Review, Reflect, and Extend the Mission
Comprehension/Application • Analysis • Evaluation • Creative/Synthesis
How to use these activities: (download printables by RIGHT-clicking and clicking Save Target As to save to your local computer and print)
Choose the review/reflection/assessment questions at the Bloom's Taxonomy level to best fit your teaching situation. You may want to create heterogeneous, small groups and provide a multi-level question to all groups. Multi-level questions are indicated with the levels in parentheses with the higher level in bold. Or you may want to provide questions from the higher levels to students who have already demonstrated understanding of the major concepts and need greater challenge. Do not be afraid to include all students with the “combination level” questions.
If you have Google Earth running in your classroom, be sure to use the Google Earth placemarker file from the final episode for easy access to all episodes directly FROM the world map. This makes it easy to "return" to a location and read the full episode where Geo and Meri learned about that place.
How do I grade these??
Since all the printable or group activities require applying terms and generating open-ended responses, the best way to grade student work will be to use a rubric. TeachersFirst offers rubric information and several reviews of online rubric makers so you can customize to your grade level and curriculum emphasis. We also have provided a simple Word document starter rubric for these projects. Right-click and SAVE TARGET AS to save this template to your own computer.
Comprehension/Application • Analysis • Evaluation • Creative/Synthesis
Comprehension/Application Level Activities
Landform Find and Label (printable)- includes continent maps on separate pages.
Students locate and make a chart of the various landforms they can find on all seven continents. They label continent maps with their findings as a map key. Share the printable file on student computers via Favorite, network, or US "stick" so they can open the long URLs with a click. If you are a Google Earth user, consider creating your own class placemarker file with the landforms your students locate. Save it on the computer you connect to a projector or interactive whiteboard as you work together.Choose a Continent (printable)
In this application/evaluation level activity, students use terms they have learned and the places Geo and Meri visited to choose a continent to visit and explain their reasons. A step-by step approach has students use three charts to collect information and ideas for a final paragraph or blog entry.Find the Location (printable)
Students use map coordinates and hints to find specific locations. Share the printable file on student computers via Favorite, network, or US "stick" so they can open the long URLs with a click.Top Three Destinations (printable)
Students research and choose among several key tourist attractions. After taking virtual tours, they write a paragraph justifying their choices. Share the printable file on student computers via Favorite, network, or US "stick" so they can open the long URLs with a click.
Comprehension/Application Level Discussion questions:
Use these questions with Globetracker's Mission up on your projector, whiteboard or student computers. Challenge student groups/partners to use the final Google Earth file, class logs of Geo and Meri's travels, episodes from the Mission, and other resources to generate a response they can present to the class.
- How many major cities have Geo and Meri visited that are NOT located on a body of water? Why do you think waterways do/do not matter in the success of a city or community? (comprehension/analysis)
- Please explain the difference between longitude and latitude. Create a visual way to remember these terms. What invisible lines are found at 0 degrees latitude and longitude? (comprehension/analysis)
- Do you remember which is the largest ocean, continent, country, river, rainforest, desert, and waterfall? With your group, make a list of other “largest” places or things can you recall from this journey.
Climate Effects (printable)
Students find evidence of the impact of climate on human activities. This printable offers one strategy for answering the questions and invites students to devise their own problem-solving method, as well. Differentiate by allowing your more capable students to plot their own course.Three Transports (printable)
Students use links to explore the reasons why certain areas of the world use different means of transportation. This information-gathering activity asks students to generate a conclusion based on their findings. You may want to allow students to compose and revise the conclusions on an interactive whiteboard as a whole-class activity. Share the printable file on student computers via Favorite, network, or US "stick" so they can open the long URLs with a click.
Analysis Level Discussion Questions:
Use these questions with Globetracker's Mission up on your projector, whiteboard, or student computers. Challenge student groups/partners to use the final Google Earth file, class logs of Geo and Meri's travels, episodes from the Mission, and other resources to generate a response they can present to the class.
- Does arable land affect a country or continent's ability to export goods? Find evidence to prove your answer.
- What natural resources did you notice were mentioned most often? Were there specific natural resources more common on certain continents? Which natural resources do you think are the most valuable? Explain your answer.
- Do all countries divide their land into states? What other methods do countries use to divide up their territory? Why do you think countries need this division? What is the purpose? Explain your answer. (analysis/synthesis)
Evaluation Level Discussion Question:
Use these questions with Globetracker's Mission up on your projector, whiteboard, or student computers. Challenge student groups/partners to use the final Google Earth file, class logs of Geo and Meri's travels, episodes from the Mission, and other resources to generate a response they can present to the class.
Throughout this journey, we have learned about many manmade wonders that have changed the lives of people throughout the world (Ex. the Panama Canal, Hoover Dam, English Chunnel, and many others). Which of these do you think had the largest impact on the most people? Explain your answer.
Creative/Synthesis Question:
This question draws on knowledge outside the Mission, such as other social studies topics, or ask students to create a new product, combining ideas form multiple arenas.
Plan another mission for Geo and Meri to tour the seven continents. What would you want their focus to be and why? What would you want them to find out, explain, and compare about the places they visit?