Getting to Know Your State: Through the Five Themes of Geography - Merryhill School
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Getting to Know Your State:
Through the Five Themes of Geography
Name:___________________________ State:___________________________
Essential Question: How are the five themes of geography represented in a
given state?
Task Background:
As your state’s historian in the tourist department, you have been given the
special assignment to research, collect and present the history information about
your state to students around the country. Each historian is tasked with creating
a State Smore spotlighting your state’s history and connecting your state
features to the five themes of geography. Historians will then share important
symbols of your state through an activity where other students will learn about
your state.
Project Point Value: 150 points Total
Social Studies Standards
• I can… use and construct a variety of maps, graphs, and other representations
to describe locations, identify characteristics of various places, and explain
their relationships & interactions (people, weather, culture, daily needs).
• I can… understand that cultural and environmental characteristics vary
around the world, change over time, and influence the distribution of people
and resources.
Language Arts Standards
• I can…write an informative/explanatory text to examine a topic and convey
ideas and information clearly.
• I can…develop a topic with facts definitions, concrete details, quotations or
other information and examples.
Due Date: Friday, May 14thGetting to Know Your State:
Through the Five Themes of Geography
Part 1: State Smore (75 pts Total)
____1. Statehood/History of the State ( 20 points)
As part of this section of the Smore, historians will have at least 1-2
paragraphs including (not limited to) the following information:
___How and when the state was founded?
___Order by which it became a state. Was it the first state, fifth
state, etc?
___Settlements/Explorers in its early history.
___Important dates in your state’s history and an explanation as
to why they were important.
___The state’s capital.
___THREE images representing the state’s history, each with a
caption.
____2. Connections to the Five Themes of Geography ( 50 pts
total - 10 pts per section/theme)
In this section of the Smore, historians will focus on the Five Themes of
Geography and how they connect to their state. Be detailed in your
descriptions and try to think like a geographer. You will look at Location,
Place, Human/Environment Interaction, Movement and Regions. For each
of the five themes below include THREE images that represent or relate
to that concept and your state. Create five text boxes with each theme as
the title.
___ Theme 1: Location-Position on Earth's Surface
Absolute and relative location are two ways of describing the positions and
distribution of people and places on the earth's surface. Use bullet points
identifying the following:
___Latitude and longitude coordinates of your state’s capital
representing the absolute location.
___Describe the relative location of the state and the
relationship of the location to other locations or major cities,
neighboring states, landmarks etc. i.e.-California is located
below Oregon and Washington, near the country of Mexico, by
the Pacific Ocean, next to Nevada, etc.
Due Date: Friday, May 14thGetting to Know Your State:
Through the Five Themes of Geography
___Include THREE images with a caption for each that represent
or relate to above concept with your state.
___ Theme 2: Place-Physical and Human Characteristics
The theme of place addresses this question: What is it like there? This
theme considers the human and physical characteristic that make one
place different from all other places on earth. The physical land
characteristics are mountains, rivers, and plants, and animals, and etc. It
is anything that is naturally made. The human characteristics are what
humans make such as churches, farms, cultural foods and anything that
humans do to survive. With human politics think of senators, governors or
major politics/figures. Include 4-5 bullet marks outlining the following:
___Land forms, bodies of water, climate, soils, natural vegetation, and
animal life. Is your state flat or hilly, hot or cold, wet or dry?
___Other characteristics of place should also include land use,
density of population, language, religion, and architecture.
___What are some of the human characteristics that describe
your place? What types of houses are there?
___What types of industry are found, and how might they be
different from industries in other parts of the country? What
natural resources are found there?
___State Population Statistics Graph: ( ***We will talk about
this in class as well.)
___ Line graph format.
___ Graph must be easy to read and understand that
includes a title, labels, key/legend.
___ Represent populations for your state from each
decade ( every ten years) beginning from the year 1900
to present . Use the link below to access population data
for each state.
___Include THREE images with a caption for each image
that represents or relates to above concept with your
state.
Due Date: Friday, May 14thGetting to Know Your State:
Through the Five Themes of Geography
___Theme 3: Human/Environment Interaction- Shaping the Landscape
The physical and human characteristics of a place provide keys to
understanding the interrelationships between people and their
environments. This geographic theme addresses this question: What is the
relationship between humans and the environment? Human environment
interaction is the way people adapt and modify to their environment.
There are three types of human environment interaction, the first type is
how people depend on the environment. People depend on
the environment for shelter, food, and water to survive. The second type of
human environment interaction is how humans modify the environment,
by affecting it positively and negatively by shaping the way land is formed.
The last type of human environment interaction is the way humans adapt
to the environment. Humans adapt to the environment by using
technology to heat up or cool down their shelters, so they can live in that
environment. Include 4-5 bullet marks outlining the following:
___What examples of human/environment interaction do you
see in your assigned state? Water/winter sports, climbing/
hiking, etc.
___Do you see changes in the landscape or animal habitats? Are
there changes in the air, water, and soil?
___Include THREE images with a caption for each image that
represents or relates to above theme with your state.
