Why Is The World Like It Is?

Investigation:

Europe

Name: ______

Investigation: Europe

This is a full 9-week investigation of the continent of Europe. Be prepared to learn how geography, culture, history, and civics all work together to make Europe what it is. You will be using a variety of resources, some given to you and some you will find on your own. You will complete four 2-week long units and one week for a culminating thesis. Be prepared to think hard, to extend your knowledge, and learn a lot. Sharpen your pencils and wipe off your keyboards!

Table of Contents:

INVESTIGATION 1: GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE

Essential Question

Lesson Resources

Project

Rubric(s)

INVESTIGATION 2: CURRENT CULTURES OF EUROPE

Essential Question

Lesson Resources

Project

Rubric(s)

INVESTIGATION 3: CURRENT CIVICS OF EUROPE

Essential Question

Lesson Resources

Project

Rubric(s)

INVESTIGATION 4: HISTORY OF EUROPE (WWII FOCUS)

Essential Question

Lesson Resources

Project

Rubric(s)

CULMINATING PROJECT: ESSAY

Question

Rubric

INVESTIGATION 1: GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE

Objective: You will have to work through the project in order to answer the essential question below. The key idea in this investigation is to do the following:

  1. Understand the essential question. You should be able to explain what you are trying to research by using your own words, not directly repeating the essential question word for word. It is important to have a clear understanding of what you are trying to research.
  2. Immerse yourself in a lot of research about your topic. It is not uncommon to have up to 10 sources of information to help you get to an answer to the essential question.
  3. Understand the project that you are being evaluated on. Do you understand what you are supposed to do? Do you know the difference between a quality project and one that is insufficient?
  4. You must be able to answer the essential question completely, and sensibly. You have to gain knowledge of a few key points to answer the essential question and expand on those key points with details.

Unpacking the essential question for understanding:

  1. What is geography?
  1. What does the word “influenced” mean as used in the essential question?
  1. What factors contribute to a “society” and what is a “society”?
  1. What do you need to research?

INVESTIGATION 1: GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE

Lesson Resources (in addition to your textbook)

National Geographic Website:

  • Physical geography of Europe
  • Environment & Economy
  • Human geography

World Atlas Website:

  • Geography
  • Fast Facts
  • Timeline
  • Travel Information

5 Themes of Geography Prezi:

  • Understand the 5 themes of geography (place, movement, human-environment interaction, location, region)
  • Determine how the 5 themes interact with one another to help answer the essential question

INVESTIGATION 1: GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE

Project Directions

You are going to create either a Power Point or a Prezi that fully answers the essential question: How has the geography of Europe influenced society today?

For your presentation please adhere to the following guidelines:

  1. Between 3-5 minutes
  2. Include a few graphics and pictures that enhance your presentation (not just take up space)
  3. Make sure you include some information about each of the 5 themes of geography
  4. Make sure you tie together how GOEGRAPHY impacts current SOCIETY, be sure to answer the question as it is
  5. For example, if geography influenced the formation of country borders, explain how that happened (through what war, what natural weather event, etc)
  6. How does geography impact people today?
  7. Make sure you go back to page 3 and re-read the “unpacking the essential question for understanding” questions to double check your work for completeness

Your presentation may follow the following format:

Slide 1: Name, Essential question

Slide 2: Place – define and give example in Europe

Slide 3: Location- define and give example in Europe

Slide 4: Movement- define and give example in Europe

Slide 5: Human-Environment Interaction- define and give example in Europe

Slide 6: Region- define and give example in Europe

Slide 7: Answer to essential question

INVESTIGATION 1: GEOGRAPHY OF EUROPE

Project Rubric

4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Student demonstrated in-depth understanding of concepts and expanded his/her thinking beyond the question. Connections were made to outside references and text details fully support ideas generated. No spelling, grammatical or mechanical errors are noted. The answer is well-developed and well written. / Student demonstrated grade-appropriate understanding of concepts and thinking is connected to question asked and text. Text details used support the answer written. Little or few errors were made in spelling, grammar, and/or mechanics. The answer written is grade-level appropriate. / Student demonstrated minimal understanding of concepts and answered question with partial or superficial responses. Connections to text are weak or nonexistent. Errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. Response written is below grade level expectation. / Student did not demonstrate comprehension of question or concepts. Response is off task or invalid. No connections made to text. Spelling, grammar and mechanical errors are abundant. Response indicates a lack of understanding.
Task Description / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Length of presentation (3-5 minutes): ______
PPT/Prezi produced of quality and rigor
Essential question unpacked as outlined
Essential question answered and included evidence of new, original knowledge gained
Graphics, visuals professional in appearance
TOTAL: ______/20

INVESTIGATION 2: CURRENT CULTURES OF EUROPE

Objective: You will have to work through the project in order to answer the essential question below. The key idea in this investigation is to do the following:

  1. Understand the essential question. You should be able to explain what you are trying to research by using your own words, not directly repeating the essential question word for word. It is important to have a clear understanding of what you are trying to research.
  2. Immerse yourself in a lot of research about your topic. It is not uncommon to have up to 10 sources of information to help you get to an answer to the essential question.
  3. Understand the project that you are being evaluated on. Do you understand what you are supposed to do? Do you know the difference between a quality project and one that is insufficient?
  4. You must be able to answer the essential question completely, and sensibly. You have to gain knowledge of a few key points to answer the essential question and expand on those key points with details.

