Geography and the newspaper

 

I. FOCUS ON A COUNTRY

 

Write down the names of 10 countries discussed in today’s news other than the United States.

 

Write a short phrase or sentence explaining why that country is in the news.

 

Locate the 10 countries on a map or globe and find the following information:

--The continent where the country is located

--Whether the country is north or south of the equator

--Name at least two bordering countries

--Name two major cities within this country

--Latitude and longitude of a major city in this country

--Whether it is larger or smaller in area than the United States

--A description of the climate in this region

--Description of any major geographical features (such as rivers, oceans, mountains, etc.) in this area

 

II. IDENTIFY THE LANDFORM

 

Find 10 national and international datelines in today’s newspaper.

 

After locating the datelines on a map, decide on which of the main landforms (plains, plateaus, mountains, hills) each city is built.

 

III. REGIONS IN THE NEWS

 

With a group of three or four students, use the newspaper to find a news article about each of the major regions of the world:

--Anglo-America

--Latin America

--Europe

--North Africa

--Sub-Saharan Africa

--Middle East

--Eurasia

--Southeast Asia

--Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, etc.)

--Pacific Islands

 

This might take several days of newspaper use or work at home.

 

--Which areas are most easily found?

 

--Which areas are more difficult to find?

 

--Discuss the differences.

 

IV. CLIMATE CONTROL

 

--Find news stories in today’s paper that are related to the climate in the various regions of the Earth, such as crop failure due to drought, skiers trapped because of blizzards, etc.

 

V. WHAT TO WEAR?

 

--Look through the retail clothing ads in today’s news. Find examples of clothes that are advertised at this time of year because of the climate in your area.

 

VI. HOT HOT HOT

 

--Locate the detailed weather report in today’s newspaper.

 

--Circle the city with the highest temperature in the nation.

 

--Find these cities on a map or globe.

 

--Give their locations by telling their approximate latitude and longitude.

 

VII. NATIONS IN THE NEWS

 

--Scan the international news stories in the newspaper.

 

--Consult a map to determine what nations have geographical features (rivers, oceans, mountains, etc.) that form their political boundaries.

 

--Are these geographical features related to why the nation is in the news?

 

VIII. ON THE MAP

 

--Locate examples of three maps in the paper. What information do these maps give?

 

--Why are the above maps in the paper?

 

IX. HOT HOT HOT (PART 2)

 

Some people live where it is warm all year long. They live in a warm climate.

 

--Cut from your paper four pictures of clothes you would wear in this warm climate. Glue them to a sheet of paper.

 

--Find four pictures of clothes you would not wear in this warm place. Glue them to a sheet of paper.

 

--Write a sentence of at least four words about why you would or would not like to live in a warm climate. (Four words???)

 

X. DESTINATION DATELINE

 

--Choose a national or international dateline to which you would like to win a trip.

 

--Trace the route to each destination on a map.

 

--In which region of the country/world does your trip end?

 

--How many time zones would you go through during the trip?

 

--Compare your destination city to the one in which you live according to the climate, elevation, longitude and latitude.