By: Ann McCracken, Wainwright Middle School, Lafayette, IN, 6/15/97 

Purpose:

In order to better understand people and their relationship to each other and to their environment, students will identify the physical features that influence development and ways in which people have utilized and adapted to their physical surroundings (environments); and identify the characteristics of cultures that are alike and different, and identify the basic needs and wants that influence the lives of all people.

Grade Level: 6

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.
• #3) How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places and environments on the Earth’s surface.

Materials Required:

• internet access
• 9X11 world map
• colored pencils
• student atlas 

Objectives: Upon completion of this lesson/activity, students will be able to

• 1. explain the relationship between physical and cultural features in the Western World,
• 2. relate ideas linking global people needs,
• 3. identify the Mississippi River Valley and the Nile River Valley on a map,
• 4. discuss the impact of flooding and
• 5. discuss possible solutions to future flooding.

Background: (as teacher deems necessary)

Procedures:

Go to Flood! The River’s Gift at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/nova/flood/gifts.html

As students work through the lesson, they should formulate their own ideas about why people would settle in river valleys. This can be recorded on the back of the world map.

Students should also list benefits and problems of settling in a river valley. Pose the question, "Should flooding be listed under benefits or problems (or both)?"

 Use the blue colored pencil to trace the route of the Mississippi River and the Nile River on the world map.

 Refer to the student atlas if necessary to label the countries, in red, and the continents, in green, in which these rivers are located.

 Share and discuss student findings. Notice that people in different countries and continents share the same problems.

Evaluation:

Student participation, maps, and lists.