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Mystical Chinese
Students explore various Chinese beliefs about the environment. Using the internet, they research the characteristics of Feng Shui. They discuss how human actions modify the physical environment and vice versa. They discover how the...
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So -- What's Happening Here? On this Old Christmas Tree Farm
Young scholars take a field trip to an old Christmas tree farm near their school. In groups, they gather data at the site and analyze the data in an attempt to discover what happened to the area. They identify human activities that led...
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Powerful Potato
Third graders recognize the importance of geography in shaping a settlement where people can live. In this community location activity, 3rd graders participate in a potato growing activity to understand how it helped a community to grow.
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Mystical Chinese
Pupils relate environmental influences to human situations through Feng Shui, describe various traditional Chinese medical practices, and explore the use of natural forces in Chinese medicine.
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Colonial Settlement and Environmental Problems
Students work together to develop a chart showing the relationship between the settlement of the United States and environmental problems. Using this information, they identify the human activities responsible for damaging the...
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Invaders and Settlers
Students watch a video that illustrates the way in which an English community evolved based on geography and the settlers and invaders who lived there over different time periods. They create a map that shows how different villages are...
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Introduction to the Barnegat Bay Estuary
Students research estuaries. In this estuaries lesson, students discuss the differences in a bay and an ocean. Students watch a PowerPoint of the properties of the estuaries and geography of Barnegat Bay. Students complete a worksheet...
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See the World
Seventh graders locate and write creatively about different places and their cultures. They identify the physical, economic, social, political and cultural characteristics of selected regions in the Eastern Hemisphere. Finally, 7th...
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Dreaming of a Healthy City
Ninth graders design a healthy city. They identify the essential elements of a city and describe how climate and geography can determine the layout of a city. They create a blueprint of their design and share in small groups.
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Who Are These Chinese People?
Students research the Han, a main Chinese ethnic group and the Hui, another numerous group. They write a paper about the Hui including geography, religion, eating habits, languages, politics and customs.
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Total War
High schoolers view a video about the result of using atomic weapons during World War II. They examine how human rights are violated during wartime. They listen as family members come and speak to the class about their experiences...
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Mineralogy, Astronomy, & Ancient Wisdom
Students complete a variety of activities surrounding minerals, crystals, and mineralogy. They locate common minerals on a world map, complete a lab in which they identify the chemical and physical properties of various minerals, etc.
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Why Is ______ Located Where It Is?
Students discuss the reasons why cities are located where the are. In groups, they identify the physical features that support a city. They determine if those features help or hinder the city to become a major world city. They answer...
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Sand, Sand, Everywhere Sand
Students study the physical characteristics of four types of desert regions. In this desert regions lesson, students watch a video about deserts and discuss the deserts. Students compare the deserts and research the ways humans have...
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Forest Management
Young scholars analyze physical and biological changes in the Sequoia forest ecosystem, especially logging and fire management practices. They evaluate the controversy of how logging and fire management should be conducted in the Giant...
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Hidin' Out
Fourth graders draw three major Underground Railroad routes crossing Indiana on an outline map and include habitats and towns. They produce an oral history involving at least three natural habitats and one human habitat.
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How Does Climate Affect Your Environment?
Pupils access the Global Sun Temperature Project website and research the relationship between the location and climate of a participating school to its building structure. They consider how climate affects the type of structures humans...
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Forest Management
Learners explore the changes in the Sequoia forest ecosystem. They evaluate reasons for the changes and discuss opposing views of human activity, logging and fire management practices. Students observe a video, describe the location of...
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Annotating Change in Satellite Images
Young scholars compare a series of satellite images taken 3-4 years apart to investigate the effects of human land use. They annotate the images using ImageJ software and use the annotated images to explain their findings.
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Exploring Explorers
Ninth graders illustrate the routes taken by different explorers on a world map. They explain the need for the different exploration voyages. Students explore the web for information that may contain different points of view or...
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Baga Drum
Students examine a Baga Drum in order to explore the history of the Baga people of West Africa. In this art history lesson, students recognize figures used in Baga Drum design that represent aspects of Baga culture. They also design and...
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Oil: The Problem or Solution to the World's Economic Future
Students map the major oil producing and consuming countries and regions. They identify current and future topographic and political problems that could affect the production and transportation of oil.
VIF Learning Center
Languages as Reflection of Cultures and Civilizations: French Speaking Countries
Expand your class's vision of the French-speaking world by conducting this research project. Pupils focus on building 21st-century skills while they look up information about a French country and put together presentations.
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Silk Road Caravan
Students determine how the geographic features of the Silk Road trade route contributed to the economic development and diffusion of culture in both Eastern and Western Civilizations.