Five Themes of Geography

Sixth Grade World Cultures Lesson

Chip Flemmer and Wester Middle School’s Social Studies Team

Lesson Objectives

As a result of this lesson, the student will:

1. Know and be able to identify the five themes of geography.

2. Describe characteristics and/or examples of each of the five themes.

3. Be able to apply the five themes to their own lives.

Introduction

We begin by teaching the students the acronym, MR. LIP to help learn the five themes of geography.

• Movement
• Region
• Location
• Interaction (Human-Environment Interaction)
• Place

Student Assignment Menu

Appetizer:

Students will all enjoy a mouth-watering note taking session from a PowerPoint identifying the definition and characteristics of each of the five themes of geography.

Entrée (Select One):

Students will be given a menu of ways in which to demonstrate their knowledge of the five themes of geography, the definition, and how it applies to our lives.

1. Students can create a flip book using construction paper which will include:

a. Title of each of the five themes.

b. Definition of each theme.

c. Picture portraying that theme and how it relates to their life.

2. Students can create a multimedia presentation showing the five themes along with characteristics/examples and how it applies to their lives.

3. Students can perform a skit demonstrating their knowledge (since they already have the definitions on paper, this will show whether or not they can apply the learning).

*Since we are in such a rapidly growing area we can explore the Movement concept in more depth by:

4. (Class-Wide or individual) Charting how many students have lived in Frisco for one year, three years, five years, and ten years. We will then create an excel graph showing the results from each class period and then a cumulative result from all of my classes. I will use my Mobi iWrite to create the chart with the students. The graph will emphasize the

Impact and importance of movement on not only Frisco, Texas but throughout the world in

obtaining goods, services, ideas, etc.

5. Since we have so many students that are from other parts of the country, students can create a journal entry or a blog depicting their Human-Environment Interaction to Texas compared to where they came from. The journal or blog can go into detail about specific adjustments they had to make to the geography of Frisco, Texas.

6. Since place refers to something that makes a place “special,” students can create a brochure or a poster that will show what makes Frisco (or wherever they consider home) to be unique from any other place.

7. Create-A-Project: Students may propose a unique way to accomplish the assignment and must run their idea past the teacher for approval. This must be unique and creative.

Dessert:

Students will be quizzed over the five themes of geography and will need to know the materials for future tests because it will be used throughout the rest of the course.

Resources

Social Studies textbook

PowerPoint Notes

Assessment

90-100 = Assignment is complete and they demonstrated a thorough knowledge on the subject.

80-89 = Assignment is complete and they demonstrate knowledge on the subject.

70-79 = Assignment is complete, but there are some gaps in their knowledge on the subject.

0-69 = Assignment is incomplete