Sessions

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Session 1: The British Isles and Nordic Nations - England

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define fertile, ore and tertiary economic activty

Students will identify the major physical characteristics that can be found in different regions of England.  

Students will examine how England's major physical characteristics affect the economy of different regions of the country.

Students will explain why London became one of the greatest commercial and shipping centers in the world.  

Students will discover how the Industrial Revolution changed and expanded economical activities in the United Kingdom.

HOMEWORK:

Review the natural resources and political maps in the Regional Atlas for Western Europe and this section. Find the location of England's chief mineral deposits and the cities of Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds. Write a paragraph explaining some of the reasons why these cities become major urban cities. Be ready to share your paragraph with the class in the next session. 

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Session 2: The British Isles and Nordic Nations - Scotland and Wales

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define moor, bog and glen

Students will share their paragraph with the class.

Students will identify the major physical characteristics of Scotland.

Students will examine how Scotland and Wales have prevented their cultural identities from being completely replaced by English culture. 

Students will discover how technological changes have affected economic activities in Wales.

HOMEWORK:

Use statistical information from the library of the Internet to create and draw a bar graph on per capita income in the United Kingdom and in three other Western European countries. Which economy is the most prosperous. Do additional research to determine some of the reasons for the prosperity that this country is experiencing. Be ready to present your findings to the class in the next session. 

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Session 3: The British Isles and Nordic Nations - The Two Irelands

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define peat, cultural divergence and blight

Students will share their research findings with the class. 

Students will describe Ireland's physical characteristics. 

Students will examine the geographical processes that cause cooperation and conflict in Ireland. 

Students will identify the initiatives that the Republic of Ireland have pursued in order to encourage economical activity.

HOMEWORK: 

Use Internet resources to read about Mairead Corrigan and Betty Williams, winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. Then, write a biography for each, emphasizing those achievements that earned international recognition. Be prepared to share your biographies with the class in the next session. 

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Session 4: The British Isles and Nordic Nations - The Nordic Nations

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define fjord, geothermal energy and mixed economy.

Students will share their biographies with the class. 

Students will discover the historical, cultural, and economical bonds the Nordic nations share.

Students will examine how the people of the Nordic nations have used natural resources to successfully pursue a variety of economical activities.

HOMEWORK: 

Use library and/or Internet resources to learn more about the Midnight Sun holiday in two or more Nordic nations. In a short paragraph, describe and compare the customs that make each holiday distinctive to its country, Then, create a poster advertising one nation's event. Identify traditional foods, arts, contests, and ceremonies of the event. Be prepared to share your paragraph and poster with the class in the next session. 

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Session 5: Central Western Europe - France

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define dialect, impressionism, nationalize and recession.

Students will share their paragraph and poster with the class. 

Students will describe the main physical and economical regions of France.

Students will discover how changes in government affect the extent of French territory.

Students will examine the economical and social uncertainties that are part of French life today. 

HOMEWORK:

Search the Internet to locate some current events articles about an economic or social challenge facing France. In an oral report, summarize the issue. Be ready to present your oral report with the class in the next session. 

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Session 6: Central Western Europe - Germany

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define confederation, reparation, inflation and lignite.

Students will present their oral reports to the class. 

Students will discover how Germany achieved unification in the 1800s and 1900s.

Students will examine how physical characteristics affect economical activities and patterns of settlement in Germany.

Students will identify the challenges Germany faces in the world today.

HOMEWORK:

Create a series of maps that show the changing boundaries of Germany in the 1800s and 1900s. Write a caption for each map explaining why the boundaries changed from the previous map. Use library and/or Internet resources to find the historical maps needed to complete this activity. Be ready to present your maps in class during the next session.

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Session 7: Central Western Europe - The Benelux Countries

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define dike, polder and decentralize.

Students will share their maps with the class.

Students will examine in what major way have the Dutch changed their physical environment.

Students will discover how language affected culture in Belgium.

Students will identify how economical activities have changed in Luxembourg.

HOMEWORK:

Review the Regional Atlas for the Benelux countries and the information you have learned in class. Think about a novel that could be set in the Benelux countries. Based on what you know about the region and the cultures, what plot would the novel have? Write three short paragraphs that could appear as a summary on the back of your novel. Be ready to present your summary to the class in the next session.

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Session 8: Central Western Europe - Switzerland and Austria

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define canton, neutral, perishable good and strip mining.

Students will present their summary to the class.

Students will explain how the character of Switzerland has been shaped by its past, its cultural identify, it prosperous market economy, and its involvement in global trade. 

Students will discover how shifting political boundaries and patterns of settlement have affected life in Austria. 

HOMEWORK:

What would attract tourists to Switzerland and Austria? Review the information in this section and conduct additional research if you  wish. Next, create a brochure inviting visitors to these two countries. Try to include informative descriptions, maps and photographs. Include topics such as history, sports and music. Be ready to present your brochure to the class in the next session.

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Session 9: Mediterranean Europe - Spain and Portugal

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define navigable, dry farming, sirocco and hub.

Students will present their brochure to the class.

Students will discover how Spain is physically, economically, and culturally distinct from other nations on the European continent. 

Students will describe how political conditions and economical activities in Portugal are different today from what they have been in the past.

HOMEWORK:

Review the Regional Atlas for the Benelux countries and the information you have learned in class.Then, design and draw a chart of economic activities for Spain and Portugal. Label one column: Spain. Label a second column: Portugal. Create a row for each economic activity in the region. For each economic activity in which Spain or Portugal participates, place a check in the appropriate column. Be ready to present your chart to the class in the next session.

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Session 10: Mediterranean Europe - Italy

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define seismic activity, subsidence and Renaissance.

Students will present their chart to the class.

Students will describe how the people of Italy will continue to adapt their enviroment and expand their economy as they plan for the future.

Students will discover how Italy's physical characteristics and economical activities divide the country into three large regions.

HOMEWORK:

Take a virtual tour of the Vatical City in Rome. Explore the Sistine Chapel, the Basilica of St. Peter, and other famous sites. Write a journal entry about the history of the sites you visited and your reactions. Be ready to present your journal entries to the class in the next session. 

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Session 11: Mediterranean Europe - Greece

LESSON OBJECTIVES: 

Students will define graben, inhabitable and tsunami.

Students will present their journal entries to the class.

Students will discover how Greece's physical characteristics influence its economic activities and trade patterns.

Students will identify the mystery from Greece's past that scientists are trying to understand.

Students will examine why Greek culture is considered to be a mixture of Eastern and Western cultures.