1 Nine Weeks st

Suffolk Public Schools
Q.U.E.S.T.
Independent Project
2014-2015
st
1
Nine Weeks
Student’s Name: ________________________________________
School: ______________________________________________
Q.U.E.S.T: 8th Geography
Core Teacher: ___________________________ Block: _________
Gifted Resource Teacher: _________________________________
Student Signature _______________________________Date: ____________________
This independent project can be electronically accessed at http://blogs.spsk12.net/spsgifted/. If there are any
questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your Gifted Resource Teacher.
GRT (KFMS): Debra Curran
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Email: [email protected]
GRT (JYMS): Linda Perry-Clarke; Pamela Stark Email: [email protected]; [email protected]
GRT (FGMS/JFKMS): Linda Ellis
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Email: [email protected]
“It’s My Life”
Topics
5 Themes of Geography
Quest Standards:
Q1.1 The students will apply problem solving skills (i.e.: identify problems, formulate hypotheses, generate ideas, employ
deductive reasoning, choose and apply solutions) to achieve an outcome or solution to problems.
Q1.2 The students will use critical thinking skills (i.e.: inquiry, abstract logical thinking, inductive reasoning, critical
analysis, and the ability to find and use information) to achieve understanding, evaluate view points, and solve problems.
Q1.3 The students will be able to use effective communication in processing complex problems.
Q2.1 The students will be able to identify and utilize inductive and deductive thinking processes.
Q2.2 The students will gather and assess relevant information using abstract ideas to interpret the information effectively.
Q2.3 The students will arrive at well reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and
standards.
Geography Standards:
WG 1ab:
a) The student will use maps, globes, satellite images, photographs, or diagrams to obtain geographical information
about the world’s countries, cities, and environments.
b) apply the concepts of location, scale, map projection, or orientation.
WG 3
b) Explain how regional landscapes reflect the physical environment and the characteristics of their inhabitants
Identify and understand the 5 themes of Geography (The Five Themes of Geography were written in 1984 by the
Joint Committee on Geographic Education of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) and
Association of American Geographers (AAG). They include; location, place, human/environmental interaction,
movement, regions.
WG 4: The student will locate and analyze physical, economic, and cultural characteristics of world regions (human
interaction with environment, criteria for relative importance, physical elements)
WG 12ab:
a) Use geographic knowledge, skills, and perspectives to analyze problems and make decisions
b) Relate current events to the physical and human characteristics of places and regions
Essential Questions:
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How does your culture define your life?
How does geography play a role in your daily life and in the lives of others?
How does the movement of people influence the culture of a place?
How does your culture influence your view of the world?
How does using a variety of sources support the process of geographic inquiry?
How is relative location used to describe places?
In what ways do physical, economic, and cultural characteristics influence regional development?
How does your culture shape the way you see yourself, others, and the world?
How does your cultural values and beliefs influence the way you personally behave?
Why is it important to be aware of the invisible aspects of culture?
What are the 5 Themes of Geography?
Adapted from NG EDUCATION WEBSITE
The Five Themes of Geography were written in 1984 by the Joint Committee on Geographic
Education of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) and the Association of American
Geographers (AAG)
They include;
Location (Absolute or Relative)
o Absolute location provides a definite reference to locate a place. The reference can be
latitude and longitude, a street address, or even the Township and Range system.
o Relative location- a location of a place in relation to another place (i.e. south or
downhill)
Place
o Physical Characteristics (e.g. rivers, mountains, topography, animal and plant
life)
o Human Characteristics (e.g. cultural features of a place, land use, architecture,
work, religion, food, folk ways, transportation, communication networks)
Human/Environment Interaction- This theme considers how humans adapt to and
modify the environment
Movement- and migration across the planet
Regions- Region divides the world into manageable units for geographic study. Regions have
some sort of characteristic that unifies the area. Regions can be formal, functional, or
vernacular
o Formal regions are those that are designated by official boundaries, such as cities,
states, counties, and countries. For the most part, they are clearly indicated and publicly
known.
o Functional regions are defined by their connections. For example, the circulation area
for a major city area is the functional region of that paper.
o Vernacular regions are perceived regions, such as "The South," or the "Middle East;"
they have no formal boundaries but are understood in our mental maps of the world.
“It’s My Life”
Songwriters: Jon Bon Jovi, Richard Sambora, Martin Karl Sandberg
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice when I shout it out loud
It's my life, it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
This is for the ones who stood their ground
It's for Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder, make no mistake
Luck, it ain't enough, you've got to make your own breaks
It's my life, it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
[ From: http://www.elyrics.net ]
Better stand tall when they're calling you out
Don't bend, don't break, baby, don't back down
It's my life, it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
How does the song describe American culture? Do you think this song would apply to other cultures?
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In Geography, we will be studying the cultures of the world. Describe how learning about the different
cultures of the world will help you become a better global citizen.
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Project Choice/s =100 points
One of your projects must answer this “big” question?
How does your culture define your life?
50 Points Each
My Fun Trips Travel Book
Interactive Treasure Hunt PowerPoint
Must include:
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Must include:
Answer to the Big Question
Three places you would like to visit within 100 miles of Suffolk, VA
Map - showing directions to each specific place
Description of the relationship between your own culture and the
places you visit to include the 5 Themes of Geography
Make personal connections - example: I remember when we used to go
to the zoo, and we would always stop at Dairy Queen for barbque and
an ice cream cone
Pictures and text
Color and have a neat appearance
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Answer to the Big Question
PowerPoint Presentation for a treasure hunt in Suffolk, VA
Ten places that are important to you in Suffolk, VA
Include a map and clues for each place
Answers to the clues must be included at the end of the presentation
Description of the relationship between your own life (culture) and the
ten places you have chosen
Using each of the 5 Themes of Geography, make a connection with a
location for each theme
100 Points Each
“It’s My Life” Digital Timeline Movie
Must include:
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Answer to the Big Question
Information from your birth to present
5 Themes of Geography describing where you live in terms of the 5
Themes of geography.
Map (showing places where you have lived in the world)
Your culture to include at least seven of the following items:
Holidays, special celebrations, heritage, language, religion, hobbies,
favorite pastimes, arts, social groups, education, health, entertainment
Music and pictures, embedded in the movie (video clips optional)
Must be at least 2 minutes; may not be longer than 3 minutes.
Must cite sources and include credits.
My Instruction Manual Booklet
Must include:
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Answer to the Big Question
Instruction Manual describing how your life and culture operate
(Think operator manual)
Title page
Table of Contents
Features (tell about your life)
Options (tell about your hobbies and recreation)
Trouble Shooting Tips (problem-solving)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Relationship of the 5 Themes of Geography to your own life and
culture (must be labeled throughout the booklet)
Example: Features-Family-Place
Pictures or diagrams and text
Color and have a neat appearance
Name ______________
Student Independent Project
Test Grade
Teacher Comments:
Project 1 = 50 Points
My Fun Trips Travel Book
Project 2 = 50 Points
Interactive Treasure Hunt PowerPoint
Project 3 = 100 Points
“It’s My Life” Digital Timeline Movie
Project 4 = 100 Points
My Instruction Manual Booklet
Due Dates
Grade
(100 point total)
Topic choice _______
Project choice________