Understanding Place

Today we used our online pre-quiz to practice some more with latitude and longitude. Remember - our first quiz is tomorrow! Study study cause school's your buddy!!

We used part of classtime today to work on our place postcard assignment. Remember they are due tomorrow after you present!

5 Themes: Place

What are the three main types of map projections?

Today we reviewed projections by completing a handout together in class. We also took an online pre-quiz over latitude and longitude. Then we discussed our second theme of geography: place. Our next assignment will be using this new theme. You are to create a postcard of a place and illustrate its physical and human features.

How is place different than location?

Map Projections

What are the Five Themes of Geography? Which do you think is the most important? Why?

Before discussing map projections, we reviewed our notes from yesterday and completed our handout on latitude and logitude. We traded our mental mapping assignment with a partner and tried to interpret each other's work. The assignment was then taken up to be graded. Mrs. Blagg returned work and explained the grading system used for daily work.

We took notes along with a PPT on the different types of map projections and their purposes. Then we began our grapefruit project! With a partner we labeled our grapefruit to transform it into a globe. Then we were challenged to create a specific map projection out of our "globe". It was messy and challenging! At the end of the activity we answered a reflection prompt about what we learned about projections.

Another handout on latitude/longitude was given for homework.


How might a projection be misleading?

Monday Monday

What are the three basic types of maps?

Today we worked on our mental map assignment in class - remember they are due tomorrow at the beginning of class. Don't forget you also need to bring a grapefruit for class tomorrow!!

Then we took notes about the Five Themes of Geography and discussed location. We spent the rest of class practicing latitude and longitude.


EQ: What are the 2 types of location? Give an example of each.

It's Friday!!

What is our 'official' definition of geography?

Today we added to our notes about the tools and technology used in geography. We also discussed mental mapping and practiced with a few in-class activities. We will be using our knowledge about the parts of and uses for maps to create our own map of Lexington. This map will need to be of a common route you take here in Lexington. You need to map the route from memory, including details, and all the parts of a map (TALDOGS)!
We will work on this for a little bit in class on Monday and the assignment is due on Tuesday, August 28.

+ don't forget to bring a grapefruit!

Have a happy weekend!

Day 2!

You made it through the first day of school and you're back for more!

What is geography?
Why does it matter?
How can we study it?

These are the questions we attempted to answer in class today. We started with our graffiti chart to see what your perception of 'geography' really is. In class we completed a textbook scavenger hunt and 7 important terms. We took notes in class to begin our discussion of the basic tools and technology of geography.

Please bring in a grapefruit to class for an activity we will do Tuesday. Thanks!

Welcome Back!

Here we are at the start of another school-year...where did the summer go?!
I am excited to teach World Geography this semester and I hope we have a great fall together!

Today in class we will discuss the goals and expectations throughout this course. You will receive a syllabus, a parent letter, and the class expectations. The 'parent info sheet' you will receive with your syllabus needs to be filled out and returned for class tomorrow. Today we will also take a geography pre-test to determine our skill level in each class.

Please refer to this blog for class information until Edmodo is up and running.

Thanks!
Mrs. Blagg

Farewell!

All final exams and grades should be in by today!

I hope you have enjoyed your time in World Geography this semester and learned something about the world around you!

Enjoy your summer break!

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -Theodore Roosevelt

Finals Week!

We are reviewing all week and preparing for our comprehensive final in World Geography!

2nd & 4th blocks will take exam on Thursday, May 31st.
1st & 3rd blocks will take exam on Friday, June 1st.

Each student should have a unit outline and a set of focus questions in addition to their notes and past quizzes to help them prepare for the exam.

Mrs. Blagg will be available before school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for anyone who would like to come in for extra study help.

All missing and makeup work must be completed and turned in no later than Friday, June 1st.

Latin America

Where is Latin America? How would you describe it?

   This week we will be doing a mapping activity, a Latin current event, and  a group activity that will culminate in Latin Fiesta Day! The groups have been assigned a common celebration from a Latin American country to research and create a poster of - each group will share a food sample and what they've learned on Friday, May 25th!

Next week we will review for our comprehensive final.

Need to Know!

Due to various End of Course testing next week, we are going to have to bump up our Africa test. Our unit test on Africa will now be on Friday, May 18th. I do not want to overwhelm you next week since your end of course exams are weighed so heavily. We have already covered all the information that will be on the test & you have the review sheets needed to prepare.


Our projects are still due tomorrow. We will get through as many presentations as we can & then briefly review for the test. On Friday, we will take the test and then do more presentations. 1st & 2nd blocks will most likely finish the movie on Monday.

Africa's Current Struggles

    This week in World Geography we will be looking at the current issues affecting many African countries. Today in our notes we discussed Africa's economy base, healthcare issues, and armed conflicts.

