Lesson Plans:

1. Why Does Africa Need National Parks?

   
   Africa's numerous national parks, game reserves, and other protected areas help safeguard the continent's famed wildlife from the effects of excessive or harmful human activities. Using the National Geographic magazine feature Africa MegaFlyover and other resources, students will learn about the African landscape and consider why national parks are important. They will imagine that they've been placed in charge of creating a new African national park, and then draw pictures and write paragraphs about this new park.
   
   Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours
   
   To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit  National Geographic.
   
   
   
   

2. Volcanoes in Washington State and Tanzania

   
   One geographic feature that Washington State and Tanzania have in common is volcanoes. Volcanoes make a great "hook" for students and the study of geography because they are easily seen, exciting when they blow, and relevant given the recent activity at Mount St. Helens and warnings of future activity at Mount Rainier. The study of volcanoes in two different places, namely Washington and Tanzania in this lesson, can allow for an excellent exploration of these important geographic features and the cultural issues experienced by the people living around volcanoes in these two parts of the world. Comparing the two sites allows for cross-cultural comparisons and a stronger understanding of the connections between humans and the environment in different places around the world. This lesson involves the five elements of geography and encourages students to apply these elements to Washington and Tanzania.
   
   Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours
   
   To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit  World-Affairs.
   
   
   
   

3. Alike and Different: The Middle East and the United States

   
   This lesson will ask students to examine the similarities and differences between the Middle East and their own city, state, and country. Students will practice basic map skills by examining maps of the Middle East at National Geographic's Hot Spot: Iraq Web site and maps of their own region, looking for similar features: rivers, lakes, cities, marshes, etc. They will look at a map of Baghdad and compare it to a map of their own city, a city they have visited, or any major U.S. city. Finally, they will fill in and label their own blank outline maps of the Middle East region and the United States.
   
   Time needed for lesson plan: 2-3 hours
   
   To link to the actual lesson plan, please visit  National Geographic.