Materials

• Class notes
• Video, slides, or photographs of the effects of weather phenomena

Instructional Activities

NOTE: These activities and the activities throughout the course will require students to annotate multiple outline maps. It is recommended that students acquire a notebook to store their maps. The notebook should be organized by organizing topics, using tabs. After grades have been recorded, maps should be saved in the notebook for use as a resource when preparing for assessments or projects. The teacher may choose to give a notebook grade after providing students with a list of the maps that should be present in their notebooks. Class notes will be given at the teacher’s discretion.

1. Explain that the next sessions will examine the effects of ecological processes on the Earth’s surface as well as the division of the Earth into regions (areas of the Earth’s surface that share unifying characteristics). The impact of conflict and cooperation on the divisions of the Earth will also be examined.
   
   
2. Display the following on the board or overhead:
   • Weather phenomena:
   • Monsoons — South and Southeast Asia
   • Typhoons — Pacific Oceans
   • Hurricanes — Atlantic Ocean
   • Tornadoes — United States
   
   Have the students identify the characteristics of each of these weather phenomena. Encourage students not only to describe each phenomenon but also to identify the most probable location(s) for it to occur.
   
   
3. Show a video, slides, or photographs that reflect the long term effects on the Earth’s surface of these various weather phenomena.
   
   
4. Ask students to identify the effects of these weather phenomena on the climate. Ensure that the matters of crops, clothing, housing, and natural hazards are addressed during the discussion.
   
   
5. Assign a teacher-selected reading, worksheet, or other reinforcement activity, using available teacher resources.