1. Compile and add to the class list of questions about Europe from Lesson 2, Activity 2.
Project, or write on the board, the class's list of questions about Europe that you started at the beginning of this unit. Invite volunteers to share additional questions they recorded throughout the unit. Add those to the class list.
2. Discuss each question and answer.
See how many of the questions students can answer based on what they have learned throughout this unit. As a whole class, discuss each question and its answer. On their own papers, have students mark each question with a checkmark if they correctly answered it, a "~" if they answered somewhat correctly, and an "X" if they did not answer correctly. For those questions that students answered somewhat correctly or incorrectly, have them identify and note maps or reading passages in the unit they could use to find the answers.
3. Have students ask any remaining or new questions about Europe.
Give students an opportunity to ask any remaining or new questions they have about Europe before closing out the unit. Tell students to record these questions and keep them as a possible list of things to explore for an independent research project about Europe.
Informal Assessment
Make sure students demonstrate their learning and growth by supporting their answers to the Lesson 2 questions with what they learned throughout the unit, making connections, and generating new questions.
Extending the Learning
Have students refer back to maps or reading passages in the unit to find the answers to questions they answered somewhat correctly or incorrectly. Use students' remaining or new questions to guide future lessons about Europe.
Subjects & Disciplines
- Geography
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Social Studies
- World History
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- reflect on their learning about Europe
- identify any remaining questions about Europe that could guide future research
Teaching Approach
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Discussions
- Information organization
- Reflection
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
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Critical Thinking Skills
- Analyzing
- Evaluating
- Remembering
- Understanding
- 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 18: How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.
What You’ll Need
Materials You Provide
- Lesson 2, Activity 2 questions about Europe
- Pencils
- Pens
Required Technology
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector
Physical Space
- Classroom
Grouping
- Large-group instruction
Background Information
During this unit on using maps to understand European physical and cultural landscapes, students used maps to think about how borders intersect physical and human geographical features, and how those intersections can lead to cooperation and/or conflict. Students developed skills in map analysis and mapping that analysis to specific situations. They explored case studies in Europe and in their own communities with the goal of seeing maps as tools for understanding our world. Recognizing what they have learned and reflecting on that learning is critical to students' success in this unit. Gathering information about how students perceive Europe, its land, and its people at the beginning of the unit of instruction can be useful as a guide to help shape the lessons that follow. Comparing initial and final maps, questioning, and ideas is an instructional tool that will help you to identify future areas of study, how students' understandings have changed, and how to critically analyze and reflect on students' participation in the unit.
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Activities
- None
Vocabulary
geographic territory with a distinct name, flag, population, boundaries, and government.
sixth-largest continent and the western part of the Eurasian landmass, usually defined as stretching westward from the Ural mountains.
naturally occurring geographic characteristics.
Articles & Profiles
- National Geographic Education: Europe—Resources
- National Geographic Education: Europe—Physical Geography
- National Geographic Education: Europe—Human Geography
Maps
- NG MapMaker Interactive: Europe
- NG MapMaker 1-Page Map: Europe
- National Geographic Education: Europe MapMaker Kit
Websites
Tips & Modifications
Modification
You can use Lesson 10 as a summative assessment for the full unit.
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Gathering Ideas About Europe
Students gather their ideas about the land and peoples of Europe. They map and create lists of things they know about Europe and generate questions they have about the land and peoples of Europe.
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The Religions of Europe
Students read about dominant religions in Europe. They compare and contrast a map of religious groups in Europe to a political map of Europe and identify areas in Europe where they might expect conflict over religion.
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Gathering Ideas About Europe
Students gather their ideas about the land and peoples of Europe. They map and create lists of things they know about Europe and generate questions they have about the land and peoples of Europe.
-
-
The Religions of Europe
Students read about dominant religions in Europe. They compare and contrast a map of religious groups in Europe to a political map of Europe and identify areas in Europe where they might expect conflict over religion.