6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Lesson Graphic Organizer
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Challenges
Opportunities
Natural Features
6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Big Idea Card
Big Ideas of the Lesson 6, Unit 2
The natural features of a place present people with both opportunities and challenges for human survival.
Different types of natural features affect how people meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter.
Humans’ ability to adapt and respond to different environmental conditions has resulted in a variety of ways in which people live.
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Word Cards
20floodplain
flat land along a river that is prone to flooding
Example: Floodplains often have flat, fertile land for farming.
(SS060206)
21typhoon
a tropical cyclone that occurs in the western Pacific region and Indian Ocean
Example: Typhoons can cause wind and water damage.
(SS060206)
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Mississippi River Floodplain INCLUDEPICTURE
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MERGEFORMATINET Source: http://irjci.blogspot.com/2011/05/record-flood-levee-breach-lead-to-talk.html
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
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Source: http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/47621/
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
The Geography of JapanLand
Japan consists of a 1500 mile archipelago, or chain of islands. It is made up of four large islands and about 4000 smaller islands. Most of Japan’s people live on the four main islands. Japan has solved the problem of connecting the islands together by creating a system of tunnels and bridges for roads and railways.
About four-fifths of Japan is either hilly or mountainous. Several hundred peaks rise more than 6,500 feet above sea level. The mountain areas are popular sites for recreation such as hiking but offer many challenges. Terrace farming, which allows for farming in hilly areas, is often used to overcome one of these challenges. The mountain areas of Japan also include volcanoes. Japan has about 190 volcanoes, of which about 50 are active.
Plains and relatively flat areas account for about a fifth of Japan's total area and occur mainly along the coast. Except for the Kanto Plain, on which Tokyo is situated, all are comparatively small. They are, however, of great importance as centers of farming, manufacturing, and population.
Japan lies in the earthquake-prone belt called the Ring of Fire, which fringes most of the Pacific basin. Earthquakes are frequent; most, however, are only minor tremors that do little or no damage. The last major earthquake was in 2011.
Water
The rivers of Japan are generally short and swift. The longest is the Shinano, some 230 miles (370 km) in length. Many of the rivers are used for hydroelectric power and to irrigate lowland rice fields. Floods, especially those caused by torrential typhoon rains, sometimes cause widespread damage and many deaths.
Virtually all the lakes of Japan are small. The largest is Biwa Lake, covering some 265 square miles (686 km 2) on Honshu (This is much smaller than Lake St. Clair, which is 430 square miles). Lakes are popular for marine sports like fishing, boating and wind surfing. Hot springs, associated with underground volcanic activity, are numerous. Many resorts have been built near these natural hot springs which are believed to have health benefits.
The ocean is an important resource for Japan. It provides fish for food and export, as well as a way to connect Japan to the rest of the world. The ocean offers challenges, however. Japan experiences about 10 typhoons each year, which are tropical cyclones that begin over the ocean. These can cause flooding, high winds and other problems.
Vegetation
Forests cover nearly 70 percent of Japan so forestry is an important industry. In general, coniferous forests predominate in the higher mountainous areas and in the far north. Fir, spruce, pine, and cedar are among the chief types of trees. Elsewhere in northern Japan and throughout the central part of the country broad-leaved deciduous trees, such as oak, maple, poplar, beech, ash, and elm, prevail. In many areas conifers are mixed among the stands. Most prevalent in the south are subtropical species, mainly broad-leaved evergreens such as camphor and laurel.
Adapted from: The Geography of Japan. 8 August 2012 <http://geography.howstuffworks.com/asia/geography-of-japan1.htm>.
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
The Geography of JapanNatural Feature Challenges Opportunities
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
The Geography of Japan – Possible AnswersNatural Feature Challenges Opportunities
archipelago (chain of islands)
the islands of the country separate people access to the ocean
mountains volcanoes recreation
plains farming, manufacturing, places for people to live
rivers flooding hydroelectric power, irrigation
lakes marine sports
ocean typhoons fish for food and export, transportation
forests hard to farm in the area forestry and wood products
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Pair ActivityNatural Feature Challenges Opportunities
Mountains
Deserts
Rain Forests
Rivers and River Systems
Lakes
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Natural Feature Challenges Opportunities
Oceans and Sea
Islands
Volcanoes
Grasslands
Glaciers
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Pair Activity – Possible Answers
Natural Feature Challenges Opportunities
Mountains Transportation problems Can’t be used for farming Barriers between people
Recreation Beauty minerals
Deserts Difficult to farm Lack of water Extreme temperatures
Areas along the edges can be farmed
Rainforests Difficult area to live in Dense vegetation Transportation problems
Many valuable plants for medicine, etc. Trees for lumber Oxygen for the Earth
Rivers and River System Flooding
Food Transportation Hydroelectr5ic power Drinking water Recreation
Lakes Possible flooding Food Transportation Recreation
Oceans and Seas
Typhoons Tsunami Possible flooding
Food Transportation recreation
Islands Transportation problems Barriers between people isolation
tourism recreation
Volcanoes Violent eruptions that can cause lots of damage Scientific study
Grasslands Can lack water and trees Prone to fire
Areas can be farmed Flat for living space
Glaciers Chunks falling off them can endanger
shipping People can’t live on them
Scientific study Tourism
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Assessment Materials
Sample of Parts to the Travel Guide
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Major Natural Features
Opportunities of the Natural Features
Obstacles of the Natural Features
Ways Humans Divide Earth into Regions
Places to Visit
Travel tips
A Packing List
ATravelGuide
ForPlanetEarth
6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Task Sheet
Your Task: Create a Travel Guide to Planet Earth for extraterrestrial visitors.
Your guide should include:
Significant natural features of the Planet Opportunities those features present to humans Obstacles those features present to humans Three different ways humans regionalize the Earth Suggestions for places to visit Travel tips A packing list Some visuals such as photos, maps or diagrams
You should use some of the following resources:
Your Global Investigator’s Notebook Fact sheets from Lesson 4 Opportunities and Obstacle charts From Lesson 6 Maps from various lessons Textbook An atlas or other reference book Websites
Your project will be rated on the following criteria:
Content Demonstration of Knowledge Organization and Structure Mechanics of Writing Visuals Creativity
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ATravelGuide
ForPlanetEarth
6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Travel Guide Review Sheet
Check all the components that are included in the Travel Guide
_____Significant Natural features of the Planet
_____Opportunities those features present to humans
_____Obstacles those features present to humans
_____Three different ways humans regionalize the Earth
_____Suggestions for places to visit
_____Travel tips
_____A packing list
What visuals have been included?
Should it have more visuals? If so, what do you suggest?
What are two positive features of the Travel Guide?
What are some suggestions for improvement?
Reviewed by ____________________________________________________________
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6th Grade Social Studies: World Geography and Global Issues SS60206Unit 2: The World in Spatial Terms Lesson 6
Travel Guide Project Rubric
1 2 3 4
Content
Demonstration of Knowledge
Organization and Structure
Mechanics of Writing
Visuals
Creativity
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