1. Brainstorm what defines a place.
Ask students to brainstorm what defines a place. Provide examples to get them started, such as:
- people
- weather
- landscape
- plant life
- animal life
Have students work in small groups to write their own lists. Then, invite groups to share their ideas and write a class list on the board.
2. Have students identify what defines your town as a place.
Ask students to think about what defines your town as a place. Have them use the discussion to add ideas to the original list. If needed, prompt them with questions, such as:
- Who lives here? What languages do they speak?
- Is the neighborhood in a city, suburb, or the country?
- What is the weather like? How cold or warm does it get? Does it rain much?
- What does the land look like? Are there mountains, lakes, or beaches nearby?
- What plants and animals live here?
3. Generate a class list of questions about place.
Have students share any questions they have about what defines a place or why it is important. Ask: What are you curious about? What would you like to know more about?
Subjects & Disciplines
- Geography
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- explain what defines a place
- identify what defines their town as a place
Teaching Approach
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Brainstorming
- Discussions
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
-
Critical Thinking Skills
- Remembering
- Geographic Skills
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
National Council for Social Studies Curriculum Standards
- Theme 3: People, Places, and Environments
National Geography Standards
- Standard 4: The physical and human characteristics of places
What You’ll Need
Materials You Provide
- Paper
- Pencils
- Pens
Physical Space
- Classroom
Grouping
- Large-group instruction
Background Information
A place is defined by its natural and human features. You can learn a lot about what defines a place by looking at your own community.
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Activities
Vocabulary
characteristics of the environment created by human beings.
characteristic of a geographic region that was not created by humans.
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Soundscapes
Students discuss the natural and human-made sounds that help to define a sense of place. Then they go home to identify and collect sounds that define their home’s sense of place.
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Introduction to Population
Students learn what population means, discuss crowding and why some areas are more crowded than others, and compare and contrast living in crowded and uncrowded places.
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Important Places in Your Community
Students identify places in their local communities that are important to them. They use mental maps to analyze those places and how their personal experiences affect how they value those places.
-
Soundscapes
Students discuss the natural and human-made sounds that help to define a sense of place. Then they go home to identify and collect sounds that define their home’s sense of place.
-
Introduction to Population
Students learn what population means, discuss crowding and why some areas are more crowded than others, and compare and contrast living in crowded and uncrowded places.
-
Important Places in Your Community
Students identify places in their local communities that are important to them. They use mental maps to analyze those places and how their personal experiences affect how they value those places.