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World cup countries geography

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FREE World Cup Worksheets

If you and your students are interested in the world cup, you have come to the right place there are currently 40 worksheets about the world cup for you to choose from and all of our worksheets are free, printable, and easy to use. for a world cup themed lesson, consider using one or more of the pages from this file . most of the pages in that packet and in this section are about the most recent world cup games but you can use them for inspiration when creating worksheets for the upcoming games. since the worksheets posted here are already formatted, starting with one of them and editing it will save you a lot of time. there are word searches, song activities, and some themed discussion pages too. when the next world cup begins, be sure to upload some of your related worksheets to help out other teachers or check back to see what they have posted. read more... ...less.

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The Location Theme of Geography Using the World Cup

This lesson was created by Gloria Schmitz (Mount Pleasant Community School District) for students from seventh to twelfth grade. As a result of the lesson plan, students will understand the location theme of geography.

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World Cup Geography

Subject: Geography

Age range: 7 - 16

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

5 February 2024

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A fun geography lesson for students to practice atlas skills and locational knowledge. Students plot the countries in the world cup on the map (print the second slide for each student, A3 if possible). Includes stretch and challenge targets. Students will also need an atlas.

A fun, topical lesson!

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Where in the World Cups

Year after year I am always so surprised by the number of students who cross my path without knowing exactly where they live in the world. “What is the name of your continent?” “Ummmm, the U.S.A.?” “In which country do you live?” “I know! I know! Pennsylvania!”

Really, knowing all the layers of this place we call home is a very abstract concept. It can be challenging for many children to visualize how our place in the world is inside another place, which is inside another place, which is inside another place, and so on.

One year, I searched high and low for a set of seven nesting boxes that would fit one inside the other. I was determined to make a visual that would help my students remember something that I consider to be an essential concept. The nesting boxes were really hard to find. I thought and thought about other objects that nest inside each other and then it hit me. Cups! That would be an easy {and inexpensive} solution!

Now, my students know exactly where they live in the world. We zoom all the way out to the Milky Way Galaxy and then work our way back in to our planet, continent, country, state, and town. Finally, students are required to memorize their home address.

FREE DOWNLOAD!

Join the Undercover Classroom email community and receive the editable geography cup labels as an instant download!

I would like to share a set of editable cup labels with you so that we can all rest easy knowing that our students will be able find their way home from outer space. 🙂 Be sure to download the file and then open it in Powerpoint for easy editing. Just click to edit each label as needed. Then print and make copies for your students to cut and paste onto some cups. I bought my cups at the dollar store.

If you teach a whole unit on geography like I do, here is another tool you might like to check out. I ditched my old geography worksheets a few years ago and replaced them with this lapbook . You seriously couldn’t pay me enough to go back to those boring old worksheets. Now my students actually enjoy learning about geography!

Thank you for sharing!! These will be a wonderful addition to my "Me on the Map" unit that I'm doing with my 1st graders. What font did you use for your labels? I'm trying to edit it to add our state (Texas) and would love to have the words match if possible. Thank you again for your wonderful work!

I think I found it – KG Corner of the Sky. Thanks again!

Hi Amber! I'm so glad that these worked for your unit! I love that book! The font that I used for the name of the state is actually KG Behind These Hazel Eyes. You were close! I bet that the other font looked nice too! 🙂

Brilliant! I love this idea. Thank you for sharing.

Love It. My theme is the 7 Continents.

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Guest Blog: Game Management - the Geography of the Qatar World Cup 2022

18th August 2022

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The Geography of Sport is not new. Back in 1992 I wrote the resources for the World Cup in Japan for the Japan Festival Trust, used in schools all over the UK. Here I offer information on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, ahead of the event so that it an be built into SoW this Autumn term. The date of the event is a major geographical compromise, but more on that later!

The info is curated from The Athletic, The BBC and Reutures and Khaleej imes.

The media creates student awareness of the event and good resources focus on the geographical issues and concepts of the host country, not so much the football.

When is the 2022 World Cup and how hot will it be?

The World Cup finals are being held between 21 November and 18 December - when the temperature in Qatar usually reaches 25C (77F).

Had the finals been held in June and July, as they normally are, the matches would have been played in temperatures exceeding 40C and possibly reaching 50C.

Qatar, a tiny Gulf state known for its scorching desert climate, initially proposed that it would host the finals during the summer in air-conditioned enclosed stadiums, and had designed an energy-efficient cooling system that can make its open-air stadiums usable even in summer temperatures that soar well into the 40s. but the plan was rejected.

The plan was rejected and football’s next global showpiece tournament was moved to November and December to avoid Doha’s intense summer heat, but Qatar decided to stick with the chilled stadiums in order to have future venues that would be usable year-round.

Al Janoub, a 40,000-seat venue made to resemble the sail of a dhow, or traditional wooden sailboat, was opened last May and is the first to showcase the new cooling system. “You’re living inside a micro, climate-controlled bubble,” said Saud Abdul-Ghani, a Qatar University mechanical engineering professor who led the design, as he waved a bright orange thermometer to demonstrate the roughly 14-degree drop.

Along the pitch dozens of soccer ball-sized nozzles blow out chilled air, while tiny angular ducts beneath the seats keep the stands at 24-26 degrees. Sensors around the stadium keep track of different zones and adjust the flow from a control room. When asked the price tag of the cooling system, Abdul-Ghani said: “a good amount of money”, without providing a figure. Thani Khalifa Al Zarraa, the project manager for Al Janoub Stadium, said the cooling system increased the cost of construction by two to three times, to around $6,000-7,000 per seat, suggesting a stadium cost of about $240-280 million.

Doha has put the tournament at the centre of a national development plan aimed at diversifying its energy economy and projecting itself on to the world stage through sport. Qatar World Cup organizing committee officials have said the country is spending $6.5-7 billion on all stadiums and training facilities combined.

Climate solution

Despite the chilled stadiums, Qatar has said its World Cup will have the smallest carbon footprint of any before it. Nasser Al Khater, CEO for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, said Doha’s compact tournament will eliminate the need for domestic flights and a new metro system will further cut emissions.

Abdul-Ghani said the system, which has been left unpatented for others to adopt, requires about a fifth of the energy typical to cool spaces of the same size, such as airport terminals or closed baseball fields, because it continuously recycles air into small zones.

