The Middle West for Teachers

Place
What should they know?	__ What are the unique human made and natural characteristics of the region? __ What are the advantages or disadvantages for human habitation?
How can I help them to experience this?	A Sea of Grass: The Tallgrass Prairie by David Dvorak -This book describes the plants and animals that live on the prairie.

	Learn about plant roots and the nature of prairie plants. Why is it good to burn a prairie? Build your own real prairie! Find seeds and pictures here.
Location
What should they know?	____ Where is the region?
How can I help them to experience this?	*Blast Off to Earth! A Look at Geography* by Loreen Leedy *I have not read this book, but I did find some geography .
	Interactive Map - Roll your mouse over the map to determine state name and its capital. This map gives you attractions near major cities. What are the different types of land forms? Sure cartoons are nice, but what about real pictures?
	National Atlas - Create your own statistically accurate map about each region or part of the United States What's it like in your backyard? Begin learning about geography by looking out your window. With different regions and land forms, this idea could mold itself into a postcard activity that could be sent to other elementary schools. Having difficulty constructing visual using latitude & longitude? Check out this online example by Mr. Brad Bowerman. Then check out an online quiz. While this is a little advanced, size down the list and make your own geography dictionary with pictures!
Movement
What should they know?	__ What physical movement has helped form this region? __ How has geography affected interaction between this region and other regions?
How can I help them to experience this?	Find a book on how John Deere's steel plow helped to move settlers to the middle west. Or find out about Lincoln's famous Homestead Act and how it helped to move settlers into the middle west and the west.
	Brainpop: Thunderstorms & Tornadoes -Watch the movie then try this activity (more complicated then the two liter bottle experiment, but it looks worth it). The intro to the National Geographic: Eye in the Sky piece is worth playing alone. Color with the tornado safety coloring book
	How did people live on the prairie when there were no trees? Soddies, or sod homes were made of bricks of sod. Have your class grow their own sod in a cookie tray (two-weeks minimum to develop roots), cut sod bricks, and assemble a sod home for a . Show some examples from an archive or read for background at the History Channel. Have a classroom debate whether a new strip mall should go in where a forest was. "Urban convenience vs. Rural Charm" Transportation is part of what makes the middle west so important. Railroads, trucks, boats are used every day to transport goods. Also check out the history of ship building here or here. Then get your class to practice ship building with paper and hold a race. Other great ideas from 42Explore on ships and boats.
Human Interaction with Environment
What should they know?	__ How have people past and present interacted with the environment? __ How do people adapt to change and depend on this region?
How can I help them to experience this?	The Heartland by Diane Siebert -This book describes the farms, cities, and people that live here
	Brainpop: Assembly Line -Learn about Henry Ford's invention that made Detroit the place to be.
	Write a poem or add a line to the Heartland Learn all about the major crops of the Middle West: corn, soybeans, and wheat from Agriculture in the Classroom. Take the information and create a graph, or just look at the random agriculture facts. The National Agricultural Library has a few links and ideas about the changing nature of agriculture. If you're just interested in teaching about corn, Corn for Kids from the National Corn Growers Association has some lessons you can adjust for your age level. Maybe chickens, cows, or pigs are more your style. How serious is your class about understanding the inner workings of a beef farm? The American Egg Board would like to tell you about the incredible edible egg. Instead of testing have the students take notes about the Great Plains and the Central Plains (Great Lake States) and draw a picture of past and present. See an actual John Deere plow from History Wired. Mark Twain or Samuel Clemens? Either way check out the PBS site about his scrap booking. Then take a visit online to his home. A&E has a brief summary of his life with a video clip as well.



	*Part of an Independent Learning Project for Cambridge College* A Journey Through the Regions of the United States: Enhancing Learning with Technology (Thesis Available at Cambridge College) An online supplement to the Naperville District 203 fourh grade unit covering States & Regions Okay, but what's the point of this site?
Backgrounds from Absolute Background Textures Archive	Updated: April 22, 2004 --site map--	*All graphics were created by author, unless otherwise noted.