Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to identify different countries on a world map and understand how geography can influence sports.

Materials and Prep

• A world map or globe
• A ball or any sports equipment
• Paper and coloring materials
• Pencil

Activities

1. Warm-up: Start by playing a game of "Hot Potato" with the ball. Have the student toss the ball to you while you ask a geography-related question. The student should answer the question before passing the ball back. This will get them excited and engaged in the lesson.

2. Introduce the world map or globe to the student. Show them different countries and explain that each country has its own unique geography.

3. Ask the student to choose a favorite sport. Discuss how geography can influence that sport. For example, if they choose soccer, explain how countries with larger grassy fields are more likely to have successful soccer teams.

4. Give the student a blank piece of paper and ask them to draw their favorite sport being played in a specific country. Encourage them to include geographical features that are relevant to the sport, such as mountains for skiing or rivers for rowing.

5. Once the drawing is complete, have the student share their artwork and explain why they chose that specific country for their sport.

First Grade Talking Points

• "Geography is all about studying the Earth and the different places on it."
• "Countries are like big neighborhoods with their own unique characteristics."
• "Different countries have different types of land, like mountains, deserts, or oceans."
• "Some countries have more space for sports like soccer, while others may have more space for sports like skiing."
• "Geography can affect the types of sports that are popular in different countries."
• "When we draw a sport being played in a specific country, we can think about how the geography of that country might make it a good place for that sport."