“The Americans, Mexicans and Canadians will surely look at this because of thermal stress on players,” Abdul-Ghani said, referring to the host nations of the 2026 World Cup. The 2026 tournament will be expanded to 48 teams as opposed to 32 and matches will be played across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Candidate cities include Miami, Atlanta, Orlando, Dallas, Houston and others which are notoriously hot and humid in the summer.

“With global warming, Paris was 40 plus, the U.K. 35 plus, so even the Europeans need to look at this carefully,” Abdul-Ghani added, referring to this summer’s heat-wave.

Why was Qatar chosen as the World Cup host?

In 2010, Qatar clinched the rights to the World Cup after winning a ballot of Fifa's 22 executive members. It defeated bids from USA, South Korea, Japan and Australia. It is the first Arab nation to host the tournament.

Qatar was accused of paying Fifa officials £3m ($3.7m) in bribes to secure their backing, but was cleared after a two-year investigation. At the time, Fifa's then-chairman, Sepp Blatter, supported Qatar's bid, but has since said the organisation may have made the wrong decision.

What can World Cup fans expect in Qatar?

Qatar, which has a population of 2.9 million, is one of the world's wealthiest countries thanks to oil and gas exports. It has built seven stadiums specifically for the tournament, and an entire new city which will stage the final match. More than 100 new hotels, a new metro and new roads are also being constructed.

The tournament's organising committee estimates that 1.5 million people will attend the finals.

Qatar is a conservative Muslim country, and fans have been warned to be careful about their behaviour. There are severe restrictions on drinking alcohol. It can normally be bought only in bars in luxury hotels. A pint of beer can cost £10 ($13). However, the organisers say alcohol may be sold in designated fan zones during the tournament.

What is Qatar's record on gay rights?

Homosexual acts are illegal in Qatar. Groups representing gay football fans have asked the Qatar government to "guarantee their safety". Some Wales fans have said they will boycott the tournament despite their team's qualification. The World Cup's organisers have replied that "everyone is welcome", but confirmed that Qatar will not relax its laws on homosexuality during the event.

Accommodation

UAE hotels and homestays are witnessing a major upswing before the final kick-off of the biggest sporting event in the region. Experts see at least a 20% increase in room rates, and many expect 100% occupancy during the Qatar World Cup. Industry experts expect the football spectacle to boost the hospitality industry in the country.

The 2022 Fifa world cup which is scheduled to take place in Qatar from November 21 to December 18 is expected to attract millions of spectators from all across the world. The country, with its limited accommodation, had previously announced shuttle services from neighbouring countries to meet the influx of visitors.

Leading airlines in the UAE, including Air Arabia and flydubai have announced shuttle services to Qatar, taking the flights between the two countries up to more than 60 a day. Only those with valid tickets to the matches will be able to take these flights. Flyers will also need a Hayya Card to access the stadium and avail of the free transportation to and from stadiums on the Doha metro.

Many football fans will prefer to stay in Dubai and travel to Qatar to watch the games since it is just 30 minutes away by plane. That way they can visit Dubai while attending the World Cup in Qatar. Due to that, holiday home prices have gone up making it high season with an occupancy rate expected to reach 100%.

“The demand for rooms during the World Cup is causing a surge in prices, with a 20 percent increase in room rates, especially during the group stages,” said Varun Ahuja, Director of Sales at Aloft Dubai South. “Being a hotel close to the airport, we have a robust pipeline of individual and group bookings from (match) ticket holders, and we expect demand for accommodation to spike again in August and September”

A controversial tournament!

At times it's been a tough task to keep up with all the reasons football fans are so opposed to the tournament. In case you needed a refresher, here are the six biggest problems with the 2022 World Cup in Qatar:

1 - The date

Despite this week's media furore, a winter tournament is arguably one of least objectionable aspects of the Qatar World Cup.

England fans may be disappointed to miss out on the tops-off, lager in hand, summer sing-along atmosphere that usually accompanies the tournament, but a November – December event is only really an issue due to its conflict with the European domestic football calendar.

Many other leagues around the world have to adjust their schedules or sacrifice players for a summer World Cup, and would argue it’s only fair for Europe’s to take their turn.

Yet it’s worth remembering that the vast majority of players who make the tournament so special for fans – and so lucrative for Fifa – come from Europe’s top leagues. Around 74 per cent of all the players present at last year’s tournament in Brazil came from Europe.

Considering European leagues will provide the stars whose fame Fifa will undoubtedly exploit to maximise marketing revenue (around £800m at the Brazil World Cup), it’s understandable why they are feeling pretty peeved.

2 - The bid

Qatar won the right to host a tournament specifically designated for the summer. Bids were developed and votes were cast for an event that was supposed to take place in June – July.

Qatar’s bid for the tournament made no mention of hosting it winter. No, this is how it genuinely proposed it would combat the searing temperatures: Each of the five stadia will harness the power of the sun's rays to provide a cool environment for players and fans by converting solar energy into electricity that will then be used to cool both fans and players at the stadia. When games are not taking place, the solar installations at the stadia will export energy onto the power grid. During matches, the stadia will draw energy from the grid. This is the basis for the stadia's carbon-neutrality.

'Insisting that WC should be moved to winter = admitting that the candidate (for a summer WC) should never have been even considered' - Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) February 24, 2015

The United States, which finished runners-up to Qatar in the voting, has a right to be annoyed that it lost to a bid which Fifa has now decided is not suited to the dates it proposed.

3 - The corruption allegations

Fifa's ethics committee, which cleared Qatar to host the tournament after an investigation into allegations of World Cup, kickbacks found that while there may have been the odd dodgy dealing, any breaches of the rules were of "very limited scope".

For many it's a problem that an investigation was necessary in the first place, but doubts have been cast on Fifa's published summary of the investigation's findings after its author, Michael Garcia, described the resulting report as "materially incomplete" with "erroneous representations".

The Sunday Times has published a number of stories with claims it has obtained documents detailing payments made by former Asian Football Federation chief Mohammed bin Hammam to member confederations in exchange for votes. All those accused have denied the allegations.

Qatar's proposed stadiums look beautiful, but criticism has mounted over conditions endured by those who build it. (Source: Getty)

4 - The treatment of workers

Qatar has promised 12 shiny new stadiums in time for the tournament, yet the human cost of its ambitious construction plans is depressingly high.

The International Trade Union Confederation estimates that as many as 4,000 expatriate construction workers will die before the World Cup gets underway in 2022.

