Using the "Skype Mystery Call" as a Geography Activity

What an exceptional geography activity I found at Mrs. Yollis' Classroom Blog!  It allows students to interact and compete with a classroom anywhere else in the world, trying to figure out one another's geographic location.


This activity is called a "Skype Mystery Call," and the video posted below shows a good example of how it is done.  Integrate technology by using Skype to contact a class anywhere on the globe.  Leave the other class' location a mystery to your classs.


Next, assign jobs to small groups of students.  For instance, some kids can work with an atlas, while another uses GoogleMaps; other kids can keep track of which clues are given, etc.


The two classes take turns asking each other geographic questions about their opponents' location.  If the other team responds with a "yes," the first team can continue with another question.  If the other team responds "no" to a question, then it is their turn to ask one.  Only yes and no questions are allowed, so students have to use their geographic knowledge, map skills, and logical reasoning to find where the other class is located.


The class wins if they are first able to come up  with the correct location of the opposing class.


As the video demonstrates, kids can find this activity exciting and engaging.  Give it a try to test your students' geographic skills, and get to know another class in a cool game.


The Mystery Skype Call from langwitches on Vimeo.

State Regions Bean Map

First, it was candy.  Then, cereal.  Now, it's beans!  I keep finding great activities involving snacks and food items.


This one comes courtesy of Yearn 4 Learning, where 3rd graders had to represent their home state, California, using a colorful 3D map made of rice, pinto beans, split peas, and popcorn kernels.  Look how nice the final product looks!  I'm sure students enjoyed this hands-on, textured art project.  Could your students use the same technique to showcase your state or region's geographical features?

photo:  microsoft

"Santa Claus, Indiana": Geography Activity

Ever heard of Santa Claus, Indiana?  Would your students believe that it's a real place?


Use interesting town names as the basis for a geography classroom activity.  This idea comes from Education World's "Boring" Geography Lesson, named after the town of Boring, Maryland.  


Give students a list of interesting town names, like this one.  Choose some of your favorites (I like Ding Dong, Texas) and make a simple map/atlas assignment asking students to find the latitude and longitude of these places, or use any other maps skills you would like them to practice.  Education World makes other suggestions for this activity, such as having students make creative newspaper headlines using the strange town names.  Have students use a map to create a list of unique town names they've discovered.  The class could also use the internet in lieu of paper maps for information about these towns.

• How miles away is Whynot, MS from Jackson, MS?
• In which state would one find Loyalsockville?
• Is Unalaska, Alaska east or west of Juneau, Alaska?

1/24/11 Tips: Stories, Landforms of Play Doh, Break Barriers

1. Kids-Space.org is a fun site that allows students to select or submit a drawing, and then use it as a springboard for a story.  Check out all of the wonderful stories young writers have created for the site and encourage your students to participate.
2. If you're looking for a hands-on geography lesson, turn to Mr. C's Class Blog for inspiration!  His eighth grade class used colorful dough to make landforms.  It's a great way to assess their knowledge of landforms while letting them get creative.
3. Integrate history and writing in this cool essay contest from Scholastic!  The 2011 Breaking Barriers Essay Contest challenges students to "show how they use Jackie Robinson's values to face their own barriers."  Exciting prizes include a trip to see the MLB All-Star Game and free laptops!  The contest ends March 4, so see the contest guidelines for further information.

                                                                                                scholastic

Happy Monday, everyone!

-Veronica