Differentiated lessons are an essential tool in today’s classrooms. Teachers must be able to prepare and present material in various ways so that it can connect with all learners.
As teachers know, not all students learn in the same way or with the same type of lesson. Since students have different learning needs, abilities, and styles, teachers must work to meet those educational needs.
Differentiating geography lessons is one way teachers can help students better access the material taught, especially for students working below grade level who might benefit from modified units. Modified units meet the needs of students with reduced reading and writing skills, including those on a modified IEP and ELL students.
Teachers looking to make geography class more engaging may also want to check out this blog post, 14 Ways to Make Geography Class Fun, for some helpful tips.
The Importance of Differentiating Geography Lessons
Geography is a significant topic that encompasses many subjects. As students learn about the natural environment and the human impact on it, they will need to understand a new vocabulary and new concepts.
Differentiating geography lessons can be invaluable in the classroom, as it allows each student to access the material in a way that works best for them. Teachers know that not all students learn at the same pace or in the same way, and this may also vary based on the topic.
For example, a student may grasp new historical concepts easily, but struggle with geographical topics. By providing students with material they can access in several different ways (e.g., a video, a text, an MP3), teachers can increase the likelihood of student success since each learner will be able to use what resource works best for them.
When students can use differentiating geography lesson materials appropriate for their needs, it can increase self-awareness about their learning style, and that can translate into other subjects. For example, suppose a student knows they understand a concept better after watching a video. In that case, they may select that option for another subject rather than struggling to understand the concept through text.
Differentiated lessons allow teachers and students to create the best possible environment for each learner and can help increase the chances of academic success.
Everyone Benefits from Differentiating Geography Lessons
Differentiating geography lessons has several benefits in the classroom, for both students and teachers.
For students, being able to access material in a way that meets their learning needs can help enhance their educational experience. If a student is struggling with a topic, and then a teacher tries differentiating geography lessons, and the student can succeed with the material, that is a win for everyone.
Students who are able to comprehend the material more easily may feel more confident in their academic pursuits, and this could translate into other subjects as well.
If students feel they are learning the material and have something to contribute in class, it can help them feel like a valued member of the classroom. When students feel this way, it has the potential to decrease disruption, leading to a calmer classroom that can be easier to manage.
Teachers can also feel satisfied seeing the success of their students after using differentiated geography lessons and know that they were able to meet their students’ educational needs.
Students benefiting from differentiating geography lessons may also want to share what they have learned, providing opportunities to celebrate their success and further boost confidence and engagement.
Differentiating geography lessons may seem daunting at first, but it’s a crucial part of the educational experience. One way to implement these resources quickly and efficiently is by using pre-made, modified geography units.
Each unit has a variety of activities specifically designed for students working below grade level. However, these activities are also an excellent resource for all students or any learner struggling with a particular topic or concept.
You can find 2 Peas and a Dog modified geography units on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
For more information on differentiated lessons, check out this blog post, Useful Differentiation Strategies for Middle School ELA Lessons.
Practical Ways to Start Differentiating Geography Lessons
Differentiating lessons can be done in numerous ways. Teachers can get creative with how they present material to students, making sure that it is accessible in many different formats (e.g., text, video, MP3) at various learning levels.
Here are some of the ways to start differentiating geography lessons in the classroom:
Give Students Choice
Giving students choice can sound like a small thing, but it’s not. Giving students a choice about how they will access the material and/or how they will present the material is a great way to try to help boost engagement.
Students can experiment with different methods that may work for them, and when they find what works well, it can help enhance their educational experience through self-awareness. If a student knows they learn best by accessing a material through graphics, for example, they will have the knowledge to choose that option in the future if it’s available.
Provide Lesson Variety
Teachers and students benefit from incorporating lesson variety into the classroom. Students can receive differentiated lessons that help meet their educational needs, and teachers can refresh their approach to the material.
Some examples of differentiating geography lessons include anchor charts, picture books, hands-on activities, and videos. The study of the natural world can provide many opportunities to step outside the classroom or to conduct short and easy experiments as a class.
Teachers can check out 18 Effective Teaching Strategies for more ideas on providing lesson variety.
Use Student Groupings (And Be Flexible)
It’s essential to have all levels of learners working together in a classroom when possible. Teachers need to look for opportunities to bring students together, whether for a class discussion, a quick experiment, or simply for a thought-sharing activity on what students learned.
It’s vital that everyone feels valued and that they have a voice in the classroom. All 2 Peas and a Dog modified units provide as much overlap as possible, which helps students working at a modified level not feel isolated, making it easier for educators to find ways to overlap lessons and activities.
If you’re looking for ways to group students, flexible seating choice cards are a great classroom management tool. They provide students with variety in their seating plan and can help students get to know their peers.
Providing Structure
Students using modified lessons may require a more step-by-step approach to larger projects. Teachers can assess the needs of each student and see what will work for them.
Some examples for modified learners include:
- Providing the research on a big project or giving students a limited amount of resources to draw from
- Lessening the requirements of the final report and providing alternate ways of delivery (orally, through a graphic, etc.)
- Outlining specific requirements for each step of the project (e.g., outlining what should be on each slide in a slideshow)
Feedback Is Crucial
Students may learn in different ways, but a common theme is that everyone needs feedback. Students must know what is working and what is not, so they can seek to improve where needed. This feedback is also important for teachers as a way to stay in tune with the successes and needs of each student.
Some ways teachers can use short assessments throughout their geography units include quizzes, tests, entrance and exit tickets, reflection questions, assignments, and projects.
