1st quarter enrichment assignments

ENRICHMENT
For each one, please note your findings in your own words. Each are due the following Wednesday. Please list your findings and hand them in to Mrs. Peters on Wednesdays.
Seeing the World Like a Geographer – Assignment for Sept 23
Maps of the World: Thematic Maps
http://www.mapsofworld.com/thematic-maps/
Thematic maps show specific information about a region or the world, such as population or climate or vegetation zones. You can explore more than 40 thematic maps at this site. There are some unusual themes here that may catch your interest. Check out the map of the Seven Wonders of the World or the map showing major cities that have hosted the Olympics.

Seeing the World Like a Geographer – Assignment for September 30
National Geographic.com: Maps and Geography Index
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/siteindex/maps.html
This is an index to National Geographic’s maps and geography Web site. It will lead you to some excellent maps and photographs. You can read more about mapping and geography, too. There are good examples of thematic maps and their uses here. These materials are organized in sections, such as “Historical Maps” and “Places in the News.”

Settlement Patterns and Ways of Life in Canada –Assignment for October 7
oCanada.ca: Canadian Regional Geography
http://www.ocanada.ca/geography/regional.php
This clear, concise site will help you learn more about the geographic regions of the vast country of Canada. You can explore the characteristics of each region that inspired Canadians to settle and build their lives there. Links take you to more text and photographs about ways of life in the Canadian territories and provinces.

The Great Lakes: The U.S. and Canada’s Freshwater Treasures-Assignment for October 14
GLIN: Great Lakes Information Network
http://www.great-lakes.net/
This site investigates the environmental challenges facing the Great Lakes. Click your way through the various topics to discover photos, maps, and text related to any ecosystem issues you are curious about. You can also explore links to other Web sites about the Great Lakes.

Urban Sprawl in North America: Where Will It End? –Assignment for October 21st
Smart Growth America
http://www.smartgrowthamerica.com/
This detailed site is a wonderful resource for teachers and students interested in advanced topics. Articles and essays cover a wide range of policy issues concerning urban and suburban growth. Read about how “smart growth” policies can affect health, commute times, and employment. Learn more about how wise planning might affect cities.

Urban Sprawl in North America: Where Will It End? –Assignment for October 28th
Sprawl City
http://www.sprawlcity.org/
Visit this site if you are concerned about how and why urban sprawl is gobbling up rural land and resources. Sprawl City will help you make sense of U.S. Bureau of Census data. Interesting case studies reveal how consumerism and land use policies affect sprawl problems in cities like Los Angeles and Portland. Links help you explore possible solutions to these problems.