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Geography lessons can make a "world" of difference in students' knowledge of the world and in their test scores. That's because geography is multidisciplinary by nature. This week's lessons teach geography -- and math, language, and cultural literacy. Included: Five new lessons plus a link to the Education World geography lesson archive.

Can your students locate Afghanistan on a world map? In survey results released last November, during Geography Awareness Week, fewer than one in five U.S. adults ages 18-24 could pinpoint Afghanistan.

That National Geographic-Roper Global Geographic Literacy Survey polled more than 3,000 18- to 24-year-olds in Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Sweden and the United States. Sweden scored highest; Mexico, lowest. The United States was next to last.

Geography is an interdisciplinary discipline in so many ways; it involves math, language, history, literature, and many other curriculum areas. That's why geography is such a great vehicle for improving student skills -- and why all teachers would be wise to work geography lessons into their curriculum.

FIVE LESSONS FOR TEACHING GEOGRAPHIC LITERACY

This week's lessons present projects that teach geographic literacy while reinforcing many other essential skills. Click each of the five lesson headlines below for a complete teaching resource. (Appropriate grade levels for each lesson appear in parentheses.)

Where in the World?
Locating famous landmarks around the world develops students' research skills. (Grades 3-8)

A World of Information
Students create colorful maps to illustrate "top ten" statistics about our world. (Grades 3-12)

Where Did Foods Originate?
Help students discover how New World explorers influenced the Old World's diet (and vice versa). (Grades 2-12)

The Branding of America (and Your State)
Introduce to students the products your local area contributes to the U.S./world economy. (Grades K-12)
Note: This project is no longer available online, but this lesson still includes viable ideas that you can easily adapt for your classroom purposes.

Globe Game
Map game challenges students to develop geography skills. (Grades 2-12)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

While surfing the Net we found these lesson plans that might interest you.

• The Five Themes of Geography Lessons from National Geographic (All grades)
• The Five Themes of Geography (Grades 5-8)
• Continents: Songs and Poems (Grades 2-4)
• Economics and Geography Lessons for 32 Children's Books (Grades 1-5)
• What Do Maps Show? (Grades 4-8)
• Postcards to Learning (Grades K-3)
• Online Map Games (Grades 3-up)
• All About the United States Online Games (Grades 3-up)

See more than * 20 additional geography resources!

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?

Animated Atlas: Growth of a Nation
This 10-minute presentation illustrates the growth of the United States from the original 3 colonies in 1789.

Article by Gary Hopkins
Education World®
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