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Teenage Travelers: A Weekly World Geography Adventure - A New Country Each Week

Each week in this world geography class we travel to a new country and learn about the amazing parts of its physical and human geography. Jump in and broaden your horizons!

Taylor Wirthlin

Average rating:

5.0

Number of reviews:

(167)

What's included

1 live meeting

30 mins in-class hours per week

Assessment

Students will have an informal assessment in class each day. Examples of informal assessment include: Kahoot quiz game, open ended question, drawing a picture to display understanding, etc.

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 9

Ready for an adventure that will broaden your horizons and take you on a journey around the world? This is your class. In this class you'll dive into the geography, history, and culture of various countries, and discover what makes them unique. From the snowy mountains of Switzerland to the sunny beaches of Brazil, every week will bring a new destination and a new adventure. So pack your bags, grab your passport, and join us for an amazing journey!

HOW WE LEARN:
🔆Virtual Reality
🔆Games (possible games include: Kahoot, Time to Climb, matching games, Bingo, Jeopardy, word searches, and more)
🔆Direct instruction (PowerPoint)
🔆Pictures
🔆Videos
🔆Student discussion
🔆Independent practice (i.e. drawing, polls, short answer questions, memory, etc.)

This is a companion class to my "World Geography Tour: Cooking Around the World" class. These classes CAN be taken separately, however taking them together is great way to both understand and experience the culture of the country we discuss each week. The dish we cook in the cooking class coincides with the country we discuss in this class.

Find the companion class here: 
https://outschool.com/classes/world-geography-tour-cooking-around-the-world-2qw10Wdq?usid=tu9PLRYP&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

If you are interested in a self-paced version of this class (+some added resources like recipes from the country's cuisine and coloring pages) copy and paste the link below:
https://outschool.com/classes/the-ultimate-self-paced-world-geography-adventure-part-1-explore-20-countries-fWmq8Ys3?usid=tu9PLRYP&signup=true&utm_campaign=share_activity_link

SCHEDULE

Week of
9/23/24	 Bolivia 
9/30/24	 France
10/7/24	 Cambodia
10/14/24	 Mexico
10/21/24	 Australia
10/28/24 Argentina
11/4/24	 Canada
11/11/24	 NO CLASS
11/18/24	 Brazil
11/25/24	 NO CLASS
12/2/24	 South Africa
12/9/24	 Algeria
12/16/24	 Philippines

Learning Goals

Each week students will learn about physical and human geography including things like climate, physical features, food, dance, language, bordered countries, and sports of one country.

Other Details

External Resources

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Sources

Information for this class come from CIA Factbook, World Atlas, and Country Reports.

Taylor Wirthlin

Joined February, 2021

5.0

167reviews

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

North Carolina Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History

Hello there! My name is Taylor Wade Wirthlin. As a baby my older sister called me Tay-low. As a kid, friends called me Taytor Tot, and as a teenager on the soccer field, I was T.W. Now students simply call me Mrs. W 🙂

My career in history and geography began right where history itself began; the Middle East! I explored three countries through this area on a college study abroad and man, was I blown away! I declared my college major as history, and the rest, as they say...is history.

CREDENTIALS
✏️ B.A. History Teaching
✏️ Experienced teacher in Utah and North Carolina
✏️ I have traveled to 5 continents, 24 US states, and 11 countries!
✏️ 4+ years teaching online
✏️ TESOL certified
✏️ Certified Nearpod Educator

FUN FACTS
🔆 My home state is famous for some of the best national parks in the country (I loved exploring these as a kid)!
🔆 I spent a summer flying over glaciers while working for an Alaskan tour company
🔆 I have two daughters and both are named after historical figures

TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
My teaching philosophy is all about making social studies education fun and engaging for students in elementary and middle school. Here are the three important things I focus on:
🔹 First of all, I create a classroom where students can participate and get involved in the learning process. I include lots of interactive activities and discussions to deepen students’ understanding of historical events and concepts. I include plenty of different types of interaction so all types of learners can have fun AND learn!
🔹Secondly, I teach practical skills that students can actually use in their everyday lives. History and geography aren't just about dates and facts. They teach us important lessons that can help us make good decisions, understand different perspectives, and be more empathetic. I teach skills like analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating sources, to teach students to be informed citizens who can handle the complexities of the world.
🔹Finally, I show historical figures, current leaders, and controversial ideas in a balanced way. We explore both strengths and weaknesses of all people instead of just labeling them heroes or villains. I believe we can learn so much more from history when we see people as just that; people! Because we are also just people, we too can accomplish the same amazing things as some of our most revered figures, but we also can make the same mistakes! So let’s learn from them. I take this same approach with our current world. I encourage students to think critically which helps them appreciate how complex human nature can be.

By following these principles, I hope to make history a subject that students love and enjoy, where they can learn valuable skills and become thoughtful and understanding individuals. Sharing my love for history and geography really is my passion. I’d love to have you join my exciting quest to explore the world both past and present.