Page 172 - Powerful Social Studies for Elementary Students 4th Edition

144 Powerful Social Studies for Elementary Students
FIGURE 6.1 Key Ideas that Connect to the Five Fundamental Themes of Geography
Unit
Five Fundamental Themes
Location: Position on the earth’s surface
• Absolute location
• Relative location
Place
• Physical characteristics
• Human characteristics
Human-environmental relations
Movement: Humans interacting on the Earth
Regions: How they form and change
Related to the Five Themes
Sample Interview Schedule Questions
After teaching a unit using the five themes, interview your students using questions that focus on the themes. Study their responses to determine the degree to which they have acquired the big ideas. Select questions that match your goals and major geographic understand- ings for the unit.
1. Usingarangeofmaptypessuchasphysical,political, and climatic, describe your immediate surrounding community. Compare it to the Southwest of the United States. (If you live in the Southwest, choose another region of the country for this activity).
2. Using a road map, plan a trip to Santa Fe, Phoenix, and so forth.
3. Using a range of map types, explain what is special about your local community, Salt Lake, Tucson, White Sands, Reno, and so forth.
4. What specifically have you learned about the peo- ple who live in the Southwest? What is special about each of the groups we have studied? Explain the settlement patterns of various groups. What are some of their traditions, customs, beliefs, and
values? What types of economic activities would you expect to find in your local area? The South- west? Why?
5. Would you expect high or low population densities in your local area? The Southwest? Why? Describe how specific parts of the Southwest have been mod- ified to support large concentration areas. What is the nearest city in your local area? How was it modified to support large concentrations of people?
6. Explain why certain parts of the Southwest are attractive for retirement developments. Do you think it is more or less attractive for retirement than the local area? Why?
7. HowhastechnologyinfluencedlifeintheSouthwest? 8. Why are certain parts of the Southwest growing so rapidly? Are there parts of your region growing?
Explain.
9. How would you characterize the Southwest as a
region? Compare it to the region in which you live. How are they the same? Different? Which would you prefer to live in as an adult? Why?
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