Grade 7 Social Studies
Technology Lesson
Lesson prepared by: Gregory Zackaroff B.A.
Macopin Middle School
Seventh Grade Social Studies Teacher.

Does Geography Influence Culture of the Middle East?

 

Culture is all aspects of a person's life.

Geography is the study of Earth and its inhabitants that can be passed on to the next generations.

Goals

The goal of this lesson is to teach the children that geography can influence culture in many different ways. World cultures form the basis of the seventh grade curriculum, and technology can make the content come alive (C.C.C.S. 6.5, 6.7, 6.9) (Cr.C.S 2. 1, 2.2, 2.3,2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9)

Activities

1. The students will explore a list of web sites that are posted on a personal teacher web site, such as www.schoolnotes.com, or www.geocities.com.
2. These web sites are maps of the Middle East, and pictures of Middle East culture.
3. The students will be assigned a specific country from the region of the Middle East, and they will describe how the geography of that particular country has influenced the culture.

Assessments

The final assessment for this project will be a power point presentation combining two components. The two components will be Middle East photos, and maps. This power point presentation will explain how the geography has influenced the culture.

Project time line

The students will be given two class periods to compile the photographs, maps and cultural information about their respective countries. The students should use the list of suggested web sites, or they may search the Internet for other useful sites. The students must be reminded that they only have two days for the preliminary research, so they should pace themselves accordingly.

The students will be given two class periods to design the power point presentation. Again this presentation will include Middle East maps, photographs, and written description. The presentation of the power point show will take place over two or three class periods.

Please be flexible with the project time line, as many variables are involved, that are usually beyond the control of the classroom teacher

Computer rules

1. Internet connection.
2. Word Processing program.
3. Power Point program.
4. Presentation forum (scan-it, and television monitor).
5. Color printer.

List of suggested Internet Web Sites

http://www.ih.k12.oh.us/hsblase/taftweb/CULTGEOG/Cultsite.htm

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/resources/ngo/maps/

http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/meoutl.htm

http://worldnews.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fgulf2000.columbia.edu%2F

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~gov46/modern-mideast.gif

http://arabculture.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Finteractive%2Fworld%2F0003%2Fhajj%2Fpilgrims.gallery%2Fcontent.html

http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/mideast/cuvlm/region.html

http://www.theodora.com/maps/new/middle_east.html

http://www.maptown.com/middleeastmaps.html

Middle East Power Point Presentation Grading Rubric

Cyber Teacher Main