Starting your PowerPoint

Once you've completed Part 4 in your Word document, you need to find just a little more information about your state and Afghanistan.

Part 5: Culture

Using the CultureGrams website, you will compare and contrast the culture of your state and Afghanistan. Culture refers to the shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices of a group of people. This is what people who study human geography focus on.

Use the "states" edition to find information about your state, then the "world" edition to find out information about Afghanistan. You may also use the other websites I showed you earlier to find information about Afghanistan.

Recommendation: one partner should answer questions for your state, the other for Afghanistan.

Answer the questions below about your state. Make sure that you answer COMPLETELY. Don't leave details out!

1. Describe the culture of your state (Hint: use the "Cultural Background" link on the side of the page!).
2. Describe the population of your state. What are the people like who live there?
3. What are some popular foods in your state? Describe them.

Now, answer the following questions about Afghanistan. Again, answer COMPLETELY. Don't leave details out!

1. Describe the culture of Afghanistan.
2. Describe the population of Afghanistan. What are the people like who live there?
3. What are some popular foods in Afghanistan? Describe them.

Once you've completed these questions, you've completed the Research Sheet component of your project. Make sure that you save your finalized research sheet to the correct folder for your period on the Y: drive.

The PowerPoint

Once you've finished finding your data about your state and Afghanistan, it's time to start putting your PowerPoint presentation together. First, take a look at the PowerPoint presentation rubric.

Your PowerPoint should include, at minimum, 5 slides:

• A title slide, including your name, your partner's name, and your state's name, as well as maps of both your state and Afghanistan
• A slide comparing the major landforms of your state with the major landforms of Afghanistan
• A slide comparing the climate of your state to the climate of Afghanistan
• A slide comparing the culture of your state with the culture of Afghanistan
• A slide evaluating the ability of a person from your state to adapt to the physical and human geography of Afghanistan

Include a photo on each slide. Be able to explain what each photo shows and why you chose to use it.

You will find an example PowerPoint in my Y:\Ramin World Geography folder. The file is called "A Soldier from Minnesota Goes to Afghanistan."

Your final presentation should, of course, look more beautiful and complete than mine. I completed mine in 10 minutes. You should not.

Once you finish finding your information, you may begin working on the PowerPoint. Follow the project description, the instructions on the blog, and your rubric to make sure you are successful. Some hints:

• You may use Google to search for images. However, remember: you must be able to explain what each one is and why you chose it. If your image is inaccurate, it will cost you major points.
• Don't write EVERYTHING you plan to talk about on your PowerPoint. Keep the information short.
• Be prepared to make eye contact -- each partner should know what is on the PowerPoint!
• Make sure it looks nice and that the text is readable.
• When in doubt, ask for help!

United States Map Game

Here's a map game to help you study for your 50 states test.

We will take this test for the first time on Wednesday, September 28. It will be 50 points total.

"Training for Afghanistan" Project

We will continue working on the project we started in class yesterday. First, look at the project description.

Internet Resources:

• Culture Grams
• CIA World Factbook
• Online NewsHour: Afghanistan and The War on Terror

Part 1: U.S. State Data
Finish answering the questions we began about your state. Type the answers into a Word document, and save it to the following location: Y:\Ramin World Geography\Period X

Save the document as "Your Last Names - Your State". It must be saved by the end of this class period.

You can finish answering the questions using your book, any of the websites listed in the project description, or using the U.S Census website.

1. What is the approximate elevation of your state?
2. What major bodies of water, if any, touch or go through your state?
3. What is your state's largest city?
4. What is the distance from your state's largest city to Chicago?
5. Which American Indian tribes, if any, were found in your state in 1600 CE?
6. What are the main economic activities in your state? Describe what you think each activity means.
7. Are there any natural hazards in your state? Describe them.
8. What is the population density of your state’s largest city? What is the population density of the majority of your state?
9. What is your state’s total population as of 2000? What percentage of your state’s population lived in an urban area as of 1990?
10. What percentage of your state's population graduates from high school?
11. What is the "per capita" income in your state? What do you think this means?
12. What landform region(s) does your state belong to?
13. What natural resources exist in your state?
14. What is the climate like in your state?
15. What type of vegetation grows in your state? List each type.

Part 2: An American Tale

Now that you have your data on your state, use it to write a  descriptive story telling what life might be like for a person in your state. Your description should include the following types of information:
What you do for a living
How your state’s physical environment affects your life, if at all
Where you live – urban or rural area, etc.

