Living By Water

Research a coastal community, profiling physical, cultural, and other characteristics.

• 1.

  Research a coastal community. Gather information about the village, town, or city: Locate it on a map, find out about its physical geography, cultural climate, and typical architecture.

• 2.

  Make two lists with Crayola® Markers. First, imagine what you might see (natural and manufactured things) in the water if you looked out from the land. Then list what you might see on the land when looking from the water. What building styles and visible clues to cultural characteristics are evident?

• 3.

  With Crayola® Oil Pastels, make a detailed drawing of the coastal community you selected. Begin by dividing your drawing paper for land and water. Blend pastels by rubbing with a fingertip or paper towel. Add details by using pastel over pastel.

Benefits

• Students research information about a coastal community of their choice and pinpoint its location on a map.
• Children apply geographic skills to develop a profile of the coastal community by placing it in the context of physical, cultural, and other characteristics.
• Children create a visual representation of the coastal community, emphasizing details about the physical region, architecture, and visible cultural characteristics.

Adaptations

• Visit landmarks in a local coastal town or city, especially with younger students or those with special needs. Children make pastel illustrations of sights, then bind them in a class book with text written collaboratively by the children.
• Older students study a variety of different coastal communities, including small villages and both modern and older coastal cities. The group generates topics to research, such as climate, physical geography, economics, religion, ethnicity, and industry.
• Discuss how various aspects of local culture, economics, and physical geography contribute to the coastal community as a whole.