Display a local aerial picture of the town/city/region that you are teaching in and ask students to identify key geographical features. Examples may include:

• Oceans, rivers, lakes, coastlines
• Mountains, valleys, deserts, plateaus, plains
• Access to recreation (beaches, mountains, etc.)

Ask students to then identify how certain geographical features of your area (e.g. a river, valley or other barrier) which could have been an obstacle to people, was instead harnessed by people for their development. As students identify the features, push for them to explain how the use of that feature allows people to thrive in your area, either historically or currently. Examples may include:

• Access to food (water sources for fishing, forest areas for hunting, fruit groves or vineyards, etc.)
• Access to lumber or stone for homes (quarries, forest areas, etc.)
• Access to industry (proximity to business/large cities, ability to trade)
• Access to recreation (beaches, mountains, etc.)

Finally, as a whole class, engage in discussion making parallels to other regions of the country or world. Responding to the question of why certain types of human activities or development are tied to geographical features.