    Beginning on May 15th, my World Geography classes will view the movie, Hotel Rwanda. This movie deals with the holocaust of internecine tribal fighting in Rwanda that sees the killing of hundreds of thousands of men, women and children. It follows the story of one ordinary hotel manager who musters the courage to save more than 1,000 helpless refugees. The theme of this film directly correlates to the content we are learning regarding Africa’s human geography.
    Due to violence and brief strong language this movie is rated PG-13 and your student will need parental permission to view this film. A letter was sent home last week - if you have not seen this letter please ask your student for it. You may also provide written permission or email me your permission with your student's name at bblagg@lexington1.net.

Firsthand South African Experience

  Today's 1st block class enjoyed a special guest speaker from South Africa. Today's guest shared her cultural experiences and some of the country's historic legacy! We are grateful for her willingness to share about her home!

  In class we continued to research and create our project - African Country Analysis. Remember, this is an individual project with a digital presentation. The project instructions were explained in class, emailed to each student, and a paper copy was offered. Please pay close attention to the rubric - the project is worth a quiz grade!

  Tomorrow is our map quiz over Africa. We have been studying and preparing all week in (& hopefully out) of class. A concise list of the major countries and cities was provided for your study aid.

All About Africa

   We've started our Africa Unit! Our mapping activities should be turned in for grading and we've started our interactive map practice in class. The map quiz will only be over Africa's political features - it's this Friday so study, study!

   In class we are taking notes and learning about Africa's physical geography - its climate, resources, and examples of HEI. We are also beginning work on our African Country Analysis - an individual digital project (worth a quiz grade). More to come on that!

Asia Test & Asian Culture Day!

Today we took our unit test over Asia. This covered all material taught on South and East Asia.
Don't forget, tomorrow is our Asia Culture Day! If you haven't brought an item to contribute yet - its not too late! We are still needing fruit roll ups and wax paper - drop by my room tomorrow before class.
Also if you have any missing or makeup assignments and would like credit for them - please turn them in ASAP!







Thanks & enjoy your extra long afternoon!! :)

Edging into East Asia...

   Today we took a content quiz over our material on South Asia.
   Then we used the outlines we started to take notes on some key physical features of China and their affect on the region. We used a digital note-taking tool to analyze the pros and cons of the Three Gorges Dam built to control the flooding of the Yangtze River.
   Tomorrow we will continue with our notes to discover the climates and vegetation zones of East Asia.

*Please remember to bring in an item or two for our Asian Culture Day on Friday. I really want all of my classes to be able to participate - and we can't if we don't supply the materials! Thanks!!

Upcoming Events!

FYI!!

Attention Parents & Students:

On Friday, April 27th the geography classes will jointly participate in an Asian Culture Day. We will be making 2 different kinds of sushi and creating various types of art. With almost 400 students participating, we are asking for your help in providing supplies for the event. If you are able to contribute for the event, we ask that you have your student bring it by Wednesday, April 25. Thank you in advance for your support!!

~Mrs. Blagg
and fellow Geography teachers

• box of rice krispie cereal
• bag of marshmallows
• 2 bags of gummy worms
• 2 boxes of square fruit rollups
• 2 rolls of paper towels
• package of small paper plates
• package of wet wipes
• box of disposable gloves

welcome back!

  As we return from Spring Break we will dive into another sub-region of Asia - South Asia. This week, we will be looking at the physical and human geography of India and its surrounding countries.
  In class today, we did our mapping activity for Asia. We will briefly go over this tomorrow in class & you will be quizzed over Asia on Friday, April 20th.
  Then we did a partner timeline activity for the name changes that Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka went though.
  Lastly, we finished with notes on the physical geography of South Asia.

spring break!

I hope you each have a fun and relaxing break!

When we come back on the 16th we will continue with our unit on Asia by looking at the South & Southeast Asian sub-regions. We will have HSAP testing that week so be prepared for some weird schedules.

I will be grading Arab Spring essays - so if its not in my inbox - its late (and remember it counts for 30% of your quiz on the Middle East).

See ya Monday!

Middle East & Major Religions

Today we prepared for our essay assignment on the Arab Spring. We will be using a CSE format which was explained and modeled in class. All essays should address 1 of the 2 claims provided. Factual evidence must be provided to support your claim. Be sure to cite your sources at the bottom of your essay in proper formatting.

After starting our essays, we finished our unit on the Middle East by taking notes on the 2 major monotheistic religions from that region. We also examined an excerpt from the Qur'an and completed our day with a Venn diagram to compare/contrast Islam & Judaism.

Remember to complete the review sheet that was handed out in class. We will take our quiz over the Middle East tomorrow and finish our essays.