S t u d e n t D i r e c t i o n s

Challenge 1: Learning About the Physical

Geography of Europe and Russia
1. Get your physical features maps for Europe and Russia Mapping Lab, Challenge 1.
2. Select one of the physical features listed below. Find it on the physical maps of Europe and
Russia in Geography Alive! Regions and People.
3. Locate and label that feature on your physical features map. (If there is no room to write
your label, draw a line from the feature to a place where you have more room to write.)
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until you have found and labeled all 15 physical features.

Physical Features of Europe and Russia

If you have trouble finding a feature, the latitude and longitude coordinates will help you get
close to its location.

Europe

1. Baltic Sea 2. Northern European Plain 3. Iberian Peninsula

(57°N, 20°E) (55°N, 25°E) (40°N, 5°W)

4. Alps 5. Danube River 6. Apennines

(46°N, 10°E) (45°N, 20°E) (43°N, 13°E)

7. Scandinavia 8. Black Sea 9. Mediterranean Sea

(65°N, 15°E) (43°N, 35°E) (40°N, 5°E)

Russia

10. Central Siberian Plateau 11. Kamchatka Peninsula 12. Lake Baikal
(65°N, 100°E) (55°N, 160°E) (53°N, 108°E)

13. Ob River 14. Caucasus Mountains 15. Volga River

(62°N, 65°E) (43°N, 45°E) (50°N, 45°E)

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Europe and Russia 1

S t u d e n t D i r e c t i o n s

Challenge 2: Learning About the Human

Geography of Europe and Russia
1. Get your political maps for Europe and Russia Mapping Lab,
Challenge 2.
2. Select one of the countries listed below. Find it on the political maps
of Europe and Russia in Geography Alive! Regions and People.
3. Label the country on your political map, and lightly shade it.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until you have labeled and shaded all 15 countries.

Countries in Europe and Russia

If you have trouble finding a feature, the latitude and longitude coordinates will help you get
close to its location.

1. Austria 2. Ukraine 3. Croatia

(48°N, 15°E) (50°N, 30°E) (45°N, 15°E)

4. Romania 5. Russia 6. France

(45°N, 25°E) (60°N, 90°E) (45°N, 3°E)

7. Germany 8. Greece 9. Hungary

(50°N, 10°E) (40°N, 22°E) (47°N, 20°E)

10. Finland 11. Italy 12. Lithuania

(65°N, 25°E) (45°N, 10°E) (56°N, 25°E)

13. Poland 14. Spain 15. United Kingdom

(52°N, 20°E) (40°N, 5°W) (52°N, 2°W)

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S t u d e n t D i r e c t i o n s

Challenge 3: Using Geography Skills to Answer “Where?”

1. Look carefully at each map your teacher projects. For each map, discuss the three questions
below with you partner. Be prepared to share your answers with the class.
• What are at least five key symbols or colors on the map? What does each symbol or color
represent?
• What key information does this map show?
• Is this information about physical geography or human geography?
2. Get a transparency of Europe and Russia Visual 6 and one Challenge 3 card from your
teacher.
3. Read the question on your card. Scan the labels of the maps at your
assigned research station to determine which map you need in order to answer the question.
4. Go to that map. Lay your transparency on top of the map. Use a transparency pen to note
any information or locations on your transparency that will help answer the question.
5. Once you have all the information you need to answer the question, return to your desk. Get
your matrix for Europe and Russia Mapping Lab, Challenge 3. Find the row with the number
that matches your question. Circle the name of the map you used to find your answer. Write
the answer in a complete sentence. For example:
Question: What are the tallest mountains in Europe?
Answer: The tallest mountains in Europe are the Alps.
6. Take your Challenge 3 matrix to your teacher. If your answer is correct, clean off your trans-
parency, get a new card, and repeat Steps 3–6.

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S t u d e n t D i r e c t i o n s

Challenge 4: Using Geography Skills to Answer “Why There?”

1. Get a transparency of Europe and Russia Visual 6 and one Challenge 4 card from your
teacher.
2. Read the question on your card. Scan the labels of the maps at your
research station to determine which maps have information that you need in order to an-
swer the question. You will need to visit at least two and as many as all five maps to get all
the information you need.
3. Go to each map you identified. Lay your transparency on top of the map. Use a transparency
pen to note any information or locations on your transparency that will help you answer the
question.
4. Once you have all the information you need, return to your desk. Get your matrix for
Europe and Russia Mapping Lab, Challenge 4. Find the row with the number that matches
your question. Circle the names of the maps you used to find your answer. Write the answer
in a complete sentence.
5. Take your Challenge 4 matrix to your teacher. If your answer is correct, clean off your trans-
parency, get a new card, and repeat Steps 2–5.

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S t u d e n t D i r e c t i o n s

Challenge 5: Using Maps to Analyze a Field Photograph

1. Get your copy of the two pages for Europe and Russia Mapping Lab, Challenge 5. Also get
a transparency of Europe and Russia Visual 6.
2. Find the coordinates for the three locations given in the Challenge 5 matrix (Locations A,
B, and C). Carefully mark and label those exact locations on your transparency.
3. When your teacher tells you, quickly visit the thematic maps at your research station. Lay
your transparency over the maps. Write as much information as possible about the three
locations in the corresponding sections of the Challenge 5 matrix.
4. With your partner, carefully analyze the information in your notes and details from the field
photograph. Figure out which location (A, B, or C) best matches the photograph.
5. Support your choice by completing the supporting-evidence statements. In each statement,
connect information about the location you chose from one of the maps to a visual detail
from the photograph. Be ready
to share your statements out loud.
Example of a supporting-evidence statement:
From the population density map, we learned that this location is very close to a city of
over 8 million people. In the field photograph, we see hundreds of people on a crowded city
sidewalk.

© Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Europe and Russia 5