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Building Spatial Perspective

Lessons, readings, and activities from Michigan Citizenship Collaborative Curriculum Adapted by St. Johns Middle School

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Social Studies 6: Unit 2 - 1

Build Spatial Perspective

Requires Examining

The Natural World Human-Environment Interactions

Geographic Representations

● Natural or Physical Processes

● Physical Features

● Natural Hazards

● Environmental Opportunities

● Environmental Challenges

● Human Features (man-made)

● Natural Disasters

● Global Grid ● Map

Projections ● Regions ● Perspectives

and Distortions

● Spatial Scales ● Spatial

Patterns


THE GREAT BASKETBALL MYSTERY

1. How did the basketball actually get to Alaska?

2. What is a tsunami?

3. What four things can cause a tsunami?

4. Describe the location of the epicenter of the 2011 Japanese earthquake.

5. Describe the physical geography of Japan.

6. How does the physical geography of Japan appear to impact the population of Japan?

7. How might this map be used to explain how the basketball got to Alaska?


Newspaper Article:Newspaper Article: Miracle BasketballMiracle Basketball School in Iwate gets back its basketball after tsunami

washed it ashore Alaska! By Radhika Seth / June 14, 2012

Miracles happen! The school officials of Kesennuma Middle School in Rikuzentakata were in for a surprise when a strange cardboard box landed up their doorstep. The parcel came in all the way from Alaska with words of encouragement and a lost basketball! Although the ball was found in March, it was shipped over recently. Interestingly in the recent past a dock, a motorcycle and a soccer ball have washed ashore in the US and Canada. Out while beachcombing an area near Craig, Alaska, a student found the basketball with words “Kesen chu,” short for Kesennuma Chugakko or Kesennuma Middle School in Rikuzentakata, printed on it. The decision to mail back the basketball was unanimous and the students from Alaska mailed this ‘miracle’ parcel with loads of love and encouragement to their counterparts, many of who still live in temporary housings. As soon as they opened the package, school officials joyously dribbled the ball and termed it a miracle. However it did bring back some painful memories for all. Miracle Basketball. Japan Daily Press. 14 June 2012. 15 August 2013 <http://japandailypress.com/miracle-basketball-school-in-iwate-gets-back-its-basketball-after-tsunami-washed-it-ashore-alaska-1442066>.


http://japandailypress.com/miracle-basketball-school-in-iwate-gets-back-its-basketball-after-tsunami-washed-it-ashore-alaska-1442066

http://japandailypress.com/miracle-basketball-school-in-iwate-gets-back-its-basketball-after-tsunami-washed-it-ashore-alaska-1442066

Where is it?

Determining Absolute Location


Latitude, Longitude, and the Global Grid Notes

1. Latitude 2. Longitude 3. The Global Grid


4. Latitude of the star ____ __ Longitude of the star ____ __ 5. Latitude of the star ____ __ Longitude of the star ____ __ 6. Latitude of the star ____ __ Longitude of the star ____ __ 7. Latitude of the star ____ __ Longitude of the star ____ __ 8. Kesennuma, Japan Latitude ____ __ Longitude ____ __ G Craig, Alaska Latitude ____ __ Longitude ____ __ A Kesennuma, Japan Latitude ____ __ Longitude ____ __

Craig, Alaska Latitude ____ __ Longitude ____ __ 9. Climate Zones 10. What are two factors other than latitude that affect climate?


Journal Write #1Journal Write #1 1. In which zone do you think most of the world’s people live? Why?

2. What challenges would the Polar Zone present to people? 3. Do you think any people live in the Polar Zone? Why or why not?

4. What challenges would the Tropical Zone present to people? 5. Do you think any people live in the Tropical Zone? Why or why not?

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STOP. Go back and make sure you answered EVERYSTOP. Go back and make sure you answered EVERY question with complete sentences and explanation.question with complete sentences and explanation.


Graphic Organizer


Region Notes

Quick Write #1 1. What is one way to divide Michigan into regions? 2. What is one way to divide the United States into regions? 3. What is one way to divide the world into regions?

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4. Complete the diagram:

5. Could a country be in both the Northern and the Southern Hemispheres? Why or why not?


6. Complete the diagram:

7. Is the United States in the Eastern or Western Hemisphere? 8. What is special about the country of Kiribati? 9. How many continents are there? 10. Write the names of the continents. 11. By this definition is Europe a continent? Why or why not?


12. Should Antarctica be labeled a continent? Why or why not? 13. What conclusions can you draw from the four maps? 14. Suppose a 4th grader that just studied U.S. regions, asks you how you would divide the world into regions. What would you tell him or her?