Criticism for Qatar's kafala labour system – which requires immigrant workers to have an in-country sponsor responsible for their legal status – has led to the country promising new legislation based on employment contracts, although the extent of the reforms to what has been described as "modern day slavery" remains unclear.

5 - The attitude towards LGBT rights

Same-sex sexual activity is completely outlawed in Qatar, with a punishment of up to seven years in prison, or possibly even death for Muslims. In 2013 it was reported that Qatar and other Gulf Cooperation Countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) were even developing a “medical” test to detect and bar foreign homosexuals from entering the country.

But don’t worry. Qatar’s sports minister Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali has said the host country will come up with “creative” solutions to the issue of LGBT fans or players travelling to the tournament. Al-Ali told the Associated Press last year that Qatar doesn’t want to create “this impression, illusion that we don't care about our tradition and our ethical values … We are studying all these issues. We can adapt, we can be creative to have people coming and enjoying the games without losing the essence of our culture and respecting the preference of the people coming here. I think there is a lot we can do".

6 - The football culture

Relatively minor compared to some of the above issues, but Qatar’s complete lack of footballing pedigree or culture is far from ideal for the host of the biggest football competition on earth. The men’s national team is ranked 109th in the world by Fifa, below heavyweights such as Faroe Islands, Belarus and Iraq. Never before has it appeared at a World Cup final and only twice has the team progressed from the group stage at the Asian Cup.

With the a native population of less than 300,000, some believe Qatar will look to naturalise professionals from abroad in order to increase its chances. Paris Saint-Germain are one of the many European clubs who have been invited to train at the Aspire Academy. (Source: Getty) That was certainly the case when it hosted the World Men’s Handball Championship earlier this year, where its team finished second. Qatar had never finished higher than 16th previously, but with a team composed of former internationals from Serbia, Spain, France and elsewhere, this tournament ended in less ignominious fashion for the hosts (depending on your perspective).

Sceptics argue Qatar’s well-funded Aspire Academy, which screens nearly 500,000 young players a year (mainly based in Africa) and brings the best prospects to train with European coaches in Doha, could be used for a similar purpose – although Qatar has denied the suggestion. The country's squad for the recent Asian Cup in Australia featured seven players born elsewhere.

It’s not just players Qatar is lacking either: migrant workers have even been paid to watch sports events in order to fill up empty stadiums.

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Stephen Schwab

Stephen is a Consultant to the Geographical Association, Co-Chair of the Geographical Association Secondary Phase Committee and a resources writer and author.

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Wildlife Week Resources

Use these literature/teacher guides to review with students the different types of wildlife that live in various places around the world. These guides can compliment any content area and will help your students improve their reading comprehension and geography skills. Use them as is or adapt them to best fit your classroom.

• On the Far Side of the Mountain
• Kingfisher Knowledge Guide: Dangerous Creatures Teacher's Guide
• Columbus Day Activities

Use these lessons or activities in this section to help students learn about Christopher Columbus's voyage and exploration of America. These activities can be kept as is or modified to fit your individual teaching style or the needs of your students.

• More Columbus Day Teacher Resources

Native American Resources

Help students understand that studying geography means studying the individuals that live in those different regions as well. By reviewing the lives and culture of Native Americans, students can connect their geographical skills to deeper higher order thinking ones

• Native American Life on the Great Plains
• Native American Tribes of the Great Plains
• More American Indians & Native Americans - Teacher Resources

Voyages & Travels Resources

Use these different resources with your students to discuss the concepts of voyages and traveling. In this section are different visual maps, lesson plans, reading comprehension activities, and much more! These activities can be used in their current form or modified to better serve the needs of your classroom.

• First Hot-Air Balloon Flight
• Planning for the Voyage - Pilgrim Study Unit (Lesson 1 of 7)
• Historical Fiction Reading Warm-Up: The Christmas Gift
• Seeing the World Sub Kit (Grades 7-8)
• Peary, Henson, and the North Pole
• More Popular Voyages & Travel Resources

Ocean Resources

Need some inspiration for teaching your students about the Earth's oceans? Well look no further! Whether it's full comprehensive lesson plans, printable map activities, game worksheets, or resource guides for geographical features, this is the section for you. These activities are great as they are or can be adapted to the characteristics of your classroom.

• Earth's Oceans
• An Ocean Adventure Sub Kit (Grades 3-4)
• What Are Ocean Currents?
• Modeling Climates
• Length of the U.S. Coastline by State
• Word Search: The World's Oceans
• Crossing the Atlantic by Rowboat
• More Oceans Teacher Resources

Best FIFA World Cup Activities & Lessons

These FIFA World Cup activities and lessons are sure to score with students

The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is taking place in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20. The best-known soccer – or football, as it’s known outside of the U.S. – tournament on the planet, this massive sporting event will draw dozens of national teams from around the globe as well as thousands of spectators and millions of viewers.

As one of the largest international athletic competitions, the FIFA World Cup is a great opportunity to teach about other cultures, geography, traditions, and much more. These lessons, activities, quizzes, worksheets, and more -- almost all of which are free -- have the goooooool (!) of engaging students in the excitement.

Best FIFA World Cup Lessons & Activities

The New York Times: Spot The Ball Soccer is a fast-paced game, but a true fan will not only follow the ball, but also anticipate its trajectory. This interactive from The New York Times is a fun test of the reader’s soccer acumen.

Physics of Soccer: The Science Behind Free Kicks, Penalties, and Goal Kicks Underlying the thrill of World Cup competition are some serious principles of physics. This entertaining video combines real action on the soccer pitch with a lesson on the science and equations that determine the trajectory of the ball—and the ultimate winner.

World Cup 2023 Teaching Resources Explore a wealth of lessons related to the FIFA World Cup 2023 competition, in subjects ranging from English language arts to math to social studies. Searchable by standard, grade, subject, and resource type, these free and modestly priced lessons have been created and vetted by your fellow teachers.

Teachwire Women's World Cup 2023: Best Lesson Plans, Resources & More A U.K.-based resource featuring teaching ideas, activities, and more, from information about the tournament's location to prediction-making to pop art creation. 

Soccer Physics How does the inflation of the soccer ball affect its motion? Soccer players and fans of American football may intuitively know the answer, but can they explain it according to physics? This free step-by-step science project includes detailed research questions and experimental procedures. Students will learn about the experimental method, the physics of soccer and who can kick the ball the farthest.