This should be approximately 2 paragraphs in length -- exactly enough for each partner to be responsible for writing one!

Complete this in the same Word Document. 10 points.

Part 3: Afghanistan Data
You know everything there is to know about your state! Well, almost. But you definitely have enough information to move on to looking at Afghanistan.

Using the websites listed on the project description sheet, answer the questions below for Afghanistan. For each answer, copy and paste the link where you found the information.

1. What is the highest point in Afghanistan? The lowest? Record the name and elevation for each.
2. What major bodies of water, if any, touch or go through Afghanistan?
3. What is Afghanistan's largest city?
4. What is the distance from your state's largest city to Afghanistan's largest city?
5. What is the major religion practiced in Afghanistan?
6. What are the main economic activities in Afghanistan? Describe what you think each activity means.
7. Are there any natural hazards in Afghanistan? Describe them.
8. What is the population of Afghanistan’s largest city?
9. What is Afghanistan’s total population? What percentage of Afghanistan’s population lives in an urban area?
10. What percentage of Afghanistan's population graduates from high school?
11. What is the "per capita" income in Afghanistan? What do you think this means?
12. What landforms can be found in Afghanistan?
13. What natural resources exist in Afghanistan?
14. What is the climate like in Afghanistan?
15. What type of vegetation grows in Afghanistan? List each type.

Part 4: Afghanistan Predictions
Now, put yourself in the shoes of a soldier from your state sent to Afghanistan. Use the data you gathered to make a list of five predictions. Your predictions should include

• challenges the soldier might face based on the differences between his or her home and Afghanistan
• advantages the soldier might have in Afghanistan because of his or her home environment

Try to think in terms of both urban and rural areas.

Complete this in the same Word Document.

More Extra Credit??!?

Over the past week, reporter Mike Leonard from the Today Show has been visiting Providence St. Mel. He plans to create a story that will air on national television.

Mr. Leonard first visited the school in 1982, when he taped a segment seen by many people across the country, including President Reagan.

Here's the video: Providence St. Mel by Mike Leonard.

For 5 pts. Extra Credit, watch the video and complete the following on loose leaf paper. Turn it in to me by Monday, 9/26/11 for credit.

1. What is the main focus of the video?
2. What does Mr. Leonard (the reporter) say about the school?
3. What does Mr. Adams say about the school?
4. How has the school changed since 1982? Explain.

World Geography Extra Credit

When you're finished reading chapter 5, section 1, and you've finished your Cornell Notes (on loose leaf paper, remember), complete this worksheet for 5 points of EXTRA CREDIT. Click on the link to see the worksheet. Print it out and hand it in to Mr. McGrath at Saturday tutoring, or to me on Monday.

• Chapter 5 Extra Credit Worksheet

What's Going on In the World?

Make sure your Neighborhood Map Research Sheet is out on your desk. I will walk around and talk to each of you about this during this class period.


Today we will do the following things:

1. Apply the AP PARTS outline format
2. Apply research skills using Internet resources

You will complete the following on loose leaf paper. This assignment is worth 20 points, and is due at the end of this class period.

AP PARTS

In class, we've learned how to apply the AP PARTS outline format. Here's a review below:

AUTHOR

Who created the source? What do you know about the author?

What is the author’s point of view? Include the link to the source you are using here.

PLACE AND TIME

Where and when was the source produced? How might this

affect the meaning of the source?

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Beyond information about the author and the context of its

creation, what do you know that would help you further

understand the primary source? For example, do you recognize

any symbols and recall what they represent?

AUDIENCE

For whom was the source created and how might this affect the

reliability of the source?

REASON

Why was this source created at the time it was produced?

THE MAIN IDEA

What point is the source trying to convey?

SIGNIFICANCE

Why is this source important? What inferences can you draw

from this document? Ask yourself, “So what?” in relation to the

question asked.

You will use this format to examine a current event for class. You may use one of the following sources to find your current event:

1. The New York Times (login: psmgeo, password: psmgeo)
2. The Chicago Tribune
3. The Washington Post
4. The Times London

You may choose one of the following topics:

1. The 2012 presidential election (politics)
2. Hurricane Irene (news)
3. The war in Libya (news)
4. The economy (news/economics)
5. Iraq (news)
6. Afghanistan (news)

On your paper, write the heading for each of the AP PARTS. Then, answer the questions below each heading. Leave a space between each part.

When you are finished, you may use maps.google.com to research your neighborhood and to help improve your rough drafts.