World marvels
Directions: Each student will receive a map and will locate each of the marvels below. Please draw a line from each marvel to its correct location on the map. Visit the links provided below to complete the graphic organizer on the second page of the Marvels Activity.
Use GOOGLE to find the mapping location of each marvel.
Use GOOGLE to find the mapping location of each marvel.
Marvels of u.s. & canada
1. Niagara Falls: Niagara Falls State Park - History of Niagara Falls
An area 12,300 years in the making, Niagara Falls is a natural wonder unlike any other. The history of Niagara Falls goes back thousands of years, to the Ice Age, when large torrents of water were released from the melting ice, draining into what is now known as the Niagara River. |
2. Hawaiian Islands: How Did the Hawaiian Islands Form?
The Hawaiian Islands form an archipelago that extends over a vast area of the North Pacific Ocean. The archipelago is made up of 132 islands, atolls, reefs, shallow banks, shoals, and seamounts stretching over 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the southeast to Kure Atoll in the northwest. |
3. Mount St. Helens: U.S. Geological Survey - Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens is one of several volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest; the range extends from British Columbia, Canada, to northern California. Some Indians of the Pacific Northwest variously called Mount St. Helens "Louwala-Clough," or "smoking mountain." The modern name, Mount St. Helens, was given to the volcanic peak in 1792 by Captain George Vancouver, who charted the Pacific Northwest for the British Royal Navy. |
4. San Andreas Fault: San Andreas Fault Line
The San Andreas Fault is the most famous fault in the world. Its notoriety comes partly from the disastrous 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but rather more importantly because it passes through California, a highly-populated state that is frequently in the news. With many research institutions dedicated to studying such an accessible fault, the SAF has become a household name. |
5. Old Faithful Geyser: Yellowstone Park - About Old Faithful
Old Faithful is undoubtedly the world's best-known geyser and most publicized natural phenomenon of any sort. It is one of the most predictable geysers in all of Yellowstone Park. Its heights, intervals and lengths of eruption are constantly changing and evolving due to ongoing processes within its 'plumbing' and from earthquakes. |
6. Great Lakes: Great Facts About the Five Great Lakes
The Great Lakes form the largest surface freshwater system on Earth. More than 30 million people live in the Great Lakes basin, and the impact of their daily activities, from the water consumed to the waste returned, directly affects the Great Lakes environment. |
7. Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon National Park - Geology
Measuring approximately 277 river miles in length, up to 18 miles in width and a mile deep, this massive chasm in northern Arizona is truly a natural wonder. For six million years, the Grand Canyon has expanded with the help of the mighty Colorado River, and for centuries, people from all over the globe have traveled to gaze out over its red and orange grandeur. |
Marvels of Latin America
1. Christ the Redeemer: 11 Facts About Rio's Christ the Redeemer Statue
Standing with his arms spread and casting a watchful eye over Rio de Janeiro from Corcovado Mountain, Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor in Portuguese) is one of the most recognized and photographed monuments in Brazil. It has been crowned one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and is the fourth-largest statue of Jesus in the world. |
2. Amazon Rainforest: WWF - Our Work - Places - Amazon
The Amazon Rainforest is a magnificent broad-leafed rainforest located in the heart of Brazil, the basin of which covers an impressive area of 1.7 billion acres. It has an astonishing value in the natural world in terms of the oxygen that it provides, the carbon dioxide that it consumes and the splendid array of exquisite plant- and animal species to which it is home. In fact, it is home to the most diverse and numerous arrays of species in the world. |
3. Easter Island Statues: Easter Island- Facts & Summary
Hundreds of years ago, Polynesian tribes rowed to a small, uninhabited island off the coast of Chile with rolling hills and a lush carpet of palm trees. They named their new home Rapa Nui-now known as Easter Island- and carved moai, monolithic statues built to honor their ancestors. They moved the mammoth stone faces to different ceremonial structures around the island, but the reasons why they carved the structures have remained a mystery. |
4. Panama Canal: Panama Canal- Facts & Summary
The idea of creating a water passage across the isthmus of Panama to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans dates back to at least the 1500's, when Charles V of Spain sent expeditionary teams to survey the area. The realization of a route that would cross the mountainous, jungle terrain was deemed impossible at the time. The idea, though, remained tantalizing as a potential trade shortcut from Europe to eastern Asia. |
5. Catedral Metropolitana: Best Things to Do in Mexico City
Mexico's national cathedral, located on the north end of the Zócalo public square, has five naves, 14 chapels, underground catacombs and a painting by famed Spanish artist Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. |
6. Angel Falls: Angel Falls- The Highest Waterfall in the World
The world's highest waterfalls, located in Venezuela, were named for an American pilot who landed on the top in 1937. Angel Falls also served as the inspiration for Paradise Falls from Disney's Up. |
Marvels of Europe & Russia
1. Eiffel Tower: http://www.history.com/topics/eiffel-tower
The Eiffel Tower -or as the French call it, La Tour Eiffel- is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. Since opening in 1889, the Tower has welcomed over 250 million people and still welcomes almost seven million visitors a year. |
2. St. Basil's Cathedral: Sacred Destinations- St. Basil's Cathedral
At the southern end of Red Square stands the iconic St Basil’s Cathedral, or the Cathedral of Vasilly the Blessed. The crazy confusion of colors, patterns and shapes is the culmination of a style that is unique to Russian architecture.Created from 1555 to 1561, this masterpiece has become known as the ultimate symbol of Russia. |
3. Colosseum: Colosseum - Facts & Summary
The Colosseum- also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre- is a large ellipsoid arena used to host public entertainment events such as gladiator fights, wild animal hunts and public executions from 80 CE to 404 CE. At these events –often organized and paid for by the emperors themselves as a way to gain popularity and support from the public– there was no entry fee while food was sometimes served, too. |
4. Westminster Abbey: Abbey History
Westminster Abbey is a large Gothic church in the City of Westminster, London, England. It is one of the United Kingdom's most notable religious buildings. It is the final resting place for some of Britain's most famous people, and has been the site for royal coronation ceremonies since 1066, as well as the setting for multiple royal weddings. |
5. Sagrada Familia: Tourist Guide Barcelona- La Sagrada Family Basillica
Currently, 70% of the Basilica is finished while work continues on building the six central towers, which began in December 2016. The towers follow the architectural model of the sacristy, which original architect Antonio Gaudí left a plaster model of. Through 2018, work on the Passion façade is expected to be complete, while restoration efforts will begin on the bell tower of James the Less. |
6. Prague's Astronomical Clock: Astronomical Clock on the Old Town Square
Every hour, on the hour, crowds gather beneath the Old Town Hall Tower to watch the Astronomical Clock in action for 45 seconds. The clock is one of Europe's best-known tourist attractions, and considered to be a 'must-see' for visitors to Prague. The clock is scheduled to be out of action from spring 2017 to summer 2018 while the clock tower undergoes renovations. |
Marvels of the middle east
Directions: Each student will receive a map of the Middle East (a region that includes parts of North Africa and Central & Southwest Asia) and will map each of the marvels listed below. Students will be responsible for filling in the chart in the appropriate space and drawing a line from the correct marvel to its location. Please follow the link to each marvel.