Landforms

Deserts Mountains

Rainforests Volcanoes

Grasslands Glaciers


Rivers Oceans

Peninsulas Islands

Lakes Waterfalls


Around the World Fact Sheet

Facts About ________________ Facts About ________________



Natural Features Graphic OrganizerNatural Features Graphic Organizer


Quick Write #2Quick Write #2 What is one challenge provided by a floodplain?

What is one opportunity provided by a floodplain? _____________________________________________________________________

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The Geography of JapanThe Geography of Japan

LandLand

Japan consists of a 1500 mile archipelago, or chain of islands. It is made up of four large islands

and about 4000 smaller islands. Most of Japan’s people live on the four main islands. Japan has

solved the problem of connecting the islands together by creating a system of tunnels and

bridges for roads and railways.

About four-fifths of Japan is either hilly or mountainous. Several hundred peaks rise more than

6,500 feet above sea level. The mountain areas are popular sites for recreation such as hiking but

offer many challenges. Terrace farming, which allows for farming in hilly areas, is often used to

overcome one of these challenges. The mountain areas of Japan also include volcanoes. Japan

has about 190 volcanoes, of which about 50 are active.

Plains and relatively flat areas account for about a fifth of Japan's total area and occur mainly

along the coast. Except for the Kanto Plain, on which Tokyo is situated, all are comparatively

small. They are, however, of great importance as centers of farming, manufacturing, and

population.

Japan lies in the earthquake-prone belt called the Ring of Fire, which fringes most of the Pacific

basin. Earthquakes are frequent; most, however, are only minor tremors that do little or no

damage. The last major earthquake was in 2011.

WaterWater

The rivers of Japan are generally short and swift. The longest is the Shinano, some 230 miles (370

km) in length. Many of the rivers are used for hydroelectric power and to irrigate lowland rice


fields. Floods, especially those caused by torrential typhoon rains, sometimes cause widespread

damage and many deaths.

Virtually all the lakes of Japan are small. The largest is Biwa Lake, covering some 265 square miles

(686 km 2) on Honshu (This is much smaller than Lake St. Clair, which is 430 square miles). Lakes

are popular for marine sports like fishing, boating and wind surfing. Hot springs, associated with

underground volcanic activity, are numerous. Many resorts have been built near these natural

hot springs which are believed to have health benefits.

The ocean is an important resource for Japan. It provides fish for food and export, as well as a

way to connect Japan to the rest of the world. The ocean offers challenges, however. Japan

experiences about 10 typhoons each year, which are tropical cyclones that begin over the ocean.

These can cause flooding, high winds and other problems.

VegetationVegetation

Forests cover nearly 70 percent of Japan so forestry is an important industry. In general,

coniferous forests predominate in the higher mountainous areas and in the far north. Fir, spruce,

pine, and cedar are among the chief types of trees. Elsewhere in northern Japan and throughout

the central part of the country broad-leaved deciduous trees, such as oak, maple, poplar, beech,

ash, and elm, prevail. In many areas conifers are mixed among the stands. Most prevalent in the

south are subtropical species, mainly broad-leaved evergreens such as camphor and laurel.

Adapted from: The Geography of Japan. 8 August 2012 <http://geography.howstuffworks.com/asia/geography-of-japan1.htm>.


http://geography.howstuffworks.com/asia/geography-of-japan1.htm

The Geography of Japan

Natural Feature Challenges Opportunities


Pair Activity


Mountains

Deserts

Rainforest

Rivers and river systems

Lakes



Oceans and Sea

Islands

Volcanoes

Grasslands

Glaciers


Writing CheckpointWriting Checkpoint 1. Which of the natural features seem to present the most opportunities to humans? 2. Which of the natural features seem to present the most challenges to humans? 3. Are there any natural features that present NO obstacles or challenges to humans? If so,

what are they? 4. Are there any natural features that present NO opportunities to humans? If so, what are

they? 5. What natural features present challenges to people in our own community? 6. What natural features present opportunities to people in our own community?

