Exploring Climate and Topography in Spain and the USA

Recently, our 5th and 6th grade classes have begun a unit on Spain and Europe's climate and landscape.

After the unit was introduced, we played climate and landscape trivia on Kahoot. I would read the question, and they would race to respond. The students were very enthusiastic! An example of trivia questions are as follows.

Spain has ____ main archipelagos.

Two

The tallest mountain in Spain is…

A volcano called Teide.

What is the longest river in Europe?

The Volga river.

In sixth grade, we practiced English vocabulary through photo trivia. I would show a photo demonstrating hot, cold, or temperate climates. Then, the students would guess which climate it was. For example, if the photo was of a hot climate, was it tropical, desert, or equatorial?

 Sixth-grade Kahoot

Sixth-grade Kahoot

Lastly, I gave a presentation on climate zones in the US and my home state. I asked the students fun questions about the climate across the USA.

For example, did you know Death Valley, the place with the lowest elevation in the United States, is also the hottest place in the US? In fact, it is also the hottest place in the whole world!

We also discussed weather and climate patterns. For example, the United States has more tornadoes than any other country due to its unique climates. When I was young, I lived in a region known for its intense tornado seasons! The USA experiences more than 1,200 tornadoes every year.

Then, we discussed the climate in my hometown, which is quite unique. I lived near the Smoky Mountains. Although we are far from the equator, my city is a rare type of rainforest not located in the tropics. It has high rainfall and humidity. It also has a high level of biodiversity!

It was fun to explore facts about Spain's climate and topography, and I really enjoyed sharing information about my home´s climate and geography too!