"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.