Use what you have learned in science about Land and Water and what you have learned in social studies to think like a geographer. Create a presentation, in your own words, that a geographer might write about a landform and how it was formed. Choose one of the landforms listed below.
This research project will include three components: research notes, bibliography and in-class visual presentation.
Overview
Your research notes should be organized into five parts:
- Introduction
- Attention Grabber
- Topic clearly stated
- Photo of your topic
- Explain “Where is it?” - Geographic location
- Your research should include a map to illustrate your landform.
- Include the US region what it is located
- Other information about where it is
- Explain “Why is it there?” - Landform formation
- How did it form?
- Why is it there?
- Explain “What it is like there?”
- What is the climate?
- What is the culture?
- Who lives there?
- Summary of what you learned through this project.
- What is the most important thing to know about your landform?
- Enrichment: What would you need to do/know to survive if you were stranded on your landform? What would you pack? What dangers are there? What animals do you need to be prepared for? This needs to be research based, not fictional, if you decide to add this survival information to your summary.
Steps to Complete Research
Choose Landform
Pick one of the landforms from the list below. Then choose a specific example of that landform located within the United States. For instance, you might choose mountains and then decide to focus on the Rocky Mountains for research.
Landforms
mountain, river, lake. plains, glacier, volcano, plateau, caves, desert, valley, canyon, waterfall. *If you would like to research a landform that is not on this list, talk with your teacher.
Begin Research
You will need to take notes on at least two books or websites about your landform. Mrs. Rolfes will conduct a lesson on how to take notes and cite your sources. Pay close attention!
Using school sponsored research websites, find at least two reliable Internet resources about your landform. As we have discussed in class, Wikipedia is good for basic information but is not considered a reliable source. Take notes using the research outline and be sure to record the web address.
Research Graphic Organizer
Get your thoughts and research on paper. Focus on ideas and organization. Your notes should be outlined into five sections that include information to completely answer each question geographers ask.
In-Class Presentation
Prepare a 2-3 minute presentation about your landform. You have the option of presenting your research in one of the ways listed below. Focus only on answering the geographer’s questions. If you have an idea for your presentation that is not included in the list, talk to your teacher. Your presentation must be rehearsed.
There are three parts to this research project:
- Research Notes
- Bibliography page citing sources using proper formatting
- Presentation - you can choose one of the following ways to present the information about the landform you have researched:
- Explain Everything with script.
- Keynote presentation that includes 8 - 10 detailed slides.
- Tri-fold travel brochure using Pages
- Posterboard
- Other - need teacher approval
In order for your presentation to be complete, you must have written talking points on index cards at the time of your presentation.
Research Timeline
- Introduction to the research project, initial research, and topic selection.
- Overview on how to cite sources and note taking with Mrs. Rolfes.
- Begin research notes
- Begin presentation
- Work on presentations
- Finish presentation
- Presentations in class.
