Lesson 4 // Nepal
Nepal
Objective:
The student will be able to locate the country of Nepal on a world map. The student will label, identify, and discuss the physical characteristics of Nepal.
Guided Practice:
1. Introduce the location of Nepal on the map of the world. (Map of the world on the Internet may be downloaded and copied.) Point out that Nepal is located in the southern portion of the continent of Asia. Review the hemispheres of the earth pointing out that Asia is located in the Eastern Hemisphere, and the United States is in the Western Hemisphere.
2. Read the information on Nepal (found at the end of the lesson) either orally to the class or have each student read it independently.
3. Recap the important points on Nepal.
a. Nepal is located between China and India
b. Nepal is landlocked.
c. Eight out of the ten highest mountains in the world are found here.
d. Despite Nepal's small size, the topography is tremendously diverse.
e. Kathmandu is the capital and the only major city in the country.
Independent Practice:
1. The students will answer the comprehension questions that correspond to the reading.
2. The students will locate Kathmandu and Mount Everest on the map of Nepal. Then color the map using different colors for the mountain regions. Be sure to have the students include a map title and a compass rose.
Optional Extensions:
1. Compare and contrast the location of the United States to the location of Nepal and how the distance of America, and the proximity of other world powers, might affect the economy.
2. Discuss the physical aspects of the United States and how the physical make-up of Nepal is truly unique
3. Create a relief map of Nepal.
Reading and Questions: (click here for a basic fact sheet on Nepal)
Nepal is a small country located in South Asia, and measures 563 miles from east to west and 160 miles north to south, a total of 56,139 square miles (by comparison, the state of New Mexico is 121,598 square miles). It is a landlocked country sandwiched in between India to the east, south, and west, and China to the north. The Himalayan mountain range forms the northern border of Nepal, separating it from China. Eight of the ten highest mountains in the world are found here, including the tallest, Mount Everest (29,035 feet).
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal with a population of 500,000. However, the population of the Kathmandu valley has over 1,000,000 people. There are no other major cities in Nepal other than Kathmandu. The majority of the people living in Nepal reside in villages or small market centers.
Regardless of Nepal's small size, it contains a tremendously diverse terrain. The southern border with India is host to a subtropical climate while the northern border with China ranges from an alpine to an uninhabited climate. This wide variety of weather makes Nepal a fascinating country to study.
1. What benefits or disadvantages might a landlocked country have?
2. Knowing that Kathmandu is the only major city, how might that affect the country?
3. Using the map of Nepal, list the three tallest mountains.
References:
1. Lisa Choegyal, Insight Guides Nepal, Langenscheidt Publishers Inc., New York, 11378, p. 28-29.
2. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Copyright 1994-1999, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.
AZ State Standard - SS3 E4 Demonstrate understanding of the characteristics, purposes and use of geographic tools to located and analyze information about people, places and environments, with emphasis on:
PO 1 ways to display geographic information and characteristics and purposes of maps, globes, aerial photographs, charts and satellite images.
PO 2 constructing and interpreting maps, charts and geographic databases using geographic information.
PO 3 drawing an accurate map after being given a description of a place.
PO 4 identifying and locating physical and cultural features in their own and nearby communities in the United States, and in regions of the world, and the relationship between them.
SS3 E5 Describe natural and human characteristics of places and use this knowledge to define regions, their relationships with other regions and their patterns of change, with emphasis on:
PO 1 common characteristics of regions at local, national and international scales on the basis of climate, landforms, ecosystems and culture.
PO 2 patterns of climate, landforms and ecosystems in a region.
PO 4 the concept of region and how and why regions change.
PO 5 relationships and interactions among regions.