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ESOL Courses: The FIFA World Cup In addition to vocabulary tests, spelling jumbles, language worksheets, and country identification quizzes, this site offers students the opportunity to learn English through national football songs, including Shakira’s “Waka Waka. ”

Twinkl: The 2023 Women’s World Cup Teaching Ideas & Resources This site offers the history of the World Cup as well as fun facts, plus downloadable interactives, worksheets, card games, flashcards, puzzles, and more.

Busy Teacher: 40 Free World Cup Worksheets Some of these worksheets date back to previous tournaments, but there is still plenty of evergreen content here, including nation quizzes, vocabulary tests, flag identification, national football song sheets, word searches, and more.

Etacude English Teachers: 10 World Cup Classroom Activities & Games This video features 10 World Cup-related activities teachers can utilize in their classes including World Cup worksheets and vocabulary. Younger learners can create soccer-themed crafts such as a blow soccer pitch and research important events in World Cup history. 

5 Lessons for Teachers From Ted Lasso Our favorite fictional soccer coach isn’t involved with the World Cup (as far as we know), but the international soccer tournament is the perfect time to revisit the lessons educators can learn from the mustached Yankee who makes up for his lack of soccer knowledge with kindness and curiosity. 

A Phys Ed Soccer Lesson Plan This features a fast-paced mini soccer tournament designed by Paul Gannon, an instructor in the Department of Physical Education at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point. It’s a fun activity for any teacher who wants to bring students outdoors and focus on teambuilding and exercise. 

Recent updates

This article was updated for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup

Ray Bendici is the Managing Editor of Tech & Learning and Tech & Learning University. He is an award-winning journalist/editor, with more than 20 years of experience, including a specific focus on education.

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15 Geography Games and Activities Your Students Will Love

Pass a globe, toss a bean bag, build with LEGO bricks and more!

Learning about the big wide world can be a lot of fun for students, and geography is the perfect subject for hands-on learning. These geography games and activities will introduce new concepts, broaden perspectives, and allow your students to practice valuable skills.

1. Geography Snap

This fun game is a one minute speed test for kids to identify as many states as they can. To play, pull a labeled stick and mark the state off your map. If you pull a SNAP stick, though, you’ll have to erase your map and start again.

Learn more: 123Homeschool4ME

2. 20 Questions

The classic game of 20 questions can be a perfect fit in your geography study. First, have one student come up with a state, country, or continent. Then, allow students to ask a yes or no question, one at a time. For example: “Is this state in the north?”, “Is this state on the coast?”, “Was this state one of the original colonies?”, etc. The goal, of course, is to guess the correct answer in 20 questions or less.

3. Battle of the States

Kids will recognize this fun game as a version of the card game War. Download these free trading cards with colored illustrations of each state, along with interesting facts. To play, deal all of the cards out to two players, face down. Each player pulls the top card, keeping it to themself, and calls out a category (population, electoral votes, etc.). Each player reads off the appropriate number, and the player with the higher number keeps the cards. 

Learn more: Deceptively Educational

4. Bean Bag Maps

This is a simple but fun way to review geography. Have a supply of small bean bags handy and a large map of the world and/or the U.S. posted on the wall. One at a time, ask a student to toss a bean bag at a site on the map, for instance, the Pacific Ocean, Mexico, or Colorado. If they make an accurate throw they get a point, and if they miss, they must tell you what they hit instead. Kids could play this in a small group or with a partner, taking turns calling out locations and tossing the bean bag. Or, you could use this activity for whole-class review.

5. LEGO Landmarks

How fun is this? Students look at pictures of international landmarks and try to recreate them with LEGO bricks. Landmark flashcards can be found through Amazon, Etsy, Walmart and more. Or better yet, have students do research on the computer and make their own.

Learn more: HomeGrownLearners

6. Fun with Flags

Flags are an important part of a nation’s identity, and learning about flags helps kids identify and remember places around the world. For this activity, ask each student to choose a country they are interested in. Have them do a bit of research and create a copy of that country’s flag on an 11×14 piece of construction paper. String all of the students’ flags to create a banner across your classroom to give it an international flair.

Learn more: ArtBar

7. Geography Bingo

Have a little geography fun Bingo style and help your students recognize and remember the 50 states. Click on the link below for instructions, free downloadable Bingo cards and calling pieces.

8. Alphabet Game

This is a fun circle game that can help students memorize all fifty states. It’s perfect as a warm-up or as a geography review. (It also builds literacy skills.) The first student in the circle will say the name of a state. The next must name a state that begins with the last letter of the previous student’s state. For example: Student 1: California, Student 2: Arkansas, Student 3: South Carolina, etc. You can also play this game with countries. For example: Ireland/Denmark/Kazakhstan, etc. 

9. World Atlas Scavenger Hunt

Discover interesting facts about places around the world while learning how to navigate an atlas. This scavenger hunt for middle schoolers has 26 fun clues from (A – Z), all related to world geography.

10. Memory Game

Download these free state and state capital flashcards and make multiple copies. Create decks of twenty cards: 10 states plus 10 coordinating capitals. To play, students shuffle the deck, then lay each of the cards face-down. The goal is to flip over two cards, looking for a match. If the cards don’t match, they flip them back over. Play continues until all cards have been matched up.

11. Stack cups

These stacking cups are a great visual to help kids comprehend exactly where they live in the world. Each cup fits into the next, from home to city to state, all the way to the galaxy they live in. Download the free labels or make up your own.

Learn more: Undercover Classroom

12. Pass the Globe

Most kids love studying the globe. This circle activity is a geography version of hot potato. Have students sit in a circle, then turn on some music. Students will pass a globe around the circle until the music stops. When it does, the student holding the globe must identify the spot under their right thumb. Start the music again and play until everyone has had a turn. More than likely, students will learn the names of places they’ve never heard of before.

13. Create treasure hunts

Creating their own treasure hunt is a great way for kids to learn about important map skills. This blog explains the activity with a home map. Adapt it to fit in the classroom by having kids draw a map of their classroom or their school. Then, once everyone has finished their maps, have students partner up to find each other’s treasure.

Learn more: Beth Gorden

14. Coordinates Game

Learning about latitude and longitude is an important map skill. This game gives students practice finding locations on a map using coordinates. Make a list of world locations (or U.S. locations) using just coordinates. Pair students up and give them the list and a sheet of gold star stickers. Working together, they must find the location on the map and mark it with a gold star. When they have finished, give them an answer sheet to check their answers.

