National Geographic Education: Physical Geography of Europe

Details

Activity Description

This is the third of five lessons. Students are introduced to the physical geography of Europe and delineate major drainage basins in Europe.

The overall theme of this teacher-tested unit is using maps to understand borders and their impacts in Europe. The materials will help your students to use maps to think about how borders intersect physical and human geographical features, and how those intersections can lead to cooperation and/or conflict. The educator resources provided in the unit include maps, multimedia, and case studies that will enable students to develop skills in map analysis and apply that analysis to specific situations. Other parts of the unit will invite you and your students to explore similar cases in Europe and your own community.

Preparation

1. Review site tabs labeled Directions, Objectives, Preparation, and Background & Vocabulary
2. Study the two activities for this lesson. Be sure to select Expand Directions for more detailed instructions.
3. If it is necessary, modify to meet your students needs.
4. Check the Preparation tab for list of materials, resources, maps, and technology required. Print maps and other handouts and worksheets as necessary.
5. Activity 1 - Before starting the activity, make transparencies of key maps. Print the following maps on transparency paper or use a document camera to project maps: Physical Map of Europe, Natural Vegetation of Europe, and Country Borders in Europe. Another option would be to just project the maps and other handouts from the National Geographic Web site.

How-To

1. Activity 1: Mountains, Rivers, and Vegetation of Europe
   • Review physical features and their importance.
   • Introduce key vocabulary in the reading passage.
   • Have pairs read a passage about mountains, rivers, and vegetation in Europe.
   • Have small groups locate features from the reading on maps and label them.
   • As a whole class, compare maps and answer questions about the reading.
   • Have small groups complete a writing assignment.
   • Perform an informal Assessment
   • Extend the learning by having students make connections to mountains, rivers, and vegetation in you local area.
2. Activity 2: Drainage Basins in Europe
   • Introduce the activity and review key vocabulary.
   • Have students read and discuss a passage about drainage basins.
   • Have small groups identify and discuss drainage basins.
   • Have students present their work to the class.
   • Have a whole-class discussion about physical features, borders, and conflicts.
   • Have students complete a writing assignment.
   • Perform an informal Assessment
   • Have students use the maps that they drew of drainage basins as a basis to research how people have handled sharing the water resources in a particular area.

Teacher Tips

• Reinforce vocabulary list as these words may be included in the GED Social Studies test.
• Select Expand Directions (under the Directions tab) to show all the directions for each activity.

More Ways

• The National Geographic Web site has lessons and activities for all grade levels on the main subjects of geography, science, and social studies. But often included in the learning objectives are other subjects such as mathematics, the arts, language arts, so they cover many disciplines. Explore it to find more lessons and activities to use with your students.

Program Areas

• ASE: High School Equivalency Preparation

Documents

• Physical Geography of Europe.png - Screenshot of the Physical Geography of Europe activity

Subjects

• Social Studies
  • World History

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