The American Pacific Territories Grades 9-12

Transcription

1 The American Pacific Territories Grades 9-12 Introduction Many of the Pacific islands are strategically located between the United States and Asia, and the United States has not hesitated to take advantage of this fact. This lesson introduces students to some of the islands that are governed by or that have close political connections with the United States. It asks them to consider the reasons why the United States has chosen to maintain these political ties. Time Frame: 1-2 class period Objectives and Standards Students will: Mark on a map the Pacific islands or island chains with close connections to the United States. Identify the economic and strategic features of these islands or island chains. Look at a map of the Pacific Theater in World War II and explain the strategic importance of the Pacific Islands to the United States during the war. List the reasons why they think the United States maintains political control over or close unions with these islands. National Social Studies Standards: 3: People, Places, and Environments: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environments. 6: Power, Authority, and Governance: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people create and change structures of power, authority, and governance. National Geography Standards: 1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective. 3: How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth s surface. 13: How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth s surface. 17: How to apply geography to interpret the past. 18: How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future. Maps and Materials Needed

2 Materials Needed: Student Handout (one copy for each student) Pacific Ocean and Australia Outline Map: 2246:pacific-ocean&cid=152:outline (one copy for each student; download and print the PDF file) Colored pencils or highlighters Additional Map Resources Used: World Reference Atlas: 3346:world&cid=8:reference-atlas World War II, Pacific Theater: 2894:world-war-ii,-pacific-theater, &cid=83:history Extension Have students conduct further research on one or more of these islands or islands chains to find out how the local people feel about the United States presence. What are the pros and cons of having the Americans on their islands? What types of anti-american sentiments and movements exist? Procedure 1. Ask students if they can name any of the Pacific islands or island chains that are claimed by the United States or that have close political alliances with the United States. The will probably be most likely to mention the state of Hawaii and the territory of Guam. Tell them that this lesson will introduce them to several more U.S. holdings in the Pacific. 2. Give each student a copy of the Pacific Ocean and Australia Outline Map =2246:pacific-ocean&cid=152:outline), and ask them to locate and color in (with a highlighter or colored pencils) the following islands or island chains. All of these islands are either governed by the United States or have close political relationships with the United States (for example, the Northern Mariana Islands are commonwealth in political union with the U.S. ): Hawaii American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands Wake Island Kingman Reef

3 Palmyra Atoll Jarvis Island Howland Island Baker Island *Please note: Although the Marshall Islands are listed on the outline map as part of the U.S., they became an independent republic in 1986 and joined the United Nations in Have students look at the Statistics sections of the World Reference Atlas =3346:world&cid=8:reference-atlas) for at least four of the islands or island chains on the list above. Ask them to answer the questions about these islands in section 2 of the handout. 4. Have students look at the World War II, Pacific Theater map =2894:world-war-ii,-pacific-theater, &cid=83:history) and explain in section 3 of the handout the strategic importance of the Pacific islands to the United States during this war. 5. Ask students to explain in section 4 of the handout the reasons why they think the United States keeps some Pacific islands as territories and maintains close political connections with others. They should list as many reasons as they can think of. 6. Discuss students responses as a class. Assessment Suggestions Check to make sure that students have: Participated in class discussions. Accurately marked the islands or island chains on their maps. Completed the table in section 2 of the handout. Provided a logical explanation for the United States strategic interests in the Pacific islands during World War II. List thoughtful and logical ideas explaining why the United States keeps Pacific territories and maintains close unions with some Pacific islands and island chains.

4 The American Pacific Territories Student Handout 1. Your teacher will give you a blank outline map of the Pacific Ocean. Use a highlighter or colored pencil to color in the following islands or island chains that are governed by or whose governments are closely connected to the United States: Hawaii American Samoa Guam Northern Mariana Islands Midway Islands Wake Island Kingman Reef Palmyra Atoll Jarvis Island Howland Island Baker Island 2. Look at the Statistics sections in the World Reference Atlas =3346:world&cid=8:reference-atlas) for at least four of the islands or island chains on the list below. Complete the table, answering the questions. What natural resources does this island or island chain have? Does it have a particularly strategic location in the Pacific? What is the climate like? What is the terrain like? Island 1 Island 2 Island 3 Island 4 3. Look at the World War II, Pacific Theater map

5 =2894:world-war-ii,-pacific-theater, &cid=83:history) and explain the strategic importance of the Pacific islands to the United States during this war. 4. Why do you think the United States keeps Pacific islands as territories and maintains close political connections with others? List as many reasons as you can think of.