NIE ACTIVITY
GEOGRAPHY CONNECTIONS
NORMANDY,
FRANCE
This year-long series is presented in collaboration with the Connecticut Geographic Alliance.
Normandy is not a city, or nation, but actually a
region in Northern France. The territory had been
disputed between France and England until it
officially became France’s property around 1450
after the Hundred Years’ War. This region is most
famous because of the Normandy invasions during
World War II, called D-Day. This day, June 6, 1944
is when the Allied powers, mainly the United States
and England, reclaimed France from the Germans
who had been controlling it. Normandy today is
known for its incredible views of cliffs, beaches, and
expansive farmland.
Kailee Donovan
Social Studies Teacher at Simsbury High School
TAKE 5
LOCATION - Normandy is located on the
English Channel, one of the closest points
between England and the mainland of
Europe. This is why it has often been a focal
point of military strategy.
PLACE -The coast of France at Normandy
is largely made up of beautiful beaches and
tall cliffs.
HUMAN-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION-
While Normandy may be known for its beautiful cliffs lining the beaches, those cliffs have
become a hazard. Earlier this July, one of the faces of the cliffs broke off and crashed
down onto the sand like an avalanche, while tourists were nearby walking! Mayors of the
local towns in Normandy have had to issue statements warning visitors to be aware and
look out. You can see a video of one of the cliffs collapsing here:
http://www.thelocal.fr/20130719/video-normandy-cliff-plunges-onto-beach
DID YOU KNOW?
a typical “tourist trap” with restaurants and
shops, but is often visited because of the
memorials and cemeteries dedicated to D-Day.
• The Cliffs of Normandy appear white against the sea? The reason for this is the cliffs are
actually a soft chalky limestone. The whiteness of the soft stone is why people call it the
Alabaster Coast, although not made of alabaster at all!
• Normandy played a very important role in World War II. The invasion of the Normandy beaches
turned the tide of war in favor of the Allied Powers, mainly the US and England. After this
invasion, the Allies marched straight towards Berlin and defeated Germany.
• Normandy was the largest amphibious attack, or attack by both land and sea at the same
time, in all history.
• Today, the Normandy beaches are both a memorial to soldiers who fought there as well as
a place of recreation for locals. Old bunkers are still sitting on the beaches! Can you imagine
playing on the beach then turning around and seeing an old World War II bunker??
REGION - Normandy is most famous for its
agricultural production of cattle and horses,
as well as cider.
MAPPING ACTIVITY
The landowners of the Normandy region
made use of the farmland by breaking it up
into segments of open field separated by
trees and hedges called bocage.*
MOVEMENT- Normandy is by no means
Picture of Bocage: http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/File:Bocage_boulonnais.jpg
Kailee Donovan
USING THE NEWS
Curricular Connections:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RST.6-8.8 Distinguish
among facts, reasoned judgment based on
research findings, and speculation in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.4 Determine
the meaning of words and phrases as they are
used in a text, including vocabulary specific to
domains related to history/social studies.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.5 Describe how
a text presents information (e.g., sequentially,
comparatively, causally).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.6 Identify
Look at a map of Northern France (http://www.madingleyamericancemetery.info/uk-france-cemeteries.htm)
Imagine you are a French general trying to protect France against an invasion.
Which town would you expect an enemy from England to try to invade? The Allies tried to
“fake out” the Germans who were controlling France and make the Germans think they
were going to invade Calais.
Why does Calais seem like most likely point at which an army/navy would invade France?
What types of defense structures would you build on the cliffs and the beaches in Normandy for
defense? Build a model of a bunker or other structure the French could build to prevent invasion.
ONLINE RESOURCES:
Geography of Normandy: http://www.gitesandmore.co.uk/Geography%20of%20Normandy.htm
American Cemetery at Normandy: http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/no.php
D-Day: http://www.army.mil/d-day/
aspects of a text that reveal an author’s point
of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language,
inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).
Kailee Donovan
For students who are blind, learning disabled or print challenged, visit CRIS Radio at
http://www.chrisradio.org and click Kids On-Demand for a free audio version of Geography Connections.