This multi-day course is is the second in a series on Middle School Geography.  Part 2 is designed to help middle schoolers and geography-motivated pre-middle schoolers apply their map reading skills  (see Part 1 course) to the continent of Europe, and acquire new skills and vocabulary to understand cultural aspects of the small but varied continent of Europe.  Students may succeed in this Part 2 course even if they have not taken Part I.   After finishing Part 2,  students will be able to  demonstrate their familiarity with the map of Europe and major landforms, compare some political, economic and cultural features of selected regions  and evaluate information on a country of their choice.  The goal of this class is to provide students with skills and challenge them to apply these skills to increase their understanding of the world beyond their own experience.  

Week 1:  Map Features - Introduce/review the political and physical map of Europe including specific landforms.  Independent Project: Choice #1 - label the countries of Europe ;  Choice #2 - practice with an on-line interactive map puzzle of Europe & complete a mini-quiz on the location of 10 countries (yes, the list will be provided by teacher).  NOTE:  A popular class feature, I encourage our students to send school appropriate geography jokes via the Outschool Classroom for teacher review.  If appropriate, we share these in class and enjoy a 'geography guffaw.'
Week 2: Country Focus - United Kingdom.  In country focus, students will practice with the map of the country and its immediate neighbors.  They will learn about cultural patterns such as language, and regional differences.  They will also be introduced to selected notable political and economic concepts associated with the region.  Independent Project:  students are encouraged to create a structured, mini-powerpoint project on the United Kingdom
Week 3:  Country Focus - Germany.  In country focus, students will practice with the map of the country.  They will learn about cultural patterns such as language, and regional differences.  They will also be introduced to notable political and economic concepts associated with the region.   Independent Project:  Students will begin their country project, using guiding instructions.
Week 4:  Country Focus - (country choice will be based on student suggestions). We will also play a Kahoot quiz game to review and reinforce learning. Independent Project:  students are encouraged to complete a powerpoint project on a country of their choice (begin working on this in Week 3).  They will have detailed instructions on how to create their project.  A paper-pencil alternative version of this project is also available.  These may be submitted for a grade, according to the project rubric.

With this small class we are able to present concepts and guide students to apply ideas and draw conclusions about what the maps, primary sources, illustrations and data show them.  We love the academic goal of expanding our students' thinking by helping them make comparisons, create questions and evaluate what they learn.  This learning will be a good foundation for understanding future middle school geography classes about world continents, cultures, economics and history.  We encourage students to complete the independent projects assigned.  When possible, students may start their project before the end of class, giving them an opportunity to clarify their ideas and form a good project plan.  We will share these at the beginning of the next class to help the class deepen their understanding and improve long term memory through repetition.  These projects will also provide artifacts suitable for a student's learning portfolio.

When students complete the 4 classes in this course they will receive a certificate that lists all completed project work.

Related courses on Outschool, now:
Middle School Geography of the World: Part 1 Mapping Skills (4 sessions)
Middle School Geography of the World: Part 2 Europe Landforms & Culture (4 sessions)
Middle School Geography of the World: Part 3 Russia @ Heart of Eurasia (4 sessions)
Middle School Geography of the World: Part 4-Middle East-Land & Culture Regions  (4 sessions)
Middle School Geography of the World: Part 5 - South Asia Society & Economy (4 sessions)
Middle School Geography of the World: Part 6 - China and South East Asia  (4 sessions)