Discovering North Korea: Exploring its Physical and Human Geography

• Geography
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Discovering North Korea: Exploring its Physical and Human Geography

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the physical and human geography of North Korea.

Begin the lesson by highlighting the learning objective to the students.

What do you already know about North Korea?

In which continent is North Korea and who are its near neighbours?

Introduction

Welcome to our lesson on the physical and human geography of North Korea!

Introduce the topic to the students and create a positive learning environment.

Which countries neighbour North Korea?

Where is North Korea?

North Korea is located in East Asia, sharing borders with China and Russia.

Show a map highlighting the location of North Korea and discuss its neighboring countries.

North and South Korea...

...don't share a border!

Why?

The demilitarized zone (DMZ) incorporates territory on both sides of the cease-fire line as it existed at the end of the Korean War (1950–53) and was created by pulling back the respective forces 1.2 miles (2 km) along each side of the line. It runs for about 150 miles (240 km) across the peninsula, from the mouth of the Han River on the west coast to a little south of the North Korean town of Kosŏng on the east coast. 

Physical Features

North Korea is characterized by diverse landscapes, including mountains, plains, and coastal areas.

Discuss the physical features of North Korea and show images to aid understanding.

Mt. Baekdu

Mt. Baekdu is the highest peak in North Korea and holds great cultural significance.

Provide information about Mt. Baekdu and its importance in North Korean culture.

How high is Mount Baekdu?

Major Rivers

North Korea is traversed by several major rivers, such as the Yalu and Tumen rivers.

Discuss the significance of major rivers in North Korea and their impact on the country.

How long is Tumen River?

Climate

North Korea experiences a continental climate with cold winters and hot summers. The winters in North Korea are long, cold, and snowy. The summers are warm and rainy. Tropical storms called typhoons sometimes strike during the rainy season.

Explain the climate patterns in North Korea and discuss how they influence daily life.

What is the population of North Korea?

Population

North Korea has a population of approximately 25 million people.

Discuss the population size of North Korea and compare it to other countries.

What id the capital city of North Korea?

Capital City

Pyongyang is the capital and largest city of North Korea.

Provide information about Pyongyang, including its significance and key features.

Economy

North Korea's economy is primarily focused on industries like agriculture, mining, and manufacturing. North Korea’s farms produce mainly rice. Other crops include corn, wheat, and barley. Fish and pigs are also important sources of food. However, North Korea does not produce enough food to feed its people. Hundreds of thousands of people died of starvation in the late 1990s. 

Discuss the main sectors of North Korea's economy and their importance.

Cultural Heritage

North Korea has a rich cultural heritage, including traditional music, dance, and art forms.

Introduce students to the cultural heritage of North Korea and show examples of traditional art.

Political System

North Korea follows a socialist political system with a single-party governance.

Explain the political structure of North Korea and its impact on the country.

Kim Jong Un

Kim Jong Un has been supreme leader of North Korea since 2011

Nature

Because many of the forests have been destroyed, there are smaller numbers of deer, mountain antelope, and goats. Many birds, including wild pigeons, herons, and cranes, live in the valleys. Rabbits and other small mammals are common. In the rivers there are many carp and eels.

What is the primary focus of North Korea's economy?

1. Manufacturing
2. Tourism
3. Agriculture
4. Mining

Which rivers traverse North Korea?

1. Yalu
2. Tumen
3. Nile
4. Amazon

What is the highest peak in North Korea?

1. Mt. Baekdu
2. Mt. Everest
3. Mt. Kilimanjaro
4. Mt. Fuji

Which countries share borders with North Korea?

1. China
2. Russia
3. Japan
4. South Korea

What is the capital city of North Korea?

1. Seoul
2. Pyongyang
3. Tokyo
4. Beijing

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have gained a comprehensive understanding of the physical and human geography of North Korea.

Summarize the key points covered in the lesson and emphasize the achievement of learning objectives.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.

I used to think...

Now I think...