Unit Overview

The US/Canada is our first chance as a class to head out and explore the world.  Canada and the United States will be featured within this unit and the 8th grade geographers will be honing their geographical skills and digging deep into both the cultural and physical landscape of this vast land. (Note: Mexico, Caribbean & Central America…which would combine with Canada/US to for North America, will be a part of our Latin America Unit)  It is a 3 week experience that contains 2 maps of the region (Political & Physical), an Activity Packet, 2  Unit Projects, and an end of the unit quiz.  Below you will find a "download" list of items used in class and a detailed description of all the activities within this unit.  Please click the "Schedule" tab to the left in order to view the daily happenings & the event schedule for our North America Unit...happy trails! 


North America Project #1 - 

"5 THEMES" State/Province Collage

You will be creating a collage (collage = a series of pictures and/or drawings that tells a story or follows a common theme) that explains a US State (or Canadian Province) using the "Five Themes of Geography".  Your collage will have 5 photos that represent each theme using specific information from your assigned state/province.   Please be creative and use images that are unique to your state/province.  Collage can be created using hand drawn pictures/images, cut out pictures from magazines/personal photos or created on your laptop with images from the internet.  Have fun and good luck.  Please follow the checklist below in order to receive the grade you are looking for. 
Note: if you are creating this collage on your laptop you MUST have access to a printer AND your final project MUST be colorful…& all project information must be clearly displayed on the front of the project sheet. (nothing on backside)

5 Themes Collage Must Include…

____ 15pts - Neat and Colorful (Effort is Evident!)

____ 5pts - Title, Author, Date

____ 5pts - Labels (Label Themes)

____ 25 All 5 Geographic Themes Included

____ Bonus 5 pts Optional Presentation to Class (explain project)      

             Final Grade: _______ / 50 points

***Final Collage Project must be displayed on an 8 1/2 x 11 Sheet of Paper***

REFRESHER - the 5 Themes of Geography...
   1) Location
   2) Place
   3) Movement
   4) Interaction
   5) Region


Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah - Gilbert

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah - Gilbert

Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
— Nelson Mandela

US State Highpoints