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Overview:
This lesson introduces students to the idea that people in different parts of the world have different customs and habits of daily life, even if they live in similar landscapes. They will view pictures of and discuss life in the mountains of Colorado and Nepal and write stories describing what it might be like to live in the mountains of Nepal.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 10: "The characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics"
Time:
Two hours
Materials Required:
- Computer with Internet access
- Globe (optional)
Objectives:
Students will
- discuss any experiences they may have had in the mountains;
- locate North American mountains on a map or globe;
- view pictures of the Colorado mountains, and discuss what they see;
- view pictures of people living in the mountains of Nepal, and discuss what they see; and
- write stories pretending they live in the mountains of Nepal.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Organizing Geographic Information
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Ask students if they have ever been to the mountains. When did they go? What was the weather like? What did they do there? If they live in the mountains, ask them to describe some of the things they like to do there, such as hiking, skiing, or camping.
Development:
Have students look at a map of North America or the United States using National Geographic's MapMachine or a globe. Ask them to locate the mountains in the United States or Canada. What do they think it would be like to live in these mountains? If they do live in the mountains, what is it like in the different seasons?
Point out Colorado on the map, and have students go to the Colorful Colorado Gallery of Photos. At this site, they will look at pictures of the mountains and other Colorado scenes. Ask students what they think they would need in order to live in the mountains (e.g., warm clothes, good shoes). List their ideas on the board.
Explain that life in the mountains of the United States and Canada is pretty much like life anywhere in those countries—people have TVs, radios, cars, and the other things kids are accustomed to seeing. There are cities and towns in mountainous areas that look pretty much like cities and towns in flat parts of the country. The main difference is that they have to deal with some pretty harsh snowstorms in the winter and may have trouble getting their cars over hilly, winding roads. They are also lucky that they don't have to travel too far to go skiing or snowboarding.
Point out Nepal on a world map or globe. Students will probably notice that Nepal is about halfway around the world from the United States. Tell the class that Nepal has some of the tallest mountains in the world, the Himalaya. In fact, Mount Everest is on the border between Nepal and Tibet, and is the world's tallest mountain. Have students look at pictures of Mount Everest.
Have students look at the Landruk section of National Geographic's Trekking Nepal site. Show them the pictures of Nepalese people and houses in the "Gallery: Local Life Along the Trail" feature. Ask students to describe (either in a class discussion or in writing) what these people are doing and what their houses look like. Are students surprised by what they see?
Explain that many people live in mountainous areas in different parts of the world. Although the mountains in Nepal look similar to the mountains in the United States and Canada, people have different lifestyles and do different activities.
Ask students if they notice any other differences in the pictures at the Trekking Nepal site. Why do they think things look different in Nepal than in their own country? Discuss their ideas as a class.
Closing:
Have students discuss what it might be like to live in Nepal. What things would they like the best, based on what the have seen? What things do they think would be the most different from the things they are used to at home?
Suggested Student Assessment:
Have students write stories, either individually or as a class, pretending they live in the mountains of Nepal. What do their homes look like? What do they do? What do their parents do? How do they like living in the mountains?
Extending the Lesson:
Have students draw pictures to accompany their stories. The pictures should reflect things they have seen on the Trekking Nepal site.
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