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Geography · Grade 6

Design an Evidence-Based Expedition

In this capstone, learners plan a (simulated) student field expedition to Iceland to study where two tectonic plates pull apart and how a great ice cap shapes the land. They locate the study sites with coordinates, choose the season from climate and daylight data, plan a route with map scale and settlements for supplies, weigh hazards and the reliability of their sources, and write an expedition proposal backed by evidence.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 110 minutes
  • Expedition plan check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, pin a map, pick map regions, match pairs, type a number and put in order
See plans Included with Family, Teacher and School plans. Open in PlayOwl

What learners will discover

  • Locate expedition sites with coordinates and explain the physical geography that makes them worth studying.
  • Use climate and daylight data to choose the best season for fieldwork and justify equipment.
  • Plan a route using map scale, distances, travel time and the settlements where supplies can be found.
  • Identify hazards and mitigations, judge the reliability of data sources, and justify a complete plan in writing.

Lessons

  1. Where and why: choosing the study sites 7 steps3 practiceabout 25 min
  2. When to go: reading the climate and daylight 6 steps4 practiceabout 25 min
  3. How to get there: route, scale and supplies 6 steps4 practiceabout 25 min
  4. Staying safe and trusting the right data 5 steps2 practiceabout 20 min
  5. Expedition plan check 10 questions at the end

Keep exploring

Games to practice with

  • Globe ExplorerSpin a real 3D globe, flip to the flat map, and find continents, oceans and countries.
  • Pin the PlanetDrag the pin onto wonders, cities and exact latitude and longitude points.
  • Route PlannerFind the shortest way around town, dodge closed roads, and measure trips with a scale bar.

More 6th grade geography

Guide for grown-ups