Geography, the Compass, and Navigation

Geography, The Compass, and Navigation

This lesson will expose students to geography and mapmaking, the compass and magnetism, and navigation. Students will explore how maps can be useful for making sense of the world by exploring the development of languages in southern India and their influence on each other due to geographic proximity.

Lesson Objectives:

1. Understand essential elements of maps, compasses, and navigation

2. Explore how maps can be used to understand our world through the example of geographically close and linguistically related languages

3. Understand the diversity of languages spoken in India

This lesson plan kit includes:

• Student Workbook

• Glossary of Terms

Essential Questions:

1. What are maps and what are their uses? What are the different parts of a map?

2. What is linguistics? What languages are spoken in India?

3. What are compasses? Where did compasses come from?

4. What is magnetism? How is the Earth like a magnet?

5. How can students combine the ideas of geography and scientific principles of the compass?

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The standards covered in this lesson are: (Common Core) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.3, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.4, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.3; NCSS standards: Culture and Cultural Diversity; Time, Continuity, and Change; People, Places, and Environments; Science, Technology, and Society, Geography

Lesson plan created by Rose Clubok and Mohamed Zakaria Kheder in partnership with OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates

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