FLOOR IT

Roy (Jack) Tison

Preview of Main Ideas

Students should be able to locate the continents and oceans in their correct relationship to each other by placing outlines of the continents and ocean name cards on the floor in their correct positions as they would appear on earth.

Connection with the Curriculum

This activity is appropriate for use in all social sciences classes, particularly geography, United States history, and world history.

Teaching Level: Grades 5-8

Objectives Classification Outline (Also see objectives classification matrix below.)

Objective #1: The student will be able to create a map of the world on the floor.

Essential Element: The world in Spatial Terms.

Standard #1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.

Knowledge Statement #2: How to make and use maps, globes, graphs, charts, models, and databases to analyze spatial distributions and patterns.

Skill Set #3: Organizing Geographic information.

Skill #1: Prepare various forms of maps as a means of organizing geographic information.

Theme: Location.

Objective #2: The student will be able to locate the continents and oceans in their correct relationship to each other.

Essential Element: The World in Spatial Terms.

Standard #1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.

Knowledge Statement #3: The relative advantages and disadvantages of using maps, globes, aerial and other photographs, satellite-produced images, and models to solve geographic problems.

Skill Set #4: Analyzing Geographic Information.

Skill #1: Interpret information obtained from maps, aerial photographs, satellite-produced images, and geographic information systems.

Theme: Location.

Materials

1. 3x5 index cards.

2. Colored markers.

3. Poster board or similar material, pencil, scissors, tape.

4. Overhead projector.

5. Transparencies of each continent.

Suggestions for Teaching the Lesson

Before the Lesson

1. Use a blue marker and five 3x5 index cards and label them as follows: Artic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Pacific Ocean.

2. Cut out the shapes of the seven continents using poster board or similar material by using the overhead projector and transparencies of each continent. Tape the poster board to the wall and project the image of the continent on to it. Trace the outline of the continent on the poster board. Cut out the shape of the continent.

3. Do not write the name of the continent on the cut-out shapes of the continents

4. Elevation shading may be added to the continents if desired.

5. To protect the ocean cards and continent shapes laminate them or cover them with contact paper.

Opening the Lesson

Inform the class that they are going to review the location of the continents and oceans by creating a map of the world on the floor.

Developing the Lesson

1. Have the class sit on the floor.

2. Pass out the five ocean cards and the seven continent shapes to different students.

3. Have each student, one at a time, place the ocean cards and continent shapes on the floor to create a map of the world (Hint: Start with North America.)

Concluding the Lesson

Discuss the relative location of the continents and oceans as they relate to each other.

Extending the Lesson

1. Add directional cards.

2. Add hemisphere cards.

3. Add latitude and longitude cards.

4. Add equator and prime meridian cards with pieces of string to indicate their correct location on the floor map.

Assessing Student Learning

1. Have students participate as an introductory activity to a unit of study on the continents and oceans or as a culminating activity review the unit.

2. Have students repeat this activity after they have studied directions, hemispheres, and latitude and longitude.

3. Have students complete assignments dealing with continents and ocean that relate their position to each other using directions, that relate their position with in hemispheres, and that give location relating to latitude and longitude.

GEOGRAPHY STANDARDS CLASSIFICATION MATRIX – GRADES           5-8   

Title: Floor It          Author:     Roy (Jack) Tison

Note:  See also Objectives Classification Outline in the lesson.

Back to Geographers Have High Standards Table of Contents

Back to Home