15. 50 States Song

What better way to learn the names of the states, in alphabetical order no less, than with a song? This catchy tune has been around for years and years, and once you learn it, you won’t forget it.

Learn more: YouTube

What are your favorite geography games and activities for kids? Come and share in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group  on Facebook.

Also, check out 20 hands-on ways for kids to learn map skills ..

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1.1 Geography Basics

Learning objectives.

• Understand the focus of geography and the two main branches of the discipline.
• Learn about the tools geographers use to study the earth’s surface.
• Summarize the grid system of latitude and longitude and how it relates to seasons and time zones.
• Distinguish between the different types of regional distinctions recognized in geography.
• Understand the spatial nature of geography and how each place or region is examined, analyzed, and compared with other places or regions.
• Determine the basic geographic realms and their locations.

What Is Geography?

Geography is the spatial study of the earth’s surface (from the Greek geo , which means “Earth,” and graphein , which means “to write”). Geographers study the earth’s physical characteristics, its inhabitants and cultures, phenomena such as climate, and the earth’s place within the universe. Geography examines the spatial relationships between all physical and cultural phenomena in the world. Geographers also look at how the earth, its climate, and its landscapes are changing due to cultural intervention.

The first known use of the word geography was by Eratosthenes of Cyrene (modern-day Libya in North Africa), an early Greek scholar who lived between 276 and 194 BCE. He devised one of the first systems of longitude and latitude and calculated the earth’s circumference. Additionally, he created one of the first maps of the world based on the available knowledge of the time. Around the same time, many ancient cultures in China, southern Asia, Polynesia, and the Arabian Peninsula also developed maps and navigation systems used in geography and cartography.

The discipline of geography can be broken down into two main areas of focus: physical geography and human geography . These two main areas are similar in that they both use a spatial perspective, and they both include the study of place and the comparison of one place with another.

Physical geography is the spatial study of natural phenomena that make up the environment, such as rivers, mountains, landforms, weather, climate, soils, plants, and any other physical aspects of the earth’s surface. Physical geography focuses on geography as a form of earth science. It tends to emphasize the main physical parts of the earth—the lithosphere (surface layer), the atmosphere (air), the hydrosphere (water), and the biosphere (living organisms)—and the relationships between these parts.

The major forms of study within physical geography include the following:

• Geomorphology (the study of the earth’s surface features)
• Glaciology (the study of glaciers)
• Coastal geography (the study of the coastal regions)
• Climatology (the study of climates and climate change)
• Biogeography (the study of the geographic patterns of species distribution)

Some physical geographers study the earth’s place in the solar system. Others are environmental geographers, part of an emerging field that studies the spatial aspects and cultural perceptions of the natural environment. Environmental geography requires an understanding of both physical and human geography, as well as an understanding of how humans conceptualize their environment and the physical landscape.

Physical landscape is the term used to describe the natural terrain at any one place on the planet. The natural forces of erosion, weather, tectonic plate action, and water have formed the earth’s physical features. Many US state and national parks attempt to preserve unique physical landscapes for the public to enjoy, such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon.

Human geography is the study of human activity and its relationship to the earth’s surface. Human geographers examine the spatial distribution of human populations, religions, languages, ethnicities, political systems, economics, urban dynamics, and other components of human activity. They study patterns of interaction between human cultures and various environments and focus on the causes and consequences of human settlement and distribution over the landscape. While the economic and cultural aspects of humanity are primary focuses of human geography, these aspects cannot be understood without describing the landscape on which economic and cultural activities take place.

The cultural landscape is the term used to describe those parts of the earth’s surface that have been altered or created by humans. For example, the urban cultural landscape of a city may include buildings, streets, signs, parking lots, or vehicles, while the rural cultural landscape may include fields, orchards, fences, barns, or farmsteads. Cultural forces unique to a given place—such as religion, language, ethnicity, customs, or heritage—influence the cultural landscape of that place at a given time. The colors, sizes, and shapes of the cultural landscape usually symbolize some level of significance regarding societal norms. Spatial dynamics assist in identifying and evaluating cultural differences between places.

Traditionally, the field of cartography , or map making, has been a vital discipline for geographers. While cartography continues to be an extremely important part of geography, geographers also look at spatial (space) and temporal (time) relationships between many types of data, including physical landscape types, economies, and human activity. Geography also examines the relationships between and the processes of humans and their physical and cultural environments. Because maps are powerful graphic tools that allow us to illustrate relationships and processes at work in the world, cartography and geographic information systems have become important in modern sciences. Maps are the most common method of illustrating different spatial qualities, and geographers create and use maps to communicate spatial data about the earth’s surface.

Geospatial techniques are tools used by geographers to illustrate, manage, and manipulate spatial data. Cartography is the art and science of making maps, which illustrate data in a spatial form and are invaluable in understanding what is going on at a given place at a given time.

Making maps and verifying a location have become more exact with the development of the global positioning system (GPS) . A GPS unit can receive signals from orbiting satellites and calculate an exact location in latitude and longitude, which is helpful for determining where one is located on the earth or for verifying a point on a map. GPS units are standard equipment for many transportation systems and have found their way into products such as cell phones, handheld computers, fish finders, and other mobile equipment. GPS technology is widely implemented in the transport of people, goods, and services around the world.

Remote sensing technology acquires data about the earth’s surface through aerial photographs taken from airplanes or images created from satellites orbiting the earth. Remotely sensed images allow geographers to identify, understand, or explain a particular landscape or determine the land use of a place. These images can serve as important components in the cartographic (map-making) process. These technologies provide the means to examine and analyze changes on the earth’s surface caused by natural or human forces. Google Earth is an excellent example of a computer tool that illustrates remotely sensed images of locations on the earth.

Figure 1.1 Low Elevation Air Photo of Cultural Landscape in Morehead, Kentucky

Photo by R. Berglee – CC BY-NC-SA.

Geographic information science (GIS) , often referred to as geographic information systems, uses a computer program to assimilate and manage many layers of map data, which then provide specific information about a given place. GIS data are usually in digital form and arranged in layers. The GIS computer program can sort or analyze layers of data to illustrate a specific feature or activity. GIS programs are used in a wide range of applications, from determining the habitat range of a particular species of bird to mapping the hometowns of university students.

