Sample Standard: Locate, describe and explain places, regions and features on the Earth.
Grade level: 4
Time: 10-15 minutes
Materials: Globe or world map for every two students,
PowerPoint slides with clues (use a build so that the previous clues remain on the screen as the next new clue is revealed.)
Group Size: Any. Divide students into partners.
Purpose: The purpose of this activity is for students to find the secret location (region/country/state/city/etc.) on a globe or map from the geographic clues that are given.
Activity:
- Students will pick a partner for this activity and will have a globe or world map to share.
- The teacher will create a set of clues that range from general to specific and put them on PowerPoint slides. Slowly remove the needle from the balloon.
- The clues are revealed one at a time as partners use their globes/maps to locate the region suggested in the clue.
- This continues until all of the clues have been revealed and students shout out the location.
Sample Clues:
- Located in the Northern Hemisphere
- Located in the continental United States
- A mountain range runs through it
- Located West of the Mississippi River
- North of New Mexico
- South of Wyoming
Welcome to Colorado!
Modification for Above-Level Students
Have students create their own geographic clues for a location of their choosing.
Students identify the longitude and latitude of the location.
Modification for Lower-Level students:
Provide a diagram showing the positions of North/South/East/West for use with the globe.
Submitted by Adrianne Roggenbuck, a former teacher who is director of education with The Bob Pike Group.
