Target Curriculum: Geography
Target Grades: 3
SOLs: Geography 3.5
Time: One, 45-minute lesson
Objective and Goals:
The student will use a globe to: locate the equator and prime meridian; identify the northern, southern, eastern, and western hemispheres; and locate Turkey on a map. Turkey's lines of longitude and latitude will be determined.
Purpose:
To give students the opportunity to develop map reading skills.
Materials:
World maps, globe, blackline master map of Europe, colored pencils
Procedure:
Students will work in pairs to examine a globe and locate the equator and prime meridian. Northern, eastern, southern, and western hemispheres will be identified. Students will locate Turkey on the globe and identify its hemisphere. The lines of latitude and longitude for Turkey will be identified and transferred onto the blackline master map of Europe.
Observation:
The teacher will observe partners gathering information from the globe and transferring it to the map.
Conclusions:
Students will be able to identify hemispheres, to identify lines of latitude and longitude, and to transfer information to paper.
For Your Information:
There are many wonderful Web sites that give information about Turkey and its significance in the histories of Greece and Rome. Check www.pwnet.org for additional resources.
Extension:
Students can continue to practice map reading skills by locating other countries using lines of latitude and longitude (without being given the countries' names) as a scavenger hunt.
Class Discussion Questions:
Given their location by hemisphere, how many countries can you name?
Cautions and Concerns:
I found that my second grade students also enjoy locating countries by hemisphere. Inflatable globes work nicely for this, as we were able to toss them around the room while playing a geography game.
Written By: Donna P. Stewart
Submitted By: Donna P. Stewart
Grade Taught: 2
School: Corporate Landing Elementary School
Division: Virginia Beach City Public Schools