Length:
Materials
- 5 pieces of chart paper spread out in the room
- Envelopes, one for each student pairing
- Characteristics of the 5 themes of geography, cut into strips of paper (see below)
- Glue
Key Vocabulary
- Geography
- Absolute location
- Relative location
- Region
Curriculum Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7
Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.4
Determine the meaning of symbols, key terms, and other domain-specific words and phrases as they are used in a specific scientific or technical context relevant to grades 6-8 texts and topics.
Instructions
- Show our Study.com video lesson What Are the Five Themes of Geography?.
- Pause at 00:45 seconds. Discuss:
- What is the purpose of geography?
- Geography explores what kinds of relationships?
- How does the field of geography enhance our lives?
- Play the remainder of the video.
- With your students, label each chart with one of the five themes of geography. Write a definition and provide an example. Briefly discuss the characteristics of each theme.
Activity
- Give each student pairing a glue stick and an envelope that contains several characteristics of geography themes on strips of paper. For example: an address, climate change, mountains, trains, and Boston.
- Instruct students to determine under which geography theme the term belongs. Pairings then race to glue their strips to the correct chart.
- When all groups are finished, visit each chart and determine accuracy. Discuss choices and evaluate with students. Ask them to defend their thinking.
Extensions
- Divide the students into five groups. Give each group one of the five geography theme charts and allow them to illustrate with pictures and graphics.
- For homework, have each student create a five-column chart with each geography theme labeled. Fill in at least two examples from their home lives. For example, under 'Location,' they can put their home address and soccer practice; under 'Place,' they could list mountains or hills. Share in class.
- Study the five geography themes from the past. Compare and contrast to the present. Imagine future geography themes.
