Europe and Russia
/ Name ______Date ______Core ______
Activity Atlas
/Pgs. 250-259
Welcome to Europe and Russia
Look carefully at the pictures on pages 250-251.
What do you think of the money shown in the lower left corner of page 250. Where do you think it is from? Do you like it more or less than our money in America? Why?
Guiding Questions
Read the captions and the guiding questions on pages 252 and 253.
Which Guiding Question are you MOST interested to find out the answer to and why?
1. LOCATION
Locate Europe and Russia - page 254
Color Europe LIGHT GREEN
Color Russia YELLOW
Color the United States (including Alaska) ORANGE.
Which area is closest to the Equator: Europe, Russia, or the United States?
Which area is closest to the Arctic Circle: Europe, Russia, or the United States?
Many people think that the climates of Europe and the United States are similar. Do you agree or disagree? Give two reasons why.
I think that the climates of Europe and the United States ______similar because (are/are not)
______
______
2. PLACE
Compare the size of Europe, Russia, and the United States– pg. 254
Are Europe and Russia together larger or smaller than the United States? ______
What about compared to the United States, including Alaska? ______
Is Europe alone larger or smaller than the United States? ______
Is Russia alone larger or smaller than the United States? ______
3. REGIONS
Compare Climates in Europe and Russia– Pg.255
What are Russia’s three major climate regions?
______ ______ ______
How does Russia’s latitude, or distance from the Equator, affect its climate? EXPLAIN.
Does Russia have more or less climate regions than Europe? ______
Find Moscow and Rome on the map. Which city do you think has a warmer climate? Why do you think so? Explain.
4. HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION (H.E.I.)
Predict the Effect of Climate on How People Live – pg. 255- READ the caption.
Give three examples of ways you think people in Europe and Russia would have to adapt to their climate. For each one, give a city (or country) and tell the way you think people would have to change the way they live because of their climate.
(HINT: Use the map on page 256 if necessary to find a city or country name.)
5. PLACE
Compare Population Densities – pg. 256
What is population density? (define)
In which country/countries is the population density the highest? (list countries with purple)
In which countries is the overall population density the lowest? (has the most beige) What might explain this?
How does Germany’s population density compare to that of Norway? Which one is higher? They are right near the same line of longitude. What might explain the difference?
6. MOVEMENT
Analyze Population and Transportation– pgs. 256-257
Look at the map on page 257.
What is being shown on the map?
Compare the population density map with the railroad lines map.
Do regions with more people tend to have more or fewer railroads? Explain why.
7. MOVEMENT
Organize a Journey by Railway– pg. 257
Imagine that you have always wanted to visit Europe and Russia and your family has just told you that you will be going on vacation there this summer. Use the map below to plan which routes to take to get to and from each of the following places:
A.Your flight from the United States will land in Paris. From there, your family wants to travel
to Warsaw. What’s the shortest route by train? Tell the cities that you will pass through.
B. From Warsaw, your family want to go to Moscow. What other Russian city can you visit
on the way there?
- After Moscow, your family wants to go to Rome. You want to go through as many major cities as you can on the way there. What route will you take by train? Tell what cities you will pass through.
- From Rome, you must head straight back to Paris to catch your flight home. What is the shortest route by train?
BONUS Your trip is planned for July. Using the climate map on page 255 and your knowledge of climate and seasons, tell what types of clothing you will need for your trip.
- REGIONS
Identify Countries of the Former Soviet Union
Look at the map on page 258.
How many countries in Eastern Europe are former Soviet Republics? ______
How many countries in Central Asia are former Soviet Republics? ______
- REGIONS
Describe the Size of Russia – pg. 258
At the top of the map you can find the scale of the map.
Using the edge of a piece of scrap paper, trace or transfer
the scale from the top of the map on pg.258 to the edge
of the paper. Then use it to measure the distance across
Russia. Remember, to get accurate distances, you have
to measure in a straight line. Remember to add as you measure.
About how far (in miles) is it from the eastern border of Russia to the western border of Russia (using your traced map scale)?
About how far (in miles) is it from Moscow to Vladivostok?
Do you think your measurements are very accurate? Why or why not?
Do you think the actual distances would be greater or less than your measurements? Why?
10. PLACE
Compare Physical Features – pg. 259
Which lake has the largest volume of water? ______
What is the difference between a lake and a sea?
(HINT: Read carefully under Compare Physical Features)
Is the Caspian Sea larger or smaller than the other largest lakes? ______