Exploring Our World: People, Places, and Cultures

Chapter 3: Earth's Human and Cultural Geography

Web Activity Lesson Plans

Introduction
In this chapter, students learned about the features of human geography, including culture. One of the elements of culture is government. People form governments so that they can live together without conflict. This Web site contains detailed information about the governments of countries around the world. Students can also click on the country’s name to learn more about the government, along with other facts about population, geography, and history.

Lesson Description
Students will visit a Web site that lists information about a country’s government. They will read about different types of governments and how these are defined by the United States. Students will describe the differences between certain types of governments using these definitions. Then students will research a country that is trying to establish its own government. They will be required to identify the groups struggling for power and the type of government each group hopes to establish.

Instructional Objectives

1. The learner will be able to identify nations and the type of governments they have.
2. The learner will be able to locate specific information about a country’s government.
3. The learner will be able to contrast differences between different types of governments.
4. The learner will be able to research and organize information about a present-day country and its struggle to create a government.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. republic
2. ecclesiastical; Students may say that it is a government where religious officials have power.
3. October 1, 1949
4. A monarchy is a government where power is held by a king or queen, generally for life and by hereditary right. An oligarchy is a government where a small group of individuals rule whose authority is based on wealth or power.
5. Students should identify a country and describe the conflict.