The geography of the Southwest is unique due to its vast amount of desert, plateaus, and canyons. Very little of the land is useful for farming, but the Central Plains have rich and fertile soil. The major waterways in the Southwest are the Colorado River and the Rio Grande, which forms part of the border between Mexico and the United States. In this activity, students will research the geography of the Southwest and create an informative poster that includes geographical features, facts, and colorful illustrations.
You can find more travel poster templates to add to this assignment to give students a variety of choices for their poster!
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a poster highlighting the geographical features of the Southwest.
Student Instructions:
Review the curriculum standards and learning objectives related to geography and social studies. Identify specific outcomes that can be addressed by integrating Southwest geography research. Define clear learning objectives for the integration, specifying what students should know and be able to do as a result of this research. These objectives should align with curriculum standards.
Identify suitable resources and materials for the integration. This could include maps, books, online sources, and other references that students can use to research Southwest geography. Consider technology tools, like interactive maps, or hands-on resources, like physical maps or geographical models, to make the research engaging.
Determine how the Southwest geography research will be integrated into existing lessons or units. This could include activities within social studies, language arts, science, or other relevant subjects. Develop a sequence of activities that guides students through the research process, which may include brainstorming, research, data analysis, and the creation of informative posters or presentations.
Establish assessment criteria and rubrics to evaluate student performance in meeting the learning objectives. This might include evaluating their research, data analysis, and final presentations. Plan formative assessments to gauge student progress during the research process and provide opportunities for feedback and improvement. Implement summative assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of the integration, including the quality of students' informative posters or presentations.
The Southwest experiences an arid and semi-arid climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild winters. Daily life is influenced by these weather patterns, as residents adapt to the region's extreme heat. Outdoor activities are often planned around the weather, with people enjoying the milder winter months for activities like hiking and camping while being cautious during the scorching summer heat.
Worksheets can include activities like labeling major mountain ranges on maps, researching the highest peaks and their elevations, and comparing the climate, flora, and fauna of different mountain regions. These worksheets encourage students to explore the geographical diversity and significance of the Southwest's mountain ranges.
Storyboarding ideas could include visually depicting the flow of the Colorado River, the impact of dams on water supply, and aquifer recharge methods. Worksheets can include tasks like calculating water usage, examining the consequences of prolonged drought, and proposing solutions for sustainable water management. These resources help students understand the critical importance of water resources in the arid Southwest and the challenges of managing them.