1)
Geography and Migration: Read for Detail
Dr. Calvert says Mexico's geography funnels the migration.
The monarchs travel along the specific and narrow path that
they do because of several important geographic features (Gulf
of Mexico, Sierra Madres Mountains).
Have
students read the
scientist's description of the migration pathway. (These
Reading Strategies
may help students comprehend difficult text.) As they read,
encouage students to mark up the text:
- Underline
the names of the towns
- Circle
the names of the states
- List
the geographic features
- Star
sentences
that the describe how monarchs
migrate through the region (ways they benefit, eg. wind.)
2) Make a Map
On a blank
map of Mexico find and label the geographic and political
features important to the migration:
- Gulf
of Mexico
- Pacific
Ocean
- Sierra
Madres Mountains
- U.S./Mexican
border
- Rio
Grande River
- Chihuahuan
desert (See resource
map)
- The
states the migration passes through:
- The
cities Dr. Calvert names (Monterrey, Mexico City, etc.)
3)
Reflect in Science Journals: Ask, If you could
go to Mexico to observe the migration, where on the map would
you choose to go? Why would this place be important?
4)
Inquiry Strategies: Ask, How Do We Know?
Remind students that Dr. Calvert's understanding
about the migration pathway is based on observations. Brainstorm:
what barriers might get in the way of collecting this information?
To start the discussion, point out how few reports are on
the Journey North map below the U.S. border. Make a list.
(Language barriers; lack of communication between scientists
and people of different countries; socioeconomic differences;
the remote region--desert/mountains; the challenges of making
ANY migration observations.)
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Materials
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