Last updated 1-3-2024
In
this lesson, students use the Internet to learn about the Northwest
Angle's location, history, and population.
Lesson Introduction:
Ask if anyone has
heard of a place in the United states called the Northwest Angle. If
someone has, ask what they know about it. Write their answers on the
board. If not, ask students to speculate where it might be located.
Write their guesses on the board.
Explain that they are going to
locate the Northwest Angle based on its longitude and latitude and
then learn about it by exploring Internet sites.
Procedure:
1. Assign partners or place students in groups of
three or four.
2. Provide pairs or groups
with the
U.S.
Midwest Region Outline Map from
Motiva's Blog and the following longitude and latitude
coordinates: 49°23′50.28″N, 95°08′56.7″W (or decimal degrees 49.3973,
-95.14908333333333), and have them locate the NW Angle using
Google Maps GPS Coordinates or a similar web site.
After they enter the coordinates and click on "get address," they will need to expand the map
by clicking on the minus sign to get a larger view of the NW Angle's
location.
3. Instruct them to draw a small circle around the NW Angle on the
outline map.
4. Once they have accomplished these first two tasks, distribute the
worksheet.
5. Direct them to the
Northwest Angle links page
and have them complete the worksheet. Provide help with any aspects
of the worksheet on which students are struggling. For instance, the teacher may have to
clarify information regarding how the NW Angle came to be part of
the United States.
6. When all pairs/groups have completed the worksheet, help students
check their answers. Correct any inaccuracies. Ask students to
compare what they learned about the Northwest Angle to what was
written on the board at the beginning of the lesson.
Conclusion and Extensions:
Tell the students that the Northwest Angle is the only part of the United
States other than Alaska that is north of the
49th
parallel. Explain why this is significant. Ask students what
they think it would be like to live in the Northwest Angle and
attend the Angle's one-room school. Ask what they think winter is like there.
(See
International Falls, and scroll down to climate for similar
weather.) Ask if they'd like to visit the NW Angle, and have them
explain why or why not. Ask them to speculate on what sort of work people who live
there might do to
make a living.
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Information and Lesson Plans about Minnesota
Permission is granted to anyone wishing to use this activity for
instructional purposes.