1. Aswan High Dam: On This Day- Aswan High Dam Completed
The Aswan High Dam utilizes the power of the Nile River for a variety of social and economic causes. There are actually two dams on the Nile River at Aswan, both of which work together to prevent the annual large floods from the Nile. Prior to the building of the dam, the Nile flooded every winter, potentially destroying any crops that were planted in the fertile Nile Valley. |
2. Pyramids of Giza: National Geographic - Pyramids of Giza
The Great Pyramid of Giza is a defining symbol of Egypt and the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. It is located on the Giza plateau near the modern city of Cairo. Until the Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, France in 1889 CE, the Great Pyramid was the tallest structure made by human hands in the world; a record it held for over 3,000 years. |
3. Solar Panel Farm of Morocco: Morocco To Build New Solar Power Mega-Plant
The Noor I power plant, located near the edge of the Sahara, is capable of generating up to 160 megawatts of power and covers thousands of acres of desert. Investing in renewable energy will make Morocco less reliant on those imports as well as reduce the nation's long-term carbon emissions by millions of tons. |
4. Burj Khalifa: Burj Khalifa- The Skyscraper Center
At over 2,716.5 feet and more than 160 stories, Burj Khalifa in downtown Dubai is the world’s tallest building. It has also broken two other impressive records: tallest structure and tallest free-standing structure. It also holds other records, including having the highest number of stories (162) and the highest outdoor observation deck in the world. |
5. Jeita Grotto: Beautiful World - Jeita Grotto
The Jeita Grotto is a system of two interconnected limestone caves spanning a length of 5.6 miles. Though inhabited in prehistoric times, the lower cave was not rediscovered until 1836; it can only be visited by boat since it channels an underground river that provides fresh drinking water to more than a million Lebanese. |
6. Grand Mosque of Mecca: Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque of Mecca
Covering a total area of 3,831,952 square feet, the Grand Mosque can accommodate up to 770,000 worshippers. During the week of the haj, an annual pilgrimage of religious obligation outlined by the faith, Muslims converge on the city to perform a series of rituals, prayers, and vigils at Mount Arafat. Prayers on and around the mount are a climactic emotional and spiritual moment for those completing the haj. |
7. Palm Jumeirah: 12 Amazing Artificial Islands of the World
The Palm Jumeirah is an artificial archipelago that extends into the Persian Gulf. It is part of a larger series of developments called the Palm Islands which, when completed, will increase Dubai's shoreline by a total of 320 miles.The tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah island, which can be seen from space, is known for glitzy hotels, posh apartment towers and upmarket global restaurants. |
8. Petra: UNESCO World Heritage Centre - The List - Petra
Petra is a famous archaeological site in Jordan's southwestern desert. It contains tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs, hence its nickname, the "Rose City." Perhaps its most famous structure is 45m-high Al Khazneh, a temple with an ornate, Greek-style facade, and known as The Treasury. |
9. Wailing Wall (Western Wall): Tourist Israel - Western Wall
The Western Wall is considered to be an extremely holy place today. Located on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem‘s Old City, Jews and non-Jews from all over the world visit the Western Wall to pray and meditate. It is customary to write short prayers on pieces of paper and leave them in the crevices of the wall; it is the often called the "Wailing Wall" because of the emotions of the people who have left the prayers. |
Modern Marvels of East Asia
1. Great Wall of China: Great Wall of China - Summary & Facts
The Great Wall is actually a series of several walls built at different times by different emperors. It can be visited at many places along its length; the condition of each section ranges from excellent to ruined, and ease of accessibility can vary from straightforward to quite difficult. |
2. Bayon Temple: Bayon Temple - Angkor, Cambodia
The Bayon Temple's 54 Gothic towers are decorated with 216 gargantuan smiling faces of Avalokiteshvara, and it is adorned with extraordinary bas-reliefs incorporating more than 11,000 figures. Known as the 'face temple' thanks to its iconic visages, these huge heads glare down from every angle, exuding power and control with a hint of humanity. |
3. Taj Mahal: UNESCO World Heritage Centre - Taj Mahal
Constructed over a 20-year period on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India, the Taj Mahal is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture, which combined Indian, Persian and Islamic influences.Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, it remains one of the world’s most celebrated structures and a stunning symbol of India’s rich history. |
4. Potala Palace: UNESCO World Heritage Centre - Historic Ensemble of the Potala Palace
The Potala Palace is the highest ancient palace in the world. Potala, named after a holy hill in South India, is a Sanskrit word meaning "Abode of the Avalokitesvara (Buddha of Mercy)." The palace was mainly made of stones and woods, and decorated with special local willow branches called Baima Grass. Potala Palace is a symbol of the cultural and economic communication of Tibet and China. |
5. Mount Everest: Everest Facts for Kids
Mount Everest, known in Nepali as Sagarmāthā and in Tibetan as Chomolungma, is Earth's highest mountain above sea level. |
6. Indian Railway: Indian Railways - Lifeline to the Nation
The Indian Railways are India's national railway system operated by the Ministry of Railways. It is the fourth-largest railway network in the world by size. |
The world's Endangered Species
Directions: Each student will receive a World Map and will locate each of the endangered species listed below.
The chart that accompanies the map must be completed using information from the links provided below. Follow the links and read the information provided. Be sure to draw an arrow from the picture of the Endangered Species to its correct location on the map.
The chart that accompanies the map must be completed using information from the links provided below. Follow the links and read the information provided. Be sure to draw an arrow from the picture of the Endangered Species to its correct location on the map.