Due Date: Friday, May 14thGetting to Know Your State:
Through the Five Themes of Geography
___ Theme 4: Movement-Humans Interacting on the Earth
The theme of Movement addresses this question: How and why are places
connected with one another? Movement is the way people move (planes,
buses, walking, etc), ideas transfer from one place to another, and how
resources are transported from one place to another. Include 4-5 bullet
marks outlining the following:
___Describe examples of movement with people, goods, or ideas
in your assigned state. Has immigration had an impact on your
area? If so, what has happened? What are the transportation
routes or ways of transportation in your area? (Think of public
transportation or major forms of travel in the state).
___Include THREE images with a caption for each image that
represents or relates to above theme with your state.
___ Theme 5: Regions-How they Form and Change
A region is a basic unit of geographic study., defined as an area that has
unifying characteristics. Include 4-5 bullet marks outlining the following:
___How is your assigned state different from other bordering
states?
___How many different regions can you identify within your state
(counties)?___Include THREE images that represent or relate to
above theme with your state.
importance and culture of your region-ethnic diversity
____3. Bibliography/ Resource Citations (5 points)
List ALL sources/resources used for this project. Historians must have at
least 3 resources cited in MLA format. Possible resources include: people,
books, magazines, encyclopedias, brochures, pamphlets, documentaries.
Create a section at the end of your Smore that lists these in alphabetical
order. You must use bibme.org or other website to cite your sources.
Due Date: Friday, May 14thGetting to Know Your State:
Through the Five Themes of Geography
Part 2: Represent Your State!
In celebration of the rich heritage and emblems of your state,
students will select a presentation format to represent
further information about their state. Choose ONE
presentation format from the below table. Then present all
of the key components from State Symbols Components
listed on the next page within your Choice Board Project.
___1. Presentation Format Choice Board ( 25 pts-Circle ONE):
SMORE: Represent Skit/Play: Write a Travel Suitcase: Keynote: Much like
the rest of this project script for a play/skit Construct a suitcase the Smore represent
using Smore. For that teaches about the that has all of the the remaining
items that may be 3D “Represent Your items from the state components through a
or hand drawn, please State” components symbols below as well Keynote. For items
take a photo and place below. Be creative as FIVE things you that may be 3D or
it into a section with a with this one, you may may take if you are hand drawn, please
caption detailing what have your family or visiting your state. take a photo and place
it represents. friends help you. Your For example, if you it into a section with a
play may be are going to California, caption detailing what
performed live or you may bring a swim it represents. One
recorded. suit for the oceans, created, post to
sunglasses etc. Seesaw and place link
in your Smore.
Diorama: Create a Board or Coding Float: Create a mini Commercial:
diorama inside a box Game: Invent a new float display that uses Using iMovie ( may
that represents the game, coding game or a box, much like floats use the TC app with
major symbols and board game for your you may see in a the green screen as
“Represent Your state using all of the parade. Must include well) write a script
State” components “Represent Your all items listed from and create an
below. State” components the state symbols informational
below. section below. ( We commercial that
will show some teaches about the
examples of these in “Represent Your
class) State” components
below.
Due Date: Friday, May 14thGetting to Know Your State:
Through the Five Themes of Geography
Your Choice: Please see a teacher and outline your project plan here:
___2. State Symbols Components ( 40 pts- 10 pts per section)
These are to be represented in your Choice Board Project.
As historian you will use the above presentation format to share about the state
symbols, map of your state, famous historical figures or celebrities from your
state as well as Historical Landmarks and what your state is known for.
Required Information:
____State Symbols
Include an image for each of these that do not contain watermarks. A 2-3
sentence caption explaining that state symbol must also be included.
___State Seal
___State Flag
___Choose FIVE other state symbols such as the state tree, bird,
flower, motto, animal etc.
___Map of State
Historians will create a map using Sketches, a 3D model or a
hand drawn map that is neatly in color and labeled. Include the
following:
___State capital and Title to Map
___FIVE other major cities
___Major rivers/water sources
___Major highways.
___Famous Celebrities or Historical Figures
Choose TWO people of interest to spotlight with the following:
___ONE Image for each celebrity or historical figure
___Use bullet points to explain who the famous person is, why
they are connected to the state and major accomplishments.
___Historical Landmarks, Events and Activities
Choose THREE historical landmarks, events and/or activities to
spotlight as part of your state. For example, in our state of
California we are known for Hollywood, Disneyland and the Gold
Rush, etc.
__For each event or place chosen, use bullet points explaining
their importance to the state and why it is worth coming, seeing
and/or participating in as part of your state.
__ONE Image representing each event ( may include more).
Due Date: Friday, May 14thGetting to Know Your State:
Through the Five Themes of Geography
Part 3: Class Presentations (10 pts) ***change as
needed due to format
On Friday. May 15th, each historian will present their Smore as well
as their Represent Your State Display/Activity. Be prepared to talk
about your state’s history, show off pictures, and present your
display/activity. We will discuss this further as a class to support
students in this area.
Extra Credit-
Did You Know? Include in your SMORE as a separate paragraph
titled Did You Know and list 5 wacky and/or strange facts about your
state. Maximum of five-1 point each fact.
For example-It’s illegal to “own” or “keep” any “offensive-smelling”
animal hides in the town of Chico, California.
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