Social Studies
November 20 - November 26, 2013

Find the latest educational resources from Iowa Public Television.

Miami, Florida

Grades: 1-4

Join Wilson and Ditch as they hang out on a local beach in Miami, Florida, enjoying the sun, soft sand, and surf before going to see an alligator show at a gator rescue farm near the Everglades National Park. Viewers learn that Miami is the largest city in Florida and the 4th largest city in America and because it is the southernmost state on the map and has a close proximity to Cuba, there is a lot of Spanish spoken.

South America Interactive Map
Grade Range: 6-13+

In this interactive map produced by WGBH, explore the continent and countries of South America. Through political, physical, population, and climate map layers and

individual country views, learn about the boundaries that define the continent's 12

sovereign states and one overseas region, the geologic features that shape its landscape, and the ethnically and racially diverse people who inhabit its urban centers and remote villages. Note: Activity content is accessible to assistive technologies.

Reading Maps
Grade Range: 6-12

Learn the visual language of maps (perspective, symbols and data) and see how mapping techniques have changed over time. Practice looking at maps as historical artifacts.

The Three Rivers

Grade Range: 7-12

Students engage in a scientific mystery that they solve by exploring interactive panoramic images of Columbia, SC and picking up clues along the way. Along the waterways they study the history, geography, ecology, plants and wildlife of this region and also learn how rivers were instrumental in forming this historic city.

Geospatial Revolution: History of Geography

Grade Range: 7-12

In this video from Penn State Public Broadcasting's Geospatial Revolution project, experts trace the history of geography from clay tablets during Babylonian times to mapmaking from horseback in the 1800s to digital maps produced by computers in the 60s. Jack Dangermond, the co-founder of a Geographic Information Systems and mapping software company, notes that digital geography has enabled people to think about geography in abstract ways using databases and visualization.

Designing a Poster to Communicate Information: Yellowstone National Park
Grade Range: 3-6

Using notes they have taken while watching a video, students work as part of a group to create an interesting and informative poster with pictures and facts about Yellowstone National Park.

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