Check out these 6 Quick Assessment Strategies that teachers can incorporate into lesson planning.
Modified Geography Resources
2 Peas and a Dog has created modified middle school geography resources to meet the needs of geography classrooms. These units align with the regular geography units by 2 Peas and a Dog to ensure students do not feel like they are learning a completely different curriculum.
You can find 2 Peas and a Dog modified geography units on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Check out these regular science units for Grade 7 Geography and Grade 8 Geography:
- Grade 7 Geography – Find on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD
- Grade 8 Geography – Find on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD
Key Features of Modified Geography Resources For Differentiating Geography Lessons
Each modified geography bundle is for classroom teachers who are required to teach the Ontario Geography Curriculum, but have students working significantly below grade level in reading, writing, and comprehension. These resources are designed to meet the needs of ELL students and/or students on a modified IEP.
Here are some of the key features of the modified geography units created by 2 Peas and a Dog that make them an excellent resource for teachers:
- Ready-To-Go Lesson Plans: The lessons contain detailed teacher lesson plans, audio files, links to videos (where possible), student readings, assignments, tests, rubrics, and quizzes.
- Lesson Variety: Activities include using Graphic Organizers, Videos, Inquiry Learning, Student Choice, and Differentiated Tasks.
- Reduced Text Articles with MP3 Audio Files: Each unit contains modified articles written to be accessible for students. Each article includes an MP3 audio file for students who prefer this method to access texts.
Modified Middle School Geography Resources
Grade 6/7 Social Studies Modified Bundle
In this Grade 6/7 Social Studies Modified Bundle, teachers are equipped with 104 engaging lessons. These lessons will help teachers immerse their modified Grade 6 social studies and Grade 7 geography students in learning about key concepts from each unit.
Each of the 104 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Ontario Grade 6 Social Studies and Grade 7 Geography Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
Resource Includes:
- 104 Detailed Lesson Plans
- Modified Lesson Content
- MP3 Audio Files of Articles
- Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Lesson Variety
- Self-Marking Google Forms
- Print and Digital Formats
Lessons in this bundle include: Canadian Identity: Indigenous Peoples, Settler Life in Canada, Creation of Nunavut, Nunavik, and Nunatsiavut, Canadian Government and Global Interactions, Canada’s Role in International Peace, The Creation of New France, The Treaties, Black Loyalists Inquiry and the War of 1812 Inquiry.
You can find the Grade 6/7 Social Studies Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Grade 7 Geography Modified Bundle
This Grade 7 Geography Modified Bundle comes with 36 engaging lessons. These lessons will help teachers immerse their modified Grade 7 students in learning about key concepts from each Grade 7 geography unit. Each of the 36 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Ontario Grade 7 Geography Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
Resource Includes:
- 36 Detailed Lesson Plans
- Modified Lesson Content
- MP3 Audio Files of Articles
- Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Lesson Variety
- Self-Marking Google Forms
- Print and Digital Formats
Lessons in this bundle include: Physical Characteristics of Landforms, Characteristics of Climate Regions, Invasive Species Assignment, Natural Resources in Canada, Mining Techniques and Eco-Friendly Energy.
Here’s what one teacher has said about this resource:
“This made my units so much easier. You truly saved me so much time and energy. I truly recommend it and you will be able to use with the rest of your students as extras.” – Patricia J.
You can find the Grade 7 Geography Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Grade 7/8 Geography Modified Bundle
In this Grade 7/8 Geography Modified Bundle for the Ontario Geography Curriculum, teachers are equipped with 76 engaging lessons. These lessons will help teachers immerse their modified Grade 7 & 8 students in learning about key concepts from each Grade 7 & 8 geography unit. Each of the 76 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Grade 7 & 8 Ontario Geography Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
Resource Includes:
- 76 Detailed Lesson Plans
- Modified Lesson Content
- MP3 Audio Files of Articles
- Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Lesson Variety
- Self-Marking Google Forms
- Print and Digital Formats
Lessons in this bundle include: Characteristics of Climate Regions, Natural Resources and Manufactured Goods, Eco-Friendly Energy, Patterns in Human Settlement, Millennium Development Goals and Quality of Life Inquiry.
You can find the Grade 7/8 Geography Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Grade 8 Geography Modified Bundle
This Grade 8 Geography Modified Bundle for the Ontario Geography Curriculum provides teachers with 40 engaging lessons. These lessons will help teachers immerse their modified Grade 8 students in learning about key concepts from each Grade 8 geography unit. Each of the 40 lessons aligns with a critical concept in the Grade 8 Ontario Geography Curriculum, but has significantly reduced reading and writing expectations within the lesson.
Resource Includes:
- 40 Detailed Lesson Plans
- Modified Lesson Content
- MP3 Audio Files of Articles
- Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Lesson Variety
- Self-Marking Google Forms
- Print and Digital Formats
Lessons in this bundle include: What is Geography?, Environmental Impact of Human Settlement, Millennium Development Goals, Population Pyramids, Economic Development Factors and Global Wealth Distribution.
Here’s what one teacher has said about this resource:
“Great resource. It was very engaging and made teaching some of the concepts easier for me. Students learned those concepts very well as they were engaged and had fun learning. Thank you for the great resource.” — Quratulain F.
You can find the Grade 8 Geography Modified Bundle on Shopify CAD or Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Incorporating these modified resources into your teaching can create a more inclusive and practical geography education experience for all your students.
Additional Resources for Differentiating Lessons
- Useful Differentiation Strategies for Middle School ELA Lessons
- Useful Differentiation Ideas for the ELA Classroom
Related Posts
