information about one category, but some of the themes of geography (location, place, movement, human-environment interaction) must be included.

Below is an outline of what should be completed each day... Although some might work faster, if you find yourself not keeping up you have to make better use of your time. This is not an assignment that you will be allowed to continue forever :)

Day 1:
-Listen to directions
-Ask any questions that you are unsure of
-Review example of a National Geographic article
-Pick a country you would like to research.


Below are some examples of travel articles to check out. Keep in mind, your "article" will be in the style of a formal essay, but you can use these as a guide for what kind of information to include.
Scottland driving tour
Kenya Safari Travel Guide


Day 2:
-Continue gathering information from the books. If you did not finish the "Geography" box, start with that.
-Once you have completed geography, move on to "People" and "Places to Visit".
***Remember, research is just that... finding facts, NOT COPYING THE ENTIRE BOOK! Try to paraphrase (put things in your own words.) It will help you get a better understanding of what you have read, and be more helpful when you go to write you essay.

Bullet points are acceptable to take notes, but several of you have just one worded bullets- You need to write full ideas because if not, you will struggle to explain those bullets in your essay.

-By the end of Day 2, you should have almost (if not fully) completed gathering information from the book. Remember what we said in class- not everything you need will be in the book, and that is alright :) The point of a research project is to use several sources to get a better understanding of a place.

Day 3:
-For those not finished with the books, you will continue with researching there.
-If you have completed your research (and I have given you the OK) you will move on to the internet to find the rest of your information. Below are some links that will be helpful to you.

Kenya:
http://www.africa.upenn.edu/NEH/kgeography.htm
http://www.oocities.org/teacherkab/countries/kenya.htm
http://www.kenya-information-guide.com/kenya-food.html
http://www.travelstart.co.ke/blog/50-great-places-visit-family-vacation-kenya/

South Africa:
http://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/south-africa-for-kids.html
http://www.travelstart.co.za/blog/45-fun-family-vacation-activities-in-south-africa/
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/south-africa/#south-africa-johannesburg.jpg

Egypt:
http://www.ngkids.co.uk/history/ten-facts-about-ancient-egypt (Go about half way down the page to get to modern Egypt. You do not want to include facts about Ancient Egypt)
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/egypt/#egypt-pyramids.jpg
http://www.oocities.org/teacherkab/countries/egypt.htm
http://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/egypt-guide
http://www.touropia.com/top-attractions-in-egypt/

Japan:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/japan/#japan-gardens.jpg
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/
http://web-jpn.org/kidsweb/explore/housing/index.html
http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/japan-with-kids

Vietnam:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/vietnam/#vietnam-ha-long-bay.jpg
http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/eat/40-delicious-vietnamese-foods-217572/
http://www.commisceo-global.com/country-guides/vietnam-guide
http://dinolingo.com/blog/2012/03/22/vietnamese-culture-for-children-fun-facts-food-music-language-and-more/#.V_suq-UrLIU
http://www.touropia.com/best-places-to-visit-in-vietnam/

India:
http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/india
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/india/#india-tajmahal.jpg
http://www.oocities.org/teacherkab/countries/india.htm
http://www.oddizzi.com/teachers/explore-the-world/country-close-up/case-study-india/living-in-india/food/
http://dinolingo.com/blog/2011/05/13/indian-culture-for-children-india-food-clothes-traditions/#.V_svX-UrLIU

Israel:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/israel/#israel-man-dead-sea.jpg
http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/article-203047/Israel
http://dinolingo.com/blog/2011/05/04/israeli-culture-for-children/#.V_sv-eUrLIU
http://igoogledisrael.com/2009/03/top-10-things-to-see-and-do-in-israel/

United Kingdom:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/united-kingdom/#united-kingdom-abbey.jpg
http://www.oddizzi.com/teachers/explore-the-world/country-close-up/united-kingdom/
http://projectbritain.com/
http://www.touropia.com/best-places-to-visit-in-the-uk/

Greece:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/greece/#greece-ruins-night.jpg
http://www.oocities.org/teacherkab/countries/greece.htm
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/top-10-dishes-try-greece
http://www.ultimate-guide-to-greek-food.com/about-greek-food.html (Check out Easter and Christmas in Greece for customs)
http://www.touropia.com/best-places-to-visit-in-greece/

Map Skills

Attention Parents!!
Please take time to review the world map with your children. We are currently working on identifying and labeling the 7 continents and 5 oceans, as well as the equator and prime meridian.

Geographic Features

As we have been studying, there are many kinds of natural geographic features. Some examples are mountains, rivers, volcanoes, canyons, and glaciers.



How do geographical features impact the lives of people that live near them??

Geographic features can have both a positive AND negative impact on people.

TASK:
- Working in pairs, you will visit the websites below. After reading about volcanoes, you should complete the chart in your notes.
-Once you are done, answer the following question on looseleaf (TO BE COLLECTED) "Would you want to live near a volcano? Why or why not? Be sure to answer using the RACE method!!

http://www.geography-site.co.uk/pages/physical/earth/volcanoes/volcanoliving.html

http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/how-do-volcanoes-affect-people

Meet The Teacher

                                Please join us Tuesday to meet your child's teachers.

                                                                        4:30-7:30pm. 

                                We look forward to meeting you and working with you this year!! :)

Geographic Features

As we have studied, there are many different types of geographical features around the world. Today, you will use the internet to explore and learn about some specific examples of whichever feature you find most interesting.

In groups, you will do the following:
-Pick ONE geographic feature that interests you and you would like to learn more about.
- Use the links below to gather information.
- As a group, you will create a list of Pros and Cons for the feature assigned to you.


Canyons:
The 7 best Canyons

The Grand Canyon

The Copper Canyon

Glaciers:
Fun Facts about glaciers

Perito Moreno

Margerie

Mountains:
Fun facts about Mountains

Mount Everest

K2

Rivers:
Fun facts about Rivers

Mississippi River

Amazon River

Volcanoes:
Fun facts about Volcaneos

Mount Vesuvius

Nevado del Ruiz