Middle School Geography of the World: Part 3 - Russia @ the Heart of Eurasia
Russia is that huge complex country, from the Czars to the USSR to today. Build powerful, effective speech skills, master physical, political, cultural & economic ideas (Communism).*Small Classes*Experienced Teacher*No prerequisites
Miss Mollie Geography & Social Studies Writing
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(135)
What's included
4 live meetings
3 hrs 40 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Students can choose from a menu of topics and formats to complete modest independent projects. Projects are designed to give students an opportunity to practice skills we addressed in class. These can serve as portfolio projects to demonstrate learning. Estimated time for independent work after each class: 30 minutes. We will set aside some class time for students to begin their homework project in class. In this way, students can easily ask clarifying questions as they proceed. We also encourage students to practice with an online interactive puzzle game to review the names and locations of countries bordering Russia. They should also review the key terms list each week to prepare for our dazzling Kahoot in Week 4.Assessment
A student-completed map of the Russian Federation, 2 independent projects and Kahoot quiz at the end of this mini-course will demonstrate mastery of skills, the list of terms and concepts. Student score on the Kahoot quiz is also available.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 8
This multi-day course is the third in a series on Middle School Geography, focusing on physical and human geography. Part 3 is designed to help middle schoolers apply their map reading and analytic skills to the spell-binding country of Russia and its neighbors, today. Part 3 will hit big ideas like Marxism and Communism, introduce new skills and vocabulary to address physical, political, economic and cultural aspects of the vast Eurasian region. Students can succeed in this Part 3 course even if they have not taken Part I or 2. After finishing Part 3 students will be able to demonstrate their familiarity with the map of Russia and its neighbors, identify physical features, compare some political, economic and cultural features and evaluate information on a current event. The goal of this class is to provide students with skills and challenge them to apply these skills to increase their understanding of today's world beyond their own experience. At the time of enrollment, students are provided with a set of vocabulary and defined concepts. We encourage students to review these each week if they want to finish our Week 4 Kahoot with a mighty splash 😊. NOTE: A popular class feature, I encourage our students to send school appropriate geography jokes via the Outschool Classroom. We will share appropriate jokes, puns & cartoons in class and enjoy a 'geography guffaw.' My goal is to draw students into our discussions using humor, interactive games/techniques and student choice. COURSE OUTLINE WEEK 1: Physical Features & Political Boundaries Over Time WEEK 2: WEEK 2: Major Cultural Regions & Big Ideas: Feudalism + Communism WEEK 3: Marxism - Communism & Modern Economic and Political Trends WEEK 4: Current Events Analysis, Student Projects & Kahoot 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 almanac data sources show them. We love the academic goal of expanding our students' thinking by helping them evaluate sources, make comparisons, create questions and evaluate what they learn. This learning will be a good foundation for understanding future middle school and high school geography classes about world continents, cultures, economics and political history. Independent Projects. We encourage students to complete the independent projects assigned. Students will choose topics and formats from a menu of activities. Projects build on research skills presented in class and are supported with specific resources and project instructions. Students will have a choice of using technology to build their projects or relying on non-digital resources (paper/pencil, art materials). 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 student projects at the beginning of the next class session to help the students deepen their understanding and improve long term memory of class topics. These projects will also serve as artifacts suitable for a student's learning portfolio. When students complete the 4 classes in this course they will receive a certificate of course completion, referring to all completed project work. National Geography Standards addressed in this course: Students will demonstrate thinking skills: chronology, statistical analysis and source analysis. 4 The physical and human characteristics of places Places and Regions 5 That people create regions to interpret Earth's complexity Places and Regions 9 The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface Human Systems 11 The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface Human Systems 13 How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface Human Systems 15 How physical systems affect human systems Environment and Society 18 How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future. The Uses of Geography 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) Geography Bee: Map Skills Vocabulary - Let’s Kahoot It! (1 session) Geography Bee 2: Landforms in Europe - Let’s Kahoot It (1 session) Geography Bee 3: Russia - Places and Things - Let’s Kahoot It! (1 session) Geography Bee 4: Middle East - Culture, Economy & the Map - Let’s Kahoot It! (1 session) Geography Bee 5: South Asia - Locations, Trade and Society - Let's Kahoot It! (1 session) Geography Bee 6: East-SE Asia Geography & Thinking Skills-Let’s Kahoot It! (1 session) Geography Bee 7: Australia/Oceana Ecosystem, Location, Movement-Let's Kahoot It! Geography Bee World Series (1) - Let's Kahoot It! [All 7 Geography Bees in this series are bundled in one sign up] (7 sessions)
Learning Goals
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, specifically in the region of the Russian Federation. Students will demonstrate mastery of over 20 concepts related to landforms, political and physical maps, history highlights and the economy. They will practice with research and analysis to make sense out of the knowledge they acquire. Students will also sharpen their ability to form hypotheses and defend them, using artful thinking techniques. These concepts are embedded in middle school geography learning standards.
Students will demonstrate thinking skills: chronology, statistical analysis, source analysis. and constructing effective arguments using evidence.
National Geography Standards addressed in this course:
4 The physical and human characteristics of places Places and Regions
5 That people create regions to interpret Earth's complexity Places and Regions
9 The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface Human Systems
11 The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface Human Systems
13 How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface Human Systems
15 How physical systems affect human systems Environment and Society
18 How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future. The Uses of Geography
Other Details
Parental Guidance
Homework assignments are provided but are not required for participation. For source material, students may access one or more sites. These sites provide useful resources and give our students an opportunity to practice map skills, gather research information and extend their learning. For on-line best practice, students should use the link to a resource that is provided in our classroom. No membership or sign up is required to access the links provided in class. Best practice also recommends responsible adults to monitor student on-line activity.
Supply List
Handouts and homework guidance will be provided through Outschool communication. It will be helpful to print out the handout provided for our first class. This is a map activity that students will use in our first class. In Week 4, Students should have two screens for the Kahoot game quiz, if possible. Our quiz game is to provide review and evidence of learning--in an entertaining game format. The device you normally use for online classes will display the questions and choices through Outschool. A second smart device, a smart phone or tablet, works well. Using this second device, learners will sign in to www.kahoot.it, enter the PIN number provided in class and then they are ready to enter their answers in our Kahoot. Results will be displayed in the Outschool classroom screen after each question. If a second device is not available to enter answers, students can participate by signing into Kahoot on their Outschool computer with a second tab (split screen OS/Kahoot if you are techie) or with a simple paper & pencil, and keep their own tally of results.
2 files available upon enrollment
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined August, 2020
5.0
135reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Maryland Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
2 Degrees
Master's Degree from George Washington University
Bachelor's Degree in History from Trinity University of Washington D.C.
I am certified as a Social Studies Teacher in my state, and have taught Social Studies (including World Geography) for over 18 years, primarily at the Middle School level. My classes have had lots of fun and engagement with World Geography, delving into the wonders of 'oh so slightly' familiar cultures, as well as cultures that are dramatically different from the West. Students sparkle when engaging in special projects, conversations, Kahoot Challenges, interactive games and other teaching practices designed to help our students enjoy becoming a master of their own learning. Master's Degree (Public Policy), Bachelor's Degree (History), Teaching Certificate (State of Maryland) : Social Studies, History, Middle School Language Arts, 30 credits beyond Master's Degree.Reviews
Live Group Class
$60
for 4 classes1x per week, 4 weeks
55 min
Completed by 15 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-14
1-6 learners per class
