Five Themes of Geography: Belize

Lesson/Unit Title Five Themes of Geography using BelizeGrade Level SeventhSubject Social Studies, GeographyMichigan Standard/Benchmark/Grade Level Content ExpectationII.2.MS.5, R.CM.07.04 (reading comprehension)Description Students will review the five themes of geography and find examples of eachusing the country of Belize. A Powerpoint presentation will be created by student teams. Thepresentation will include each of the five themes, a picture example of the theme, and a writtenexplanation. Student teams will present their project to the class.Big Ideas/Goals/Objectives Students will review the five themes of geography.Using Belize as a case study, students will find examples of each of the themesand incorporate them into a Powerpoint presentation to be given to the class.Key words/VocabularyMovement answers the question “How do people, goods, and ideas move fromplace to place?”Region is a group of places that share common features.HumanEnvironment Interaction is the relationship between people and the environment.Location can be absolute (using latitude and longitude) or relative (approximatelocation. Location is the “address” of a place.Place identifies the natural and human features that make one place unique.Prior Knowledge Understanding of the five themes of geography. Basicunderstanding of Powerpoint. Students will have studied Latin America in sixthgrade and will have limited knowledge of Belize.Time Four 45 minute class periodsMaterials Belize culturegram, atlas, map of Belize athttp://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/central_america/belize/belize.htm,photos of Belize athttp://www.caledonia.k12.mi.us/middleschool/gradelevels/7th.htmlAccess to computers, internet, Powerpoint.Procedures for the lessonDay 1 Review five themes of geography, Mr. Help is Motion, Region, HumanEnvironment interaction, Location, Place. Teacher will introduce the country ofBelize using maps and Belize culturegram. Begin reading together and point outexamples of the five themes while reading. Have students make a list of themesand examples found for use later in the project. Give students time to read andexplore on their own, while continuing to take notes. Finally, divide the class intogroups of three to begin work on the project.Day 2 Using culturegram, maps, library resources and internet resources havethe students (in groups of three) find examples of the five themes of geography inBelize. Examples will be presented in a powerpoint presentation created byeach team. Presentation must include a title slide with team names and aminimum of one slide for each of the five themes. Each slide must include awritten explanation of the example from Belize and documentation of the source.This might include a drawing, photo, or map.

Day 3 Finish powerpoint presentation and research. Practice presenting.Day 4 Presentation to the class. Each member of the team must play an activerole in the presentation.AssessmentAssessment is completed by the teacher during the presentation to the class.15 points for correct example of each theme (75 points total)15 points for presentation skills (eye contact, speak loud and clearly, standstraight and tall, use your hands in a planned way, keep feet firmly planted on thefloor, show interest In your topic)10 points for conventions (spelling, punctuation, grammar)100 points possibleAccommodations/Extensions/SupportAssessment of each group can also be done by student groups.Accommodations could be choosing 3 of the 5 themes for the project or simplydefining the themes or including more than one example for each of the themes.ConnectionsLanguage Arts, technology, writing, presentation skillsComments/ReflectionsAdditional ResourcesVideo The Geography Tutor The Five Themes of GeographyTMW Media Group, Inc.To order: http://www.tmwmedia.com/geography.htmlAuthor of Lesson Cynthia Leson-WhalenSchool Kraft Meadows Middle School, Caledonia, MichiganGrade Level Taught SeventhDate submitted to LASER August 2005