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Geography Teachers Will Love This Free Driftless Area Close Reading Resource

Understanding how glaciers shaped our world is more than a science lesson. It's a way for students to see the connections between land, time, and climate. One of the best examples of this is the Driftless Area, a region of the Midwest that remained untouched by glaciers during the Ice Ages. For teachers looking to bring this topic into the classroom, a close reading resource built around a high-quality scientific article can offer depth, structure, and accessibility.

This resource is designed for middle school geography and science teachers who want students to engage with real-world scientific content in a meaningful and manageable way. It is built around the article The Driftless Area: The extent of unglaciated and similar terrains in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota, published by the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey. A direct download link is included, making it easy for teachers and students to access the full article.

This resource is effective because it provides both academic challenge and built-in support for different learners. It includes two versions of the activity so teachers can meet a range of learners where they are. The first version features close reading questions aligned with each paragraph. These questions focus on central ideas, academic vocabulary, and details that guide students toward a stronger understanding of glacial geography. The second version offers a modified worksheet with fill-in-the-blank questions and a word bank, designed for students who benefit from more scaffolding. Both versions include answer keys and student-friendly instructions.

This flexibility makes the resