Unit Overview

The US/Canada Unit is our first chance as a class to head out and actually explore our 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 landmass. (Please Note: Mexico, Caribbean & Central America…which would combine with Canada/US to for North America, will be a part of our Latin America Unit)  This unit of study is a 5 week experience that contains 3 maps of the region (US Political, Canada Political & US/Canada Physical), an Activity Packet, a National Parks Unit Project, and a focus to water terms to increase basic Geographic literacy.  Below you will find a "download" list of items used in class, which include detailed descriptions of the activities within this unit.  Please use the Gilbert or Culver Tabs on the Home Page to view daily schedule of events for the US/Canada Unit...happy trails! 

National Parks Mini Unit Activities & Project
Topographic Mapping Mini Unit

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