Activity
Introduce the activity by reading the following scenario:
You are a space being from the planet Sirius. Your planet
will soon run out of drinking water and the temperature
on your planet is rising annually. It is predicted that
in the next five years your planet will be uninhabitable
due to the lack of water and intense heat. You have been
sent on a mission by your government to explore a new
biosphere, planet earth, to study the conditions and
report on the feasibility of establishing a colony on
that planet. Follow the steps listed below in order to
obtain data to present to your government leaders.
Divide
the class into (6) groups and assign each group one
of the following continents:
North America
South America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Australia
Give
each student in the group a number; 1, 2, 3, 4
The numbers will correspond to the student’s assigned
situation that they will work on for their continent.
Students will work on their individual assignment
in the computer lab:
Students
#2 and #3 will keep a log of what they learn about their
continent. See Data
Log in materials
for a copy of the Log Sheet. Students #1 and
#4 will label
a map of their continent. Downloadable maps are
located at: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/
Hand
out the following instructions to each student:
Student
1:
Go to the site: http://geography.about.com/library/maps/blrindex.htm
Locate a political map of the continent you are studying.
Draw/label a political map showing countries, capitals
and longitude/latitude.
Identify DOGSTAILS on the map you have located
and record it on your map.
Student 2: Go
to the sites:
1.
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20398804
~menuPK:1545601~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html
Visit the following sites: Fresh Water and
Arable Land
2.
http://www.sage.wisc.edu/atlas/maps.php
Visit the following sites: Ecosystems
(click on: Average Annual Temperature,
Water Resources (click on: Annual Total
Precipitation)
- Compare
the data about your continent with the other continents
in your log.
- Record
the findings in your log.
- Identify
the DOGSTAILS from one of the maps you looked at in
your log.
Student
3: Go the sites:
1.http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DATASTATISTICS/0,,contentMDK:20398804
~menuPK:1545601~pagePK:64133150~piPK:64133175~theSitePK:239419,00.html
Explore the following: Income per person, Infant Mortality, Life Expectancy
2.
http://www.sage.wisc.edu/atlas/maps.php
Explore the following: Human Impacts (click on: Infant Mortality and
Life Expectancy)
- Compare
the data about your continent from each site.
- Record
the findings in your log (Data Log).
- Identify
the DOGSTAILS from one of the maps you looked at
in your
log.
Student
4: Go to the site:
http://www.sitesatlas.com/Atlas/PhysAtlas/index.htm
Click on the continent you are studying.
Draw/label a physical map showing the mountains,
rivers, deserts, and any other key physical features
on your map.
Identify DOGSTAILS on the map you have located
and record it on your map.
Closure
After
students have completed their computer research have
them meet in groups to discuss the following questions:
Use your maps and data logs to discuss the following:
1.
How do the physical features of your continent contribute
to the quality of life for its’ inhabitants?
2. Are there any countries on your continent that have physical
features (rivers and mountains) as natural boundaries?
If so, identify them.
3. Have the inhabitants of your continent successfully
adapted to their physical environment? Explain with supporting
examples.
4. As a group what recommendations would you make to improve
the quality of life for the inhabitants of your continent?
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