Geography

Crossing the Line

Carole Ambroziak Barnes, Doolen Middle School

In this lesson students will locate the southern border, listen to a story about crossing the border, discuss the journey brainstorming push/pull factors that might motivate a person to make such a journey, read recent newspaper articles and synthesize what they have learned in a journal entry. This lesson lasts about 2-3 class periods. Email our Outreach Coordinator Clea Conlin at cconlin@email.arizona.edu for the materials.
Grade Level
Region

Borderlands 2000: A Classroom Simulation of the U.S./Mexico Border

Jeannine Kuropatkin, Mesa Unified School District

In this lesson, students will examine and analyze a wide variety of these cultural mosaics in order to understand foreign" perceptions of conflict and cooperation that will ultimately impact our future international relations and global landscape. Students will participate in a week long simulation of the borderlands and will experience an unequal distribution of classroom resources. They will keep a journal to answer daily reflection questions to help them construe an idea of what the borderlands are like.
Grade Level
Region

Mapping the Languages of Latin America

Virginia G Gibbs, University of Wisconsin-Milkwaukee

In this lesson, students will learn about how Central and South America offer a more diverse series of cultures and nations than we often realize. They will learn about the many languages of Latin America in order to provide an idea of this diversity. Students will be able to place their language on a map to be able to visualize Latin America as a complex cultural area.
Grade Level

People and Their Impact on the Environment

Catherine Hall, Crane Middle School

This unit focuses heavily on the environment and the impact humans have on their surrounding environment. The purpose of this unit is to have students consider how Ecuadorians have altered their environment and for what reasons. Students will study the impact of these changes, as ell as how people think about their environment. Students will look at Ecuador as a case study and then reflect on their own community. From their own observations, they will identify issues affecting their society and reflect on what should be done to minimize the clash between people and the environment. There are 4 lessons within this unit.
Grade Level
Region

Five Themes of Geography of Ecuador

Susan Husiak, Whitehall District Schools

This comprehensive unit consists of one lesson with 6 activities to complete in order to complete the unit. The emphasis is on the country of Ecuador and how the five theme of geography including location, movement, human/environment interaction, place and region all come together in the Latin American country. Email our Outreach Coordinator Clea Conlin at cconlin@email.arizona.edu for the full lesson and materials.
Grade Level
Region