The teacher will tell the students that today we are going to learn about geographic features of the Earth. The teacher can ask students if they know what a geographic feature is and make a KWL chart on the board about geographic features. The attached example KWL can be projected and filled in on an interactive whiteboard or projected with a document camera.
The teacher will then divide students into groups of 2 or 3. The teacher can have each student say a number from 1-8 and then repeat. Each number is a group of students (i.e., all of the 1's are a group) Each group will need a computer to utilize for research and creating their slide in the group slide show.
The teacher will give each group a card with the name of their geographical feature written on it as well as a QR code and website printed on it. The geographic features to be researched are hill, plateau, valley, peninsula, island, isthmus, ice cap, and glacier.
The teacher may give the following instructions:
"You are going to work with your group to become experts on a geographic feature. You will research your feature and make a slide for our class slide show about your feature. The geographical features are hill, plateau, valley, peninsula, island, isthmus, ice cap, and glacier."
"Each group will have a research recording sheet and a card with your geographic feature. Your group's card will have a QR code and website listed. Either scan the QR code or type in the web address to research your feature. On the sheet, write 2 or more facts about your feature."
"When you have 2 or more facts listed, open the class slide show and add your slide to it. Use the checklist at the bottom of your research recording sheet to ensure you have met all the requirements."
"When you are finished, you may choose another geographic feature and search for it on National Geographic Education (http://nationalgeographic.org/education/)."
Slideshow:
The teacher will create a presentation and share it with students through Google Slides (or each group can create a separate slide show and the teacher can copy/paste into one slide show). Each group will add a slide to the class presentation including 2 or more facts and a picture.
After all groups are finished creating their slide, the teacher may give the following directions:
"Each of your groups will present your slide to the class. As they are presenting, I want you to write down a fact about each geographic feature on your paper."
When all of the groups have finished presenting, the teacher will refer back to the KWL chart and add what the class has learned.
Writing:
The teacher will tell students they are going to pick out two of the geographic features to compare and contrast. The teacher will instruct the students to draw a Venn Diagram on their own paper and choose two geographic features. The students will complete the Venn diagram and write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the geographic features they chose.
