Let's Move!

1. The first thing you need to do before you begin packing your boxes is figure out where you would like to move! To do that, you need to complete the Geography Interest Inventory found in the Resources section (see below). Once complete, you will be assigned to the region that is right for you.
     Before you begin working on the Interest Inventory, you will watch a one-minute Introduction section of a video listed in Step #1 of your Process Page Resources (see below). All of the Resources you need to find will be listed in order by Step number on this page.This will give you a quick visual of all the wonders that the regions of the U.S. have to offer! You will also view a map of the 4 regions we will be working with created by the U.S. Census Bureau. These regions are: the Northeast, South, West, and Midwest.

2. There are a few more things you need to know before you begin. You will be working with several important terms including climate, as well as human and physical characteristics of your regions. You will complete a vocabulary strategy called the Concept Wheel to reinforce these terms. Your teacher will model how to complete a Concept Wheel before you begin (see below for assigned Concept Wheel). The resource(s) you will need to complete your Concept Wheel are in Step #2 of the Process Page Resources (below).

(place students in groups according to region preferences based on Geography Interest Inventory results)

3. Now that you know which region you will be moving to, it is time to start your research! To help, you have a wonderful team of fellow students who will be learning about your new region right alongside you. You will work together to gather information about your new region as well as to compare it to the one we already live in (the Midwest). This information about your new region will be put into a form called an I-Chart. You will complete one part of the I-Chart at a time, with help from resources and your group members. Your teacher will model for you how to begin completing the I-Chart. Before you begin filling it out, you need to think as a group about what you would like to know about your region. Brainstorm at least 3 questions and list these on the back of your I-Chart. Remember to keep in mind the questions that all good geographers ask in examining United States geography: Where is this region? What is it like there? How it it connected to other places? Let's begin!
         The first item you will need to research about your region will be the climate. You will want to know what the weather patterns over time will be like around your new home. Resources for the climate section of your I-Chart may be found in Step #3 of the Process Page Resources (below).

4. Next, you will need to research the human characteristics and physical characteristics of your new region. Resources for your I-Chart may be found in Step #4 of the Process Page Resources (below).

5. The final "Interesting Facts" box on your I-Chart is for you to determine. You can decide if you want to fill it with interesting facts you found out about the states in your region, or if you would like to put in information about landforms or natural resources that your region may have to offer. For resources, see Step #5 of the Process Page Resources (below).

6. You will collaborate with your group members to research the climate, human and physical characteristics of the region to which Michigan belongs (the Midwest). Each member of your group will be assigned one of these categories on the I-Chart to research. You will come together as a group to share and discuss what you found after you have completed your research. Midwest resources are found in Step #6 of the Process Page Resources (below).

7. Now that you have completed your I-Chart, please go to the websites listed in Step #7 of the Process Page Resources for a final review of information about your region. Then use the Read, Remember, Represent and Retell form in the Resources section below to create a quick-sketch of what your region looks like to you when you picture it in your mind. This could include landforms or other physical characteristics, human characteristics, or anything else unusual to your region that you are visualizing. Your teacher will model for you how to complete a Read, Remember, Represent and Retell before you begin.

8. You have a good visual image of your region with all the information written down that you need. Now, you are ready to begin your PowerPoint. Each column on the I-Chart will be a separate slide on the PowerPoint. You may borrow images from Google Images, askkids.net or any of the websites referenced above or in our Resource page for your PowerPoint. Your PowerPoint should include a title slide and at least four slides about your new region, with at least one slide comparing the new region to the Midwest. Remember to include vocabulary terms learned from your Concept Wheels and I-Charts, as well as maps and any other information that might be helpful. Each slide must have at least one picture.

9. Your PowerPoint is almost ready to share, but before you present it to your parents, you must present it to your group members. Each one of your PowerPoints will be different even though you researched the same region!

10. You are finally ready for the big day! Your parents are coming in to find out why they should move to the new region you have carefully researched and discovered everything there is to know about. Good luck on your presentation. You will be terrific!