Unpacking the essential question for understanding:

  1. What is culture? What things are parts of culture?
  1. How many different cultures dominate Europe?
  1. Is there peace or differences between the cultures?
  1. What causes different cultures to be localized to certain areas or countries?
  1. How do Europeans feel about their own heritage and culture? Others?

INVESTIGATION 2: CURRENT CULTURES OF EUROPE

Lesson Resources

Every Culture Website:

  • Listing of cultures in Europe, and countries in which those cultures can be found

PDF from Bradley Hardin:

  • All aspects of European cultures
  • Text based PDF with a variety of facts

GeoCurrents Website:

  • Opinion articles, scholarly articles, news articles that connect current events to geography and culture in Europe

INVESTIGATION 2: CURRENT CULTURES OF EUROPE

Project: Passport Through Europe

Directions: Use the format of a passport that follows and completely answer each question. Use the research you have accumulated and always keep the essential question in mind! Your project is to serve as your answer to the essential question, so everything you write should be focused on your essential question!

Process:

  1. Define what the factors are that contribute to what causes a culture to develop in a certain region or area.
  2. Select 5 major cultures of Europe that are not too similar to each other. For example, the French culture is very different than the Polish culture. You will use these 5 different cultures for your passport.
  3. Collect as much information about each culture as you can. Include photos, pieces of art, traditions, celebrations, dress, etc… What you collect should reflect what you have defined as important aspects of culture (unpacking the essential question). Make sure to cite your references
  4. Go back and revisit those questions to “unpacking the essential question”, add or change information.
  5. Complete the passport with detailed information
On the map, color the countries that you predominately found each culture to be located


Date Stamp
1 / Culture / Location Map in Europe
Predominate Country
Define what aspects of life contribute to this culture
Why are the aspects listed above so important to the people of this culture?
Do the aspects of the culture, as listed above, cause this culture to be at odds with another culture?
What has caused this culture to settle in this region? (Early Historical Inferences)
What are popular current elements of the culture today? Top songs, movies, books, art?
REFERENCES
Date Stamp
2 / Culture / Location Map in Europe
Predominate Country
Define what aspects of life contribute to this culture
Why are the aspects listed above so important to the people of this culture?
Do the aspects of the culture, as listed above, cause this culture to be at odds with another culture?
What has caused this culture to settle in this region? (Early Historical Inferences)
What are popular current elements of the culture today? Top songs, movies, books, art?
REFERENCES
Date Stamp
3 / Culture / Location Map in Europe
Predominate Country
Define what aspects of life contribute to this culture
Why are the aspects listed above so important to the people of this culture?
Do the aspects of the culture, as listed above, cause this culture to be at odds with another culture?
What has caused this culture to settle in this region? (Early Historical Inferences)
What are popular current elements of the culture today? Top songs, movies, books, art?
REFERENCES
Date Stamp
4 / Culture / Location Map in Europe
Predominate Country
Define what aspects of life contribute to this culture
Why are the aspects listed above so important to the people of this culture?
Do the aspects of the culture, as listed above, cause this culture to be at odds with another culture?
What has caused this culture to settle in this region? (Early Historical Inferences)
What are popular current elements of the culture today? Top songs, movies, books, art?
REFERENCES
Date Stamp
5 / Culture / Location Map in Europe
Predominate Country
Define what aspects of life contribute to this culture
Why are the aspects listed above so important to the people of this culture?
Do the aspects of the culture, as listed above, cause this culture to be at odds with another culture?
What has caused this culture to settle in this region? (Early Historical Inferences)
What are popular current elements of the culture today? Top songs, movies, books, art?
REFERENCES

INVESTIGATION 2: CURRENT CULTURES OF EUROPE

Rubric:

4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Student demonstrated in-depth understanding of concepts and expanded his/her thinking beyond the question. Connections were made to outside references and text details fully support ideas generated. No spelling, grammatical or mechanical errors are noted. The answer is well-developed and well written. / Student demonstrated grade-appropriate understanding of concepts and thinking is connected to question asked and text. Text details used support the answer written. Little or few errors were made in spelling, grammar, and/or mechanics. The answer written is grade-level appropriate. / Student demonstrated minimal understanding of concepts and answered question with partial or superficial responses. Connections to text are weak or nonexistent. Errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. Response written is below grade level expectation. / Student did not demonstrate comprehension of question or concepts. Response is off task or invalid. No connections made to text. Spelling, grammar and mechanical errors are abundant. Response indicates a lack of understanding.
TASK / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Student connected a culture with a country, appropriately, for each of the 5 passport entries
Cultural aspects were defined correctly for all 5 entries
Connections between the people and cultural aspects were appropriately made for all 5 entries
Proper identification of cultural differences (odds with other cultures) was made in a nondiscriminatory way for all 5 entries
Popular elements of culture were identified (at least 5) for all 5 entries
Relevant and factual information was used for analysis and cited as sources for all 5 entries
Evidence of student understanding beyond basic reporting of researched facts is obvious for all 5 entries (connections, analysis, synthesis)
Answer to essential question
TOTAL:
Comments:

INVESTIGATION 3: CURRENT CIVICS OF EUROPE

Objective: You will have to work through the project in order to answer the essential question below. The key idea in this investigation is to do the following:

  1. Understand the essential question. You should be able to explain what you are trying to research by using your own words, not directly repeating the essential question word for word. It is important to have a clear understanding of what you are trying to research.
  2. Immerse yourself in a lot of research about your topic. It is not uncommon to have up to 10 sources of information to help you get to an answer to the essential question.
  3. Understand the project that you are being evaluated on. Do you understand what you are supposed to do? Do you know the difference between a quality project and one that is insufficient?
  4. You must be able to answer the essential question completely, and sensibly. You have to gain knowledge of a few key points to answer the essential question and expand on those key points with details.

Unpacking the essential question for understanding:

  1. Which countries in Europe are prosperous, and which are not?
  1. What defines a country’s prosperity? What elements or statistics create prosperity?
  1. What elements contribute to prosperity?
  1. What elements detract from prosperity?
  1. What effect do natural elements have on prosperity?
  1. What role does government play in prosperity? Which style of government is best?

INVESTIGATION 3: CURRENT CIVICS OF EUROPE

Lesson Resources

Encyclopedia Britannica:

  • How the government impacts the economy of Europe
  • Various articles and videos about the topic

The 2013 Legatum Institute:

  • Prosperity measures of European countries according to various categories
  • Rankings and ratings of individual countries

INVESTIGATION 3: CURRENT CIVICS OF EUROPE

Project: VENN Diagram

Directions: Use the format of a VENN Diagram to compare the prosperous nations’ characteristics to those countries that are not as prosperous. Use the research you have accumulated and always keep the essential question in mind! Your project is to serve as your answer to the essential question, so everything you write should be focused on your essential question!

Process:

  1. Define what the factors are that contribute to what causes prosperity to develop in a certain region or area.
  2. Select as many points for comparison as you can find, use at least 5 countries.
  3. Collect as much information as you can. Include charts, graphs, research and tables, etc… What you collect should reflect what you have identified as important in the questions of “unpacking the essential question”. Make sure to cite your references
  4. Go back and revisit those questions to “unpacking the essential question”, add or change information.
  5. Complete the VENN Diagram with detailed information

VENN Diagram


Country / Measure of Prosperity / Type of Government

INVESTIGATION 3: CURRENT CIVICS OF EUROPE

Rubric:

4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Student demonstrated in-depth understanding of concepts and expanded his/her thinking beyond the question. Connections were made to outside references and text details fully support ideas generated. No spelling, grammatical or mechanical errors are noted. The answer is well-developed and well written. / Student demonstrated grade-appropriate understanding of concepts and thinking is connected to question asked and text. Text details used support the answer written. Little or few errors were made in spelling, grammar, and/or mechanics. The answer written is grade-level appropriate. / Student demonstrated minimal understanding of concepts and answered question with partial or superficial responses. Connections to text are weak or nonexistent. Errors in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. Response written is below grade level expectation. / Student did not demonstrate comprehension of question or concepts. Response is off task or invalid. No connections made to text. Spelling, grammar and mechanical errors are abundant. Response indicates a lack of understanding.
TASK / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1
Measures of prosperity were appropriate and relevant
Connections between government, prosperity, and geography were made
Causes for prosperity (and causes for lack of prosperity) were appropriately identified and analyzed
A variety of resources was used, including charts and other graphic aides
Similarities and differences were appropriate and included more than just repeated researched information. Evidence of analysis and new thought (synthesis) is evident
Answer to essential question
TOTAL:
Comments:

INVESTIGATION 4: HISTORY OF EUROPE

Objective: You will have to work through the project in order to answer the essential question below. The key idea in this investigation is to do the following:

  1. Understand the essential question. You should be able to explain what you are trying to research by using your own words, not directly repeating the essential question word for word. It is important to have a clear understanding of what you are trying to research.
  2. Immerse yourself in a lot of research about your topic. It is not uncommon to have up to 10 sources of information to help you get to an answer to the essential question.
  3. Understand the project that you are being evaluated on. Do you understand what you are supposed to do? Do you know the difference between a quality project and one that is insufficient?
  4. You must be able to answer the essential question completely, and sensibly. You have to gain knowledge of a few key points to answer the essential question and expand on those key points with details.