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GLOSSARYGLOSSARY

Aftershock Aftershock — a tremor that follows the main shock of an earthquake and originates at or near the focus of the primary earthquake. Generally, major earthquakes are followed by a large number of aftershocks that decrease in frequency over time. Assessment Assessment — a survey of a disaster area to make estimates of damages and recommendations for necessary relief action. Beaufort scaleBeaufort scale — scale of wind and rain conditions and speed, measured from zero when the sea is calm like a mirror and winds are less than one mile per hour, to 12 for hurricanes, when the air is filled with foam and spray and wind speeds are greater than 72 miles per hour. Cyclone Cyclone — a large-scale closed circulation system in the earth’s atmosphere with relatively low barometric pressure and winds that blow counterclockwise around the center in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. See also hurricane, typhoon, and tropical cyclone, Called “cyclone” in Indian Ocean and South Pacific; “hurricane” in Western Atlantic and Eastern Pacific; “typhoon” in Western Pacific. Damage classificationDamage classification — evaluation and recording of damages to structures, facilities, or objects according to three categories: 1) “severe damage,” which precludes further use of the structure, facility, or object for its intended purpose. 2) “moderate damage,” or the degree of damage to principal members, which precludes effective use of the structure, facility, or object for its intended purpose, unless major repairs are made short of complete reconstruction. 3) “light damage,” such as broken windows, slight damage to roofing and siding, interior partitions blown down, and cracked walls. The damage is not severe enough to preclude use of the installation for the purpose for which it was intended. Declaration of disasterDeclaration of disaster — issuance of a state of emergency by designated authorities in the wake of a large-scale calamity. DisasterDisaster — an occurrence of widespread severe damage, injury, or loss of life or property, with which a community cannot cope and during which the affected society undergoes severe disruption. Disasters may be human-made or have natural causes and may include earthquakes, floods, fires, hurricanes, cyclones, major storms, volcanic eruptions, spills, air crashes, and creeping disasters such as droughts, epidemics or serious food shortages, as well as disasters of civil strife in which many victims may be left homeless as much property is seriously damaged or destroyed. Disaster planDisaster plan — the basic principles, policies, responsibilities, preparations, and responses developed to enable a society to meet any kind of emergency or disaster. Earthquake Earthquake — a sudden break in the rock of the earth’s crust below or at the surface, which results in the vibration of the ground, and the potential collapse of buildings and possible destruction of life and property if the quake is of sufficient magnitude.


Epicenter Epicenter — that point on the earth’s surface directly above the place of origin, focus, or center of an earthquake. Evacuation planEvacuation plan — procedure whereby persons can be removed from a threatened or impacted area. Eye (of the storm)Eye (of the storm) — the calm center of a tropical cyclone. Fault Fault — a planar or gently curved fracture in the earth’s crust across which displacement has occurred. Hazard Hazard — physical forces (hurricane, flood, volcano, etc.) that, when in proximity to populations, may cause disasters. HurricaneHurricane — in the Western Hemisphere, a major storm with a wind velocity of 75 miles per hour (120 kilometers per hour) or more. Also called typhoons in the Pacific Ocean, and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific. IntensityIntensity — a subjective measurement of the force of an earthquake at a particular place as determined by its effects on persons, structures, and earth materials. Intensity is a measure of effects, while magnitude is a measure of energy. Lava flowLava flow — the residue of an eruption from a volcano, usually consisting of molten magma and ash, and usually moving at a moderate pace (in comparison to an ash flow) down a mountainside, often threatening life and property below. Life supportLife support — food, water, sanitation, shelter, and medical aid during the 60 to 90 days following a disaster. MagnitudeMagnitude — a measurement of the strength of an earthquake as recorded on a seismograph at a specified distance from the earthquake’s epicenter. Each magnitude step on the Richter scale represents an increase of 10 times the measured wave amplitude of the earthquake. Plate tectonicsPlate tectonics — the concept that the earth’s surface is made up of several large plates or crustal slabs that move and are continually altering the crust of the earth. PreparednessPreparedness — may be described as action designed to minimize loss of life and damage, and to organize and facilitate timely and effective rescue, relief and rehabilitation in cases of disaster. Prevention Prevention — measures designed to preclude natural phenomena from causing or resulting in disaster or other emergency situations. Prevention concerns the formulation and implementation of long-range policies and programs to eliminate the occurrence of disasters. Prevention includes legislation and regulatory measures, principally in the fields of physical and urban planning, public works, and building. It also encompasses the manifestation of such plans. Reconstruction Reconstruction — actions taken to re-establish a community after a period of rehabilitation following a disaster. Actions would include construction of permanent


housing, full restoration of all services, and complete resumption of the pre-disaster state. Rehabilitation Rehabilitation — actions taken in the weeks or months immediately following a disaster to restore basic services, construct temporary housing, and allow a population to function at near pre-disaster level. Relief Relief — the meeting of immediate needs for food, clothing, shelter and medical care for disaster victims. Richter scaleRichter scale — a scale, not limited at the top or the bottom, that measures the magnitude of an earthquake from 1 (least) to 10 (greatest), with each magnitude step on the scale representing an increase of 10 times in measured wave amplitude of the earthquake. Secondary hazardsSecondary hazards — those hazards that occur as a result of another hazard or disaster, i.e., fires or landslides following earthquakes, epidemics following famines, food shortages following drought or floods. SeismographySeismography — the study of earthquake measurement and analysis. Tornado Tornado — localized, violently destructive windstorm occurring over land. Characterized by a long funnel-shaped cloud composed of condensation and debris extending to the ground and marking the path of greatest destruction (see cyclone). Tropical cycloneTropical cyclone — a storm originating over tropical seas with winds of up to 200 miles per hour rotating around a low pressure area. Most commonly observed in the Northern Hemisphere from May to November and in the Southern Hemisphere from December to June. In the Northern Hemisphere, winds spin counterclockwise around a warm center core. In the Southern Hemisphere, the rotation is clockwise. TyphoonTyphoon — in the Western Pacific, a violent wind and rain storm that results from the existence of certain conditions (see cyclone, hurricane). Volcanic eruptionVolcanic eruption — the sudden discharge of heated matter, i.e., lava, cinders, ashes, gases, and dust, from a volcanic vent. VolcanoVolcano — a vent in the earth’s crust through which molten lava, gases, etc., are discharged; the mountain formed by such discharges. VulnerabilityVulnerability — the extent to which a country, area, community or structure risks being damaged by a disaster. Warning systemWarning system — communications capability designed to disseminate information on conditions that are likely to result in drought, flood, earthquake, or other similar disasters. Source: Natural Hazards: Causes and Effects . 20 September 2012

