Lesson Plan 1: research Skills
international pages 14-39
World Affairs
2015
Our World Affairs 2015 atlas and almanac
includes news maps for every continent
and region as well as the latest data on the
world’s 196 countries. Encourage students
to use World Affairs 2015 as a year-round
desk reference and research tool.
Additional
Resources
www.upfrontmagazine.com
Before Reading
1
List Vocabulary: Share with students
some of the domain-specific vocabulary they’ll
need to understand to make the most of World Affairs
2015. Encourage them to use context to infer meanings
as they read and to later verify those inferences by
consulting a dictionary. Distribute or project the Word
Watch activity to guide students through this process,
if desired.
2
Engage: Have students discuss times they
have used an atlas or an almanac. Discuss why
such reference tools must be updated regularly.
almanac
atlas
GDP
per capita
population density
urbanization
Print or project:
• Word Watch (vocabulary)
• Atlas Quiz (also on p. 8 of this
Teacher’s Guide)
• Almanac Quiz (also on p. 9 of this
Teacher’s Guide)
• Analyze the Photo (also on p. 14 of
this Teacher’s Guide)
• Graph: Where the Young People Are
(also on p. 11 of this Teacher’s Guide)
View online:
Whiteboard-ready versions of all maps
and tables
Analyze the Atlas & Almanac
3
Read: Have students preview the maps and tables in World Affairs 2015 and read the “America’s
Challenges” news briefs related to each continent and region. Have students practice using the
atlas and almanac by locating some of the countries described in the news briefs on the maps and in the
almanac tables.
4
Discuss: Use the following discussion prompts to explore the kinds of information students can
extract from the atlas and almanac.
Find all activity sheets and other support materials at www.upfrontmagazine.com
2 •
U p f r o n t • up f r o n t m a g a z i n e . c o m
uIn what ways might the maps in the atlas be helpful
uWhat is the purpose of the tables in the almanac?
in understanding world events?
Which statistics do you think are most useful for
(The atlas maps can help you locate specific places in
understanding a country?
the world, understand the physical environment and its
(The tables are designed to give facts and figures at a
effects on people, and explore geographic relationships.
glance. Each statistic helps you understand a particular
They can also provide insights into the causes of historic
facet of a nation. For example, to understand current
or current events.)
events in a nation, you might look up its political system.
For context on economic developments, you might look at
uThe Middle East is a region, not a continent. Its
per capita GDP, a measure of a nation’s wealth.)
nations have a long shared history. Based on the map,
what physical boundaries might have helped to tie the
uWhat is a country’s “date of origin”? Why do you
region together through the years?
think some fairly “old” countries (for example, China
(The Middle East refers to a set of countries in southwest
and India) have relatively recent dates of origin?
Asia as well as Egypt and part of Turkey. This region is
(The date of origin is the year the nation was established,
bound together physically: It stretches east-west from the
gained independence, or took on its modern form. Some
Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean and Red seas and is
countries, like India, were under colonial rule before
framed by the Caspian and Black seas to the north and
becoming independent states. Others have had significant
the Arabian Sea and Sahara Desert to the south.)
changes in form. For example, China became a republic in
1912 after thousands of years of imperial rule.)
uExamine the map of Africa. Where are many of the
continent’s capital cities located? What might
uWhat do you think a “transitional government” is?
explain this?
For which countries do you note this designation?
(A glance at the map shows that many capitals of African
(Transitional governments are temporary governments
nations are located on the Atlantic coast. These cities grew
set up to oversee things while a nation is preparing to
up around busy ports, where trade with other countries
establish a more permanent government—for example, by
was conducted.)
writing a constitution or holding elections. They are often
set up after a coup, as in Egypt; war, as in Afghanistan;
or other types of unrest.)
Extend & Assess
5
Research & Writing
Choose one of the following
6
• Choose two countries from the same
continent or region. Research and
Quizzes
Photocopy, print, or project
research activities and have students
write a two-page paper comparing
the atlas and almanac quizzes (on pages
complete it using the World Affairs 2015
and contrasting them. Include details
8 and 9 of this Teacher’s Guide). Note
atlas and almanac, as well as additional
about government, economy, and
that these quizzes are designed to be
sources. Students may use the archive
quality of life.
open-book. Answers appear on p. 15.
search tool at upfront.com to locate
• Choose one of “America’s Challenges”
past Upfront articles on their topics.
described in World Affairs 2015.
7
Photo Analysis
Have students analyze the photo
Remind students to cite text evidence
Research and write a two-page
in their writing.
paper on what the challenge is, how
on page 14 of this Teacher’s Guide. It’s
• Using World Affairs 2015 as well as the
it originated, and what America’s
about immigration, one of “America’s
options are for dealing with it.
Challenges” highlighted in the issue.
article on South Africa on p. 6, write
a two-page paper on South Africa.
In what ways is it different from other
African nations? How is it similar?
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