This geography workshop was supported by Fulbright-Hayes, National Geographic Society and the Oregon Geographic Alliance. I was lucky enough to be one of the teachers. When I got back, I wanted to share my experience with students. I chose the Scottish Storyline method to write a unit of study. Story has been the primary mode of transferring cultural experience throughout the ages.
People love stories.
In this method students create characters, setting and details. The teacher interjects a problem situation as the plot. Students are motivated by story to research the elements of culture which make the story come alive. My objective in this unit is to get students to see that cultures solve the same problems of living in different ways based on the geography of their region. I also want students to see that people use the available resources to build their houses.