Figure 1.2 Illustration of Layers in a GIS Process

GIS specialists often create and analyze geographical information for government agencies or private businesses. They use computer programs to take raw data to develop the information these organizations need for making vital decisions. For example, in business applications, GIS can be used to determine a favorable location for a retail store based on the analysis of spatial data layers such as population distribution, highway or street arrangements, and the locations of similar stores or competitive establishments. GIS can integrate a number of maps into one to help analysts understand a place in relation to their own specific needs.

GIS also focuses on storing information about the earth (both cultural and natural) in computer databases that can be retrieved and displayed in the form of specialized maps for specific purposes or analyses. GIS specialists require knowledge about computer and database systems. Over the last two decades, GIS has revolutionized the field of cartography: nearly all cartography is now done with the assistance of GIS software. Additionally, analysis of various cultural and natural phenomena through the use of GIS software and specialized maps is an important part of urban planning and other social and physical sciences. GIS can also refer to techniques used to represent, analyze, and predict spatial relationships between different phenomena.

Geography is a much broader field than many people realize. Most people think of area studies as the whole of geography. In reality, geography is the study of the earth, including how human activity has changed it. Geography involves studies that are much broader than simply understanding the shape of the earth’s landforms. Physical geography involves all the planet’s physical systems. Human geography incorporates studies of human culture, spatial relationships, interactions between humans and the environment, and many other areas of research that involve the different subspecialties of geography. Students interested in a career in geography would be well served to learn geospatial techniques and gain skills and experience in GIS and remote sensing, as they are the areas within geography where employment opportunities have grown the most over the past few decades.

The Earth and Graticule Location

When identifying a region or location on the earth, the first step is to understand its relative and absolute locations. Relative location is the location on the earth’s surface with reference to other places, taking into consideration features such as transportation access or terrain. Relative location helps one compare the advantages of one location with those of another. Absolute location , on the other hand, refers to an exact point on the earth’s surface without regard to how that point is related to any other place. Absolute location is vital to the cartographic process and to human activities that require an agreed-upon method of identifying a place or point.

Just as you were taught in geometry that there are 360 degrees in a circle or a sphere, the earth also has 360 degrees, and they are measured using a grid pattern called the graticule . Lines of latitude and longitude allow any absolute location on the earth to have an identifiable address of degrees north or south and east or west, which allows geographers to accurately locate, measure, and study spatial activity.

Geographers and cartographers organize locations on the earth using a series of imaginary lines that encircle the globe. The two primary lines are the equator and the prime meridian. From these lines, the systems of longitude and latitude are formed, allowing you to locate yourself anywhere on the planet. The line is the longest when you travel along in an east-west direction. At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two equinoxes, which occur in March and September.

Figure 1.3 Basic Lines of Longitude and Latitude

Parallels or Lines of Latitude

Figure 1.4 Noted Lines of Latitude

The equator is the largest circle of latitude on Earth. The equator divides the earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and is called 0 degrees latitude. The other lines of latitude are numbered from 0 to 90 degrees going toward each of the poles. The lines north of the equator toward the North Pole are north latitude, and each of the numbers is followed by the letter “N.” The lines south of the equator toward the South Pole are south latitude, and each of the numbers is followed by the letter “S.” The equator (0 latitude) is the only line of latitude without any letter following the number. Notice that all lines of latitude are parallel to the equator (they are often called parallels) and that the North Pole equals 90 degrees N and the South Pole equals 90 degrees S. Noted parallels include both the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, which are 23.5 degrees from the equator. At 66.5 degrees from the equator are the Arctic Circle and the Antarctic Circle near the North and South Pole, respectively.

Meridians or Lines of Longitude

The prime meridian sits at 0 degrees longitude and divides the earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. The prime meridian is defined as an imaginary line that runs through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, a suburb of London. The Eastern Hemisphere includes the continents of Europe, Asia, and Australia, while the Western Hemisphere includes North and South America. All meridians (lines of longitude) east of the prime meridian (0 and 180) are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees east (E); the lines west of the prime meridian (0 and 180) are numbered from 1 to 180 degrees west (W). The 0 and 180 lines do not have a letter attached to them. The meridian at 180 degrees is called the International Date Line . The International Date Line (180 degrees longitude) is opposite the prime meridian and indicates the start of each day (Monday, Tuesday, etc.). Each day officially starts at 12:01 a.m., at the International Date Line. Do not confuse the International Date Line with the prime meridian (0 longitude). The actual International Date Line does not follow the 180-degree meridian exactly. A number of alterations have been made to the International Date Line to accommodate political agreements to include an island or country on one side of the line or another.

Climate and Latitude

The earth is tilted on its axis 23.5 degrees. As it rotates around the sun, the tilt of the earth’s axis provides different climatic seasons because of the variations in the angle of direct sunlight on the planet. Places receiving more direct sunlight experience a warmer climate. Elsewhere, the increased angle of incoming solar radiation near the earth’s poles results in more reflected sunlight and thus a cooler climate. The Northern Hemisphere experiences winter when sunlight is reflected off the earth’s surface and less of the sun’s energy is absorbed because of a sharper angle from the sun.

The Tropic of Cancer is the parallel at 23.5 degrees north of the equator, which is the most northerly place on Earth, receiving direct sunlight during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. Remember that the earth is tilted 23.5 degrees, which accounts for seasonal variations in climate. The Tropic of Capricorn is the parallel at 23.5 degrees south of the equator and is the most southerly location on Earth, receiving direct sunlight during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer.

The tropics (Cancer and Capricorn) are the two imaginary lines directly above which the sun shines on the two solstices , which occur on or near June 20 or 21 (summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere) and December 21 or 22 (winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere). The sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer at noon on June 20 or 21, marking the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn at noon on December 21 or 22, marking the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Solstices are the extreme ends of the seasons, when the line of direct sunlight is either the farthest north or the farthest south that it ever goes. The region between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn is known as the tropics. This area does not experience dramatic seasonal changes because the amount of direct sunlight received does not vary widely. The higher latitudes (north of the Tropic of Cancer and south of the Tropic of Capricorn) experience significant seasonal variation in climate.

Figure 1.5 Road Sign South of Dakhla, Western Sahara (Claimed by Morocco), Marking the Tropic of Cancer

This sign was placed in this desert location by the Budapest-Bamako rally participants. The non-English portion is in Hungarian because of the European participants in the race.

