Student in Middle School Geography began the year with an introduction to the five themes of geography (location, place, human/environment interaction, movement, and regions). Students will interact with each of these themes in different ways this semester.

For location, students in eighth grade were tasked with choosing locations in the big backyard and describing its absolute and relative location (absolute referring to latitude/longitude and relative describing its relationship to other locations/places). Students then went on a location hunt to try to interpret their peers’ descriptions to end up in the exact right location. As they went about trying to find locations, there was great discussion about what is helpful in a description and how general terms can be open to interpretation. Can you match the eighth graders’ descriptions with the pictures below?

1. At the top of the playground, to the left of the log (birds eye view)
2. In the backyard behind the row of four trees, on the right middle tree. Parallel from the picnic table area, standing on the track 200 line.
3. Backyard, climbing, playful, colorful, exciting.
4. Underneath tall wooden thing
5. Across from the Playground, next to the tree, away from the Track
6. Far Corner of tree deck, net side