< http://epdfiles.engr.wisc.edu/dmcweb/BB02NaturalHazardsCausesandEffects.pdf>. Social Studies 6: Unit 2 - 30

http://epdfiles.engr.wisc.edu/dmcweb/BB02NaturalHazardsCausesandEffects.pdf

What are Natural Hazards?What are Natural Hazards? The Earth is a dynamic place. Within nature nothing is constant. Indeed, nature is

typified by continual changes, in some cases by predictable change or the normal

sequence of cyclical events as in seasonal weather. Much of nature, though, is

unpredictable. When unpredictable natural events become extreme in their occurrence,

they may constitute a danger to humans and to the other members of an environment.

Such an event, then, defines a natural hazard.

Another way of conceptualizing natural hazard is as the coexistence of people in a

natural environment that may disrupt or threaten their safety, property, or livelihood at

an unpredictable time. There are many such natural events that, when experienced in an

extreme degree, may become a risk to the inhabitants of an environment. These include

avalanche, coastal erosion, drought, earthquake, flood, fog, frost, hail, landslide,

lightning, snow, tornado, tropical cyclone, volcano, and wind.

It is important to understand that there is a relationship between natural hazards and

disasters. In fact, the hazard may be viewed as the triggering device for the disaster to

occur. Often times the disaster is brought on by the mere presence of human settlement

in an area that perhaps should not be occupied, as in floodplains. Or the impact of human

intervention in natural processes may trigger a disaster, as in a flash flood in a

deforested area.

Why are natural hazards such a universal concern? The disasters they cause kill and

injure people worldwide. They cause emotional stress and trauma. They destroy homes

and businesses, damage agriculture, and disrupt both local and national economies.

Disasters are increasing, both in number and in people affected.

Adapted from: Natural Hazards: Causes and Effects . 20 September 2012

< http://epdfiles.engr.wisc.edu/dmcweb/BB02NaturalHazardsCausesandEffects.pdf> .


http://epdfiles.engr.wisc.edu/dmcweb/BB02NaturalHazardsCausesandEffects.pdf

What are Natural Hazards? - Reading Questions

What is a naturalWhat is a natural hazard?hazard?

What are someWhat are some examples of naturalexamples of natural hazards?hazards?

What is the relationshipWhat is the relationship between a naturalbetween a natural hazard and a disaster?hazard and a disaster?

Why are naturalWhy are natural hazards such ahazards such a universal concern?universal concern?


Tornado Notes What is a tornado?What is a tornado?

What causes a tornado?What causes a tornado?

Areas of the U.S. whereAreas of the U.S. where tornadoes are mosttornadoes are most likely to occurlikely to occur

Areas of the worldAreas of the world where tornadoes arewhere tornadoes are most likely to occurmost likely to occur

Possible effects ofPossible effects of tornadoestornadoes

Warning systemsWarning systems


Natural Hazard Research

Your assigned natural hazard is _______________________________ What is it?What is it?

What causes it?What causes it?

Where areWhere are people mostpeople most concernedconcerned about it?about it?


Possible effectsPossible effects

WarningWarning systemssystems

Other importantOther important informationinformation


Summary ChartsSummary Charts

Tropical CycloneTropical Cyclone TsunamiTsunami

What is it?What is it?


Areas of theAreas of the world where itworld where it

occursoccurs



OtherOther importantimportant

informationinformation


EarthquakeEarthquake Volcanic EruptionVolcanic Eruption

What is it?What is it?


Areas of theAreas of the world where itworld where it

occursoccurs



OtherOther importantimportant

informationinformation


Quick Write #3Quick Write #3 Pre-Learning

Is a natural hazard the same as a natural disaster? Please explain your

answer.

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Quick Write #3Quick Write #3 Post-Learning

Is a natural hazard the same as a natural disaster? Please explain your

answer.

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