Wikimedia Commons – public domain.

The Arctic Circle is a line of latitude at 66.5 degrees north. It is the farthest point north that receives sunlight during its winter season (90 N − 23.5 = 66.5 N). During winter, the North Pole is away from the sun and does not receive much sunlight. At times, it is dark for most of the twenty-four-hour day. During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, the North Pole faces more toward the sun and may receive sunlight for longer portions of the twenty-four-hour day. The Antarctic Circle is the corresponding line of latitude at 66.5 degrees south. It is the farthest location south that receives sunlight during the winter season in the Southern Hemisphere (90 S − 23.5 = 66.5 S). When it is winter in the north, it is summer in the south.

The Arctic and Antarctic Circles mark the extremities (southern and northern, respectively) of the polar day (twenty-four-hour sunlit day) and the polar night (twenty-four-hour sunless night). North of the Arctic Circle, the sun is above the horizon for twenty-four continuous hours at least once per year and below the horizon for twenty-four continuous hours at least once per year. This is true also near the Antarctic Circle, but it occurs south of the Antarctic Circle, toward the South Pole. Equinoxes , when the line of direct sunlight hits the equator and days and nights are of equal length, occur in the spring and fall on or around March 20 or 21 and September 22 or 23.

Figure 1.6 Graphic of the Four Seasons

Universal Time (UT), Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), or Zulu Time (Z): all four terms can be defined as local time at 0 degrees longitude, which is the prime meridian (location of Greenwich, England). This is the same time under which many military operations, international radio broadcasts, and air traffic control systems operate worldwide. UTC is set in zero- to twenty-four-hour time periods, as opposed to two twelve-hour time periods (a.m. and p.m.). The designations of a.m. and p.m. are relative to the central meridian: a.m. refers to ante meridiem , or “before noon,” and p.m. refers to post meridiem , or “after noon.” UT, UTC, GMT, and Z all refer to the same twenty-four-hour time system that assists in unifying a common time in regard to global operations. For example, all air flights use the twenty-four-hour time system so the pilots can coordinate flights across time zones and around the world.

The earth rotates on its axis once every twenty-four hours at the rate of 15 degrees per hour (15 × 24 = 360). Time zones are established roughly every 15 degrees longitude so that local times correspond to similar hours of day and night. With this system, the sun is generally overhead at noon in every time zone that follows the 15-degree-wide system. The continental United States has four main time zones (see Table 1.1 “Four Main Time Zones in the Continental United States and Their Central Meridians” and Figure 1.7 “Major Time Zones of the World” ).

Table 1.1 Four Main Time Zones in the Continental United States and Their Central Meridians

Figure 1.7 Major Time Zones of the World

The twenty-four times zones are based on the prime meridian in regard to Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), or Zulu Time (Z), which all operate on the twenty-four-hour time clock. Local time zones are either plus or minus determined by the distance from the prime meridian.

Figure 1.8 Diagram Illustrating the Width of a Time Zone

In this diagram, 75 W is the central meridian for the eastern standard time zone in the United States.

The eastern standard time zone is five hours earlier than the time at the prime meridian (UTC) because it is about 75 degrees west of 0 degrees (5 × 15 = 75). For example, if it is noon in London, then it is 7 a.m. in New York. If it is 1 p.m. in New York, it is 10 a.m. in San Francisco, which is three times zones to the west. Since there are twenty-four hours in a day, there are twenty-four time zones on Earth. Each time zone is 15 degrees wide.

A problem with the 15-degree time zones is that the zones do not necessarily follow state, regional, or local boundaries. The result is that time zones are seldom exactly 15 degrees wide and usually have varied boundary lines. In the United States, the boundaries between the different time zones are inconsistent with the lines of longitude; in some cases, time zones zigzag to follow state lines or to keep cities within a single time zone. Other countries address the problem differently. China, for example, is as large in land area as the United States yet operates on only one time zone for the entire country.

Regions in Geography

A region is a basic unit of study in geography—a unit of space characterized by a feature such as a common government, language, political situation, or landform. A region can be a formal country governed by political boundaries, such as France or Canada; a region can be defined by a landform, such as the drainage basin of all the water that flows into the Mississippi River; and a region can even be defined by the area served by a shopping mall. Cultural regions can be defined by similarities in human activities, traditions, or cultural attributes. Geographers use the regional unit to map features of particular interest, and data can be compared between regions to help understand trends, identify patterns, or assist in explaining a particular phenomenon.

Regions are traditionally defined by internal characteristics that provide a sense of place. Their boundaries vary with the type of region, whether it is formal, functional, or vernacular; each type has its own meaning and defined purpose. A formal region has a governmental, administrative, or political boundary and can have political as well as geographic boundaries that are not open to dispute or debate. Formal boundaries can separate states, provinces, or countries from one another. Physical regions can be included within formal boundaries, such as the Rocky Mountains or New England. An official boundary, such as the boundary of a national park, can be considered a formal boundary. School districts, cities, and county governments have formal boundaries.

Natural physical geographic features have a huge influence on where political boundaries of formal regions are set. If you look at a world map, you will recognize that many political boundaries are natural features, such as rivers, mountain ranges, and large lakes. For example, between the United States and Mexico, the Rio Grande makes up a portion of the border. Likewise, between Canada and the United States, a major part of the eastern border is along the Saint Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. Alpine mountain ranges in Europe create borders, such as the boundary between Switzerland and Italy.

While geographic features can serve as convenient formal borders, political disputes will often flare up in adjacent areas, particularly if valuable natural or cultural resources are found within the geographic features. Oil drilling near the coast of a sovereign country, for example, can cause a dispute between countries about which one has dominion over the oil resources. The exploitation of offshore fisheries can also be disputed. A Neolithic mummy of a man who died in 3300 BCE caused tension between Italy and Switzerland: the body was originally taken to Innsbruck, Switzerland, but when it was determined that the body was found about 90 meters (180 feet) inside the border of Italy, Italian officials laid claim to the body.

Functional regions have boundaries related to a practical function within a given area. When the function of an area ends, the functional region ends and its boundaries cease to exist. For example, a functional region can be defined by a newspaper service or delivery area. If the newspaper goes bankrupt, the functional region no longer exists. Church parishes, shopping malls, and business service areas are other examples of functional regions. They function to serve a region and may have established boundaries for limits of the area to which they will provide service. An example of a common service area—that is, a functional region—is the region to which a local pizza shop will deliver.

