BY: Hank Matthys and Dan Garwood, Liberty Middle School, Valparaiso

Purpose:

In order to familiarize students with the internet and with global climate patterns, students will research and analyze different physical environments available.

Grade levels: 6 & 7

Geography Standards addressed:

• #1) How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places and environments on the Earth’s surface.
• #9) The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth’s surface.
• #12) The processes, patterns, and functions of human settlement.
• #15) How physical systems affect human systems.

Materials required:

Computer(s), Internet access, media center, atlases, and worksheet with four given cities.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, students will be able to: 1) utilize the internet to find materials supporting their choice of climate locations.

Background:

Knowledge on how to use computer, internet, map skills, class discussion on preferable climate and basic climate understanding.

Procedure:

Organize small groups; Show example on screen and direct students.

Evaluation: Discuss with students the choice they’ve selected.

Resources:

• http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/wdcamet.html
• http://members.aol.com/BOWERMANB/101.html

Directions: Next to each city listed below describe the reason for the climate in that city according to your studies on climate. Then discuss amoung within your group which city is most likely the city you would want to live in.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A.

Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A.

Reykjavik, Iceland.