Assignment Eight,
The Pacific Islands of Oceania

Essential Questions

1. What challenges exist for the people of Oceania, and how are they working to overcome them?

2. What are the physical characteristics of the Pacific Islands of Oceania?

3. What physical and environmental challenges are islands in the region facing?

4. How was the region affected by WWII?

5. What are the human - environment interaction patterns in the region?

Description 

The Pacific Islands of Oceania are like nowhere else on earth. They are the most distant parts of the globe that are home to moderately large human populations. They are the subject of intense scrutiny by China because China wants to expand its influence in the region. They are also occupied by many distinct cultures and governmental entities.

The people there have long traditions of mythology and culture and making lives with minimal natural resources. Just how they adapt to the modern world has been discussed across the region.

Please note >> For this assignment we will consider the Pacific Islands of Oceania separately from Australia.

Objectives

Students will identify and explain the impacts of WWII on the cultures and governments of the Pacific Island of Oceania.

Students will create a meaningful learning experience based on the island group or nation of their choice in the Pacific Islands of Oceania.

Students will develop a learning module based on the assigned questions as they relate to their chosen island group or nation.

Instructions

1. For this packet, we will do something similar to what we did with Eastern Europe. That is we will complete a written portion and a teaching portion. The written portion will deal with the essential questions about Oceania as a region, and it will come from the notes we complete in class. The teaching portion is where you will create a lesson based on the packet's essential questions about a specific island group in Oceania. The teaching portion will be in the form of a Google presentation.
   
   Now, I've listed eleven island groups below. They are all available for you to choose from. However, if you want to choose another, you may. Just make sure you clear it with me first. Each island group has three links for resouces next to it. You are not limited to these resouces, but they will give you a very good start. In fact, in many cases you may complete your entire lesson with just the resources I have linked below.

2. Remember - if you choose an island group that is also a nation, you may always use the CIA World Factbook. This will be a great place to find your basic facts too!

3. You need to select your island group quickly. The same island group may not be used more than twice in a class period. Once you have chosen your island group, let me know. You may work with a partner.

4. Just like we've done before - as you are developing your lesson be sure to share it with me as an editor. I will link it back to this page.

Selected Island Groups and Nations

• Easter Island, one, two, three

• Guam, one, two, three

• Tonga, one, two, three

• Papua New Guinea, one, two, three

• New Zealand, one, two, three

• Vanuatu, one, two, three

• Tahiti, one, two, three

• Kiribati, one, two, three

• Chatham Islands, one, two, three

• Samoa, one, two, three

• Fiji, one, two, three

Learning Exercises by Class Period

First Hour

• Easter Island Sienna

• Guam Wyatt, Evan, Zenith

• Tonga Taylie

• Papua New Guinea Emree

• New Zealand Jacob, William, Brian

• Vanuatu Max

• Tahiti Cash, Jace, Ryker

• Kiribati Kiribati 2 Boston, Carter; Eliza

• Chatham Islands Evelyn, Lydia

• Samoa Samoa 2 Brookely, Marlin; Kara, Lyndi

• Fiji Kayden

• Pitcairn Treyden, Caden

• Bikini Atoll Hyrum, Sam, Dremon

Second Hour

• Guam Creed, Ben

• Tonga Sarah, Yoselin

• Papua New Guinea Sully, Tony, Lilly

• New Zealand Lindsay, Angela

• Vanuatu Mack, Ronin

• Tahiti Eloise

• Kiribati Eliza

• Samoa Angel

• Fiji Braelyn, Rylie

• Pitcairn Oaklie

• Easter Island Roxie

Fourth Hour

• Easter Island Eve, Brynnley: Audrey, Bryant, Addy
  Easter Island 2

• Guam Kallie

• Tonga Gavin, Taylor

• Papua New Guinea Kip, Clayton; Taygen, Petey
  Papua New Guinea 2

• New Zealand James; Kate, Sydnee
  New Zealand 2

• Vanuatu

• Tahiti, Kiribati

• Chatham Islands

• Samoa

• Fiji Fiji 2 Juliet, Gracie, Joslyn; Jade, Jahkeyshia 

• Midway Hyrum, Spencer

• Cook Islands Mia

• Marshall Islands Sarah

• Guam Jason

Online Files for this Assignment

Click here to access the World Population Review website.

Click here to view the physical characteristics web page about Oceania. Remember, we are talking about the Pacific Islands of Oceania - outside Australia.

In many cases, the CIA World Factbook will help you with the basics about your island group or nation.

This Britannica article is an excellent overview site about Oceania. It also has an index within it to loads of other articles about the nations and island groups in Oceania. I've included that index here.

American Samoa, Caroline Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Line Islands, Mariana Islands, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Midway Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Island, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wake Island, and Wallis and Futuna. 

Click here for a quick introduction to Oceania.

Click here for the NOAA webpage about tsunamis.

To see the Geography Now! video about Oceania, click here.

Click here to open a brief description of the five themes of geography.

For an overview of the nations and island groups in Oceania, click here.

Here is a pretty good reference map of the Pacific Islands of Oceania.

Click here to view the PowerPoint we viewed in class about the Pacific islands of Oceania.
Click here to open the notes page that went with it.

A printed copy of the assignment is not relevant, but the checklist is right below this line.

Here’s a quick checklist for your Oceania presentation. Be sure to answer everything on this list.

1. Is your island group or nation continental, high, or low?

2. What is its absolute location?

3. What is its population?

4. How much area does it cover?

5. About what is the land area?

6. How many islands and islets are included your island group or nation?

7. What challenges exist for the people of your island group or nation, and how are they working to overcome them?

8. What are the physical characteristics of your island group or nation?

9. What physical and environmental challenges are islands in your group or nation facing?

10. How was your island group or nation affected by WWII? How has WWII continued to affect it?

11. Desribe the human-environment interactions in your island group or nation.

12. Include two or three photos of your island group or nation.

13. Extra tip - some photos of your island group or nation during WWII would be great too!