Vernacular regions have loosely defined boundaries based on people’s perceptions or thoughts. Vernacular regions can be fluid—that is, different people may have different opinions about the limits of the regions. Vernacular regions include concepts such as the region called the “Middle East.” Many people have a rough idea of the Middle East’s location but do not know precisely which countries make up the Middle East. Also, in the United States, the terms Midwest or South have many variations. Each individual might have a different idea about the location of the boundaries of the South or the Midwest. Whether the state of Kentucky belongs in the Midwest or in the South might be a matter of individual perception. Similarly, various regions of the United States have been referred to as the Rust Belt, Sun Belt, or Bible Belt without a clear definition of their boundaries. The limit of a vernacular area is more a matter of perception than of any formally agreed-upon criteria. Nevertheless, most people would recognize the general area being discussed when using one of the vernacular terms in a conversation.

Using a State as a Comparison Guide

In comparing one formal political region with another, it is often helpful to use a familiar country, state, province, or political unit as a reference or guide. Wherever you are located, you can research the statistical data for a formal region familiar to you to provide a common reference. The US state of Kentucky is one example that can be used to compare formal political regions. Kentucky ranks close to the middle range of the fifty US states in terms of its population of 4.3 million people. Kentucky is also within the median range of the fifty states in overall physical area. The state’s 40,409-square-mile physical area ranks it thirty-seventh in size in the United States. Kentucky is not as large in physical area as the western states but is larger in physical area than many of the eastern states. Kentucky includes part of the rural peripheral region of Appalachia, but the state also has cosmopolitan core urban centers such as Lexington and Louisville. Kentucky also borders the metropolitan city of Cincinnati. The rural peripheral regions of the state are home to agriculture and mining. The urban core areas are home to industry and service centers. Other US states could also be used as examples. Identifying a state’s geographical attributes provides readers both in and outside the United States with a comparison indicator for geographic purposes.

The state of Kentucky can be used as a comparison guide for understanding other formal political regions around the world.

World Regional Geography

World regional geography studies various world regions as they compare with the rest of the world. Factors for comparison include both the physical and the cultural landscape. The main questions are, Who lives there? What are their lives like? What do they do for a living? Physical factors of significance can include location, climate type, and terrain. Human factors include cultural traditions, ethnicity, language, religion, economics, and politics.

World regional geography focuses on regions of various sizes across the earth’s landscape and aspires to understand the unique character of regions in terms of their natural and cultural attributes. Spatial studies can play an important role in regional geography. The scientific approach can focus on the distribution of cultural and natural phenomena within regions as delimited by various natural and cultural factors. The focus is on the spatial relationships within any field of study, such as regional economics, resource management, regional planning, and landscape ecology.

Again, this textbook takes a regional approach with a focus on themes that illustrate the globalization process, which in turn helps us better understand our global community. The regions studied in world regional geography can be combined into larger portions called realms . Realms are large areas of the planet, usually with multiple regions, that share the same general geographic location. Regions are cohesive areas within each realm. The following eleven realms are outlined in this text:

• Europe (Eastern Europe and Western Europe)
• The Russian Realm (Russian republic of the former Soviet Union)
• North America (United States and Canada)
• Middle America (Caribbean, Mexico, Central America)
• South America
• North Africa, the Middle East and central Asia
• Subsaharan Africa (Africa south of the Sahara Desert)
• Southern Asia (India and its neighbors)
• Eastern Asia (China, Mongolia, Japan, and the Koreas)
• Southeast Asia (mainland region and the islands region)
• Australia and the Pacific (including New Zealand)

Figure 1.10 Major World Realms

Key Takeaways

• Geography is the spatial study of the earth’s surface. The discipline of geography bridges the social sciences with the physical sciences. The two main branches of geography include physical geography and human geography. GIS, GPS, and remote sensing are tools that geographers use to study the spatial nature of physical and human landscapes.
• A grid system called the graticule divides the earth by lines of latitude and longitude that allow for the identification of absolute location on the earth’s surface through geometric coordinates measured in degrees. There are twenty-four time zones that are set at 15-degree intervals each and organize time intervals around the world.
• The tilt of the earth’s axis at 23.5 degrees helps create the earth’s seasonal transitions by either absorbing or reflecting the sun’s energy. The line of direct sunlight always hits the earth between 23.5 degrees north (Tropic of Cancer) and 23.5 degrees south (Tropic of Capricorn), depending on the time of year.
• A region is the basic unit of study in geography. Three main types of boundaries define a region: formal, functional, and vernacular. World regional geography is the study of a particular group of world regions or realms as each compares with the rest of the world.

Discussion and Study Questions

• How does the discipline of geography provide a bridge between the social sciences and the physical sciences?
• How does the cultural landscape assist in indicating the differences between a wealthy neighborhood and a poverty-stricken neighborhood?
• How can remote sensing technology assist in determining what people do for a living?
• What is the significance of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn?
• What occupations depend on knowledge of the seasons for their success?
• If it is 4 p.m. in San Francisco, what time is it in London, England?
• How would GIS, GPS, or remote sensing technology be used to evaluate the destruction caused by a tornado in Oklahoma?
• How is the cultural landscape influenced by the physical landscape?
• Can you list a formal region, a functional region, and a vernacular region that would include where you live?
• What methods, topics, or procedures would be helpful to include in the study of world geography?

Geography Exercise

Identify the following key places on a map:

• Arctic Circle
• Antarctic Circle
• International Date Line
• Prime meridian
• Tropic of Cancer
• Tropic of Capricorn
• Use Google Earth to locate your current school or residence.
• Draw a map of your home state or province and include lines of latitude and longitude.
• Compile the statistical data on your home state, province, or territory to use in comparing formal political regions.

World Regional Geography Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

World Regional Geography: Countries & Regions Assignment

• Countries & Regions Assignment
• GeoPoetry Assignment
• Works Cited Page
• In-Text Citations

Top Databases for Counties and Regions Assignment

• Gale in Context: Environmental Studies This link opens in a new window
• Gale in Context: Global Issues This link opens in a new window

• Archives of Latin American and Caribbean History, 16th - 20th Century This link opens in a new window
• World History in Context This link opens in a new window
• World Book Advanced This link opens in a new window
• CIA World Factbook

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Countries & regions assignment.

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