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 European Countries

European Country Profiles (CIA Factbook)

The European Union wants a President who will effectively run their business.
To qualify for this position, each candidate is expected to have knowledge
of some European countries.  You will select and compare two European countries
from the list that I will provide.  Your selection will include a rich and a poor country.
You might work individually or in groups of 2.  Partners will study 4 countries.

Activity 1

Write your comparisons in the chart below:
 

Europe European Countries European Country Profiles (CIA Factbook)	Country 1	Country 2
Location and Capital
Total Area
Boundaries with other countries
Climate
Terrain - land forms and bodies of water
Natural resources
Environment - Current Issues
Total population
Age structure         Population from 0-14 years
Population from 15 - 64
Population from 65 and above
Population growth rate (%)
Birth Rate (%)
Death Rate (%)
Infant mortality rate (%)
Life expectancy
Total fertility (number of children born by a woman)
Literacy rate of total population
GDP (Gross Domestic Product = country's total wealth)
GDP (per capita/Average personal income)
Population below poverty line (%)
Unemployment (%)
Agricultural products
Export commodities
Currency
Exchange rate to the US dollar
Others

Activity 2

1.    Which of the 2 countries studied has a higher GDP (Gross Domestic Product/country's wealth)?
2.    What is the difference between the 2 countries' GDPs?
3.    Which country has more GDP per capita?
4.    By how much is the above country's GDP per capita more than the other country's GDP per capita?
5.    What country has more people.  Calculate the difference?
6.    How many more people in real terms (not percent) are within the working age group (15-64)?
7.    Which country has a longer life expectancy?  What is the difference in years?
8.    In your opinion, list 3 reasons why one country has a longer life expectancy than the other?
9.    Identify 5 major differences between these 2 countries.
10.  In what 4 ways are these 2 countries similar to the United States?
 

Use the following links to access information for this activity.

Europe

European Countries

European Country Profiles (CIA Factbook)
 
 

Activity 3
 

As the president of the European Union you have the power to make 3 major changes about one of the countries that you have studied.

Identify 3 problems you would like to change.

Indicate or give as many reasons as possible why you would make or initiate such changes.

How do you plan to implement this?  In other words, what steps do you plan to take in order to apply these changes?

Write an essay explaining your 3 changes.  Your essay should have an introduction, 3-body paragraphs and a conclusion.  Each paragraph should be no less than 5 sentences.  In your introduction, remember to highlight the country's location, physical features (land forms and bodies of water), culture, political structure, language, ethnic make-up, borders, etc.

Europe

European Countries

European Country Profiles (CIA Factbook)
 

Assessment

Use the following grading rubric to evaluate your essay.

 
 

	Self	Peer	Teacher
My name, class and date is on my paper (5 points)
My essay has five paragraphs - introduction, 3-body paragraphs and conclusion (10 points)
The introduction has unique vital information about the particular country chosen (15 points)
I identified at least 3 major changes that I would make (10 points)
I supported each idea with meaningful reasons and examples (20 points)
I explained how I would apply or implement the changes (20 points)
My essay is in complete sentences (10 points)
Each paragraph from introduction to 3-body paragraph has at least 5 sentences each  (10 points)
Total grade out of 100%

 

Objectives

Students will:

• interpret spatial patterns of population, economic activities and other social  units in Europe;

• use geographic tools and technology to explain the interactions of humans and the larger environment, and the evolving consequences of those interactions.

Connecticut State Framework Performance Standards:
 

• Explain how economic, social and environmental factors influenced social events/life in Europe and in the United States;
• Gather information from multiple sources including textual, oral and electronic databases to gain experience with diverse sources and to appreciate the need for multiple perspectives;
• Develop written narratives and short interpretatives and essays, as well as other appropriate presentations from investigations of source materials.