By: Henrietta Lawrence, Northview MS (retired); Indianapolis, IN, June 15, 1997

Purpose:

While enhancing and fine-tuning student utilization of computers, keyboards and the Internet/WWW, students will research various sites focusing on Italy’s history, landscape, culture, agriculture and cities.

Grade levels: 6-8

Geography Standards addressed:

• 1. How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.
• 2. How to use mental maps to organize information about people, places and environments in a spatial context.
• 3. How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places and environments on the Earth’s surface.
• 4. The physical and human characteristics of places.
• 5. That people create regions to interpret Earth’s complexity.
• 6. How culture and experience influence people’s perceptions of places and regions.
• 7. The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth’s surface.
• 8. The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth’s surface.
• 9. The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth’s surface.
• 10. The characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth’s cultural mosaic.
• 11. The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth’s surface.
• 12. The processes, patterns, and functions of human settlement.
• 13. How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth’s surface.
• 14. How human actions modify the physical environment.
• 15. How physical systems affect human systems.
• 16. The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.
• 17. How to apply geography to interpret the past.
• 18. How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

 Materials required:

pencil, paper, computer w/printer, internet access w/ Netscape browser. Strongly recommend an overhead projector that is connected to a computer.

 Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, students will be able to

• 1. access the internet to complete activities related to their study of Italy,
• 2. locate Italy on a map/globe,
• 3. describe Italy’s history, briefly, both orally and in writing, and
• 4. discuss Italy’s climate and topography and culture.

Background:

Teachers will need to have knowledge of computers and accessing the Internet.

Procedures:

• 1. Have 1-2 students seated at a computer that is turned on.
• 2. Show students how to access the internet and find the websites they will be using. Student should take notes on these procedures or the teacher can prepare handouts on all necessary steps to be used for this lesson.
• 3. Walk students through the steps needed to complete this lesson.
• 4. Allow students time to browse through the various websites before doing their assignment.
• 5. Upon completion of the assignment students should make sure they have labeled their assignment with their name, date, period and assignment name.

Evaluation:

Students will evaluate this lesson by the ease or difficulty in getting the information they need for their assignment.

Resources to keep available for student use: Atlases, Alamanacs, and Electronic media.