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PlayOwl

Geography · Grade 8

Human Geography Research and Map Argument

In this capstone, learners act as human geography researchers. They frame a research question and hypothesis, plan ethical data collection, turn raw counts into fair rates and choose how to map them, then build a map-based argument with a claim, evidence, reasoning, a counterclaim and a rebuttal. Using a fictional city's park-access data and real global internet-use data, they critique and improve map arguments before writing one of their own.

  • 4 lessons
  • About 115 minutes
  • Research and map argument check: 10 questions
  • Ways to answer: choose an answer, highlight a text, 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

  • Design a human geography research question, testable hypothesis and ethical data plan.
  • Process data into fair rates and choose an appropriate map type and classes to show them.
  • Construct a map-based argument with claim, evidence, reasoning, counterclaim and rebuttal.
  • Critique map arguments for honesty, limitations and fairness, and revise them.

Lessons

  1. Designing ethical research 6 steps4 practiceabout 28 min
  2. From data to map 5 steps3 practiceabout 28 min
  3. Building a map argument 6 steps3 practiceabout 29 min
  4. Critique and revise 5 steps2 practiceabout 28 min
  5. Research and map argument 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 8th grade geography

Guide for grown-ups