Learn The Great Basin
Sam D. Macaluso
TITLE OF LESSON: Nevada Geographic Brownie
OBJECTIVE(s): Students will demonstrate knowledge of map reading by using a Nevada Road Map to identify geographic locations. Students will further demonstrate map reading by identifying geographic locations from a Nevada Road Map to a brownie in the shape of Nevada using frosting or candy pieces.
MATERIALS: Brownie cut in the shape of Nevada; frosting in different colors (i.e. yellow, blue, green); various candies (i.e. Hershey bars, Hershey kisses, chocolate or butterscotch morsels, gum drops, other types of candy); cool whip; plastic knives; plates; napkins.
MOTIVATION: There can be several ways to motivate students. One way is to assign students specific locations on the map. Another way is to have students select their own points on the map (NO DUPLICATIONS). A third way is having students choose cards with the names of locations on them.
Be sure to go over the Nevada Road Map and point out such things as coordinates, compass rose, and key or legend.
PROCEDURE:
1. Hang a road map of Nevada in the classroom to familiarize the students with the geographical shape of Nevada.
2. Bake the brownie and cut the corner off in order to make it resemble the shape of Nevada. Draw a map on a large piece of paper (butcher paper works best), showing the states that border Nevada, and place the brownie on the butcher paper between the states of California and Utah that you have already drawn on the paper.
3. Explain the states that border Nevada and talk about what the concept of the Great Basin is while pointing out on the paper map and on the brownie where these approximate land forms are located.
4. Explain to the students that Nevada's topography is basin and range; that is, Nevada has a series of mountain ranges, mostly running North and South, between which occur basin regions.
5. Get out Hershey bars and have students build teepees along the western border of Nevada to represent the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The eastern border is 1140 longitude. You may use Hershey bars to show the Great Basin area.
6. To designate the various mountain ranges in Nevada use Hershey Kisses or chocolate or butterscotch morsels. Have students identify the following ranges with the kisses or morsels: Goshute, Toiyabe, Silver Peak, Pahrangat, Sheep, Wilson, Delamar, Mormon and Spring mountains.
7. To designate basins within these mountain ranges have students spread yellow (or gold) frosting in between the Mountain ranges. Explain to students how, in a basin, water flows into the valleys and goes to landlocked lakes or into sinks and evaporates. (Exceptions. are Owyhee and White rivers).
8. Several National Forests exist in Nevada. Using the Nevada road map, have students spread green frosting to indicate all National Forests in Nevada. Explain to students that the Humboldt and Toiyabe National Forests have been combined into one National Forest.
9. To designate the main rivers and lakes in Nevada, have students use the Nevada road map to designate the following:
|
RIVERS |
LAKES/RESERVOIRS |
|
Truckee |
Tahoe |
|
Carson |
Pyramid |
|
Walker |
Rye Patch |
|
Reese |
Wild Horse |
|
Humboldt |
Ruby |
|
Kings |
Lahontan |
|
Quinn |
Walker |
|
Owyhee |
Mead |
|
White |
|
|
Muddy |
|
|
Virgin |
|
|
Colorado |
Explain that these bodies of water are all that remains from ancient Lake Lahontan.
10. Add some Cool Whip to the mountains for snow. Discuss with students that Nevada is the most mountainous state in. the U.S. the highest peak is Boundary Peak at 13,142 ft, and the highest peak entirely in the state of Nevada is Wheeler Peak at 13,063 ft.
11. Have students gather around the brownie and observe their handiwork. Have them make observations about what they see (i.e. the Great Basin takes up most of Nevada, There are more bodies of water in Northern Nevada, mountain ranges run North and South, there are more National Forests in the center of the state, etc.).
CULMINATION: After making observations and discussions, cut up the brownie and eat it.
ASSESSMENT: The student when called upon can accurately read the Nevada Road Map and place the candy or frosting in the appropriate area of the brownie.
NOTE: There can be variations to this activity. You may want to outline the counties with string licorice and have students color in the appropriate county they've chosen, in addition to other geographic points (4th grade). Students may want to show change over time using various colors of frosting (red & blue) to show when our state had volcanic activity or was covered with water. They can show mountains that came up as a result of faulting and volcanic activity (5th grade).
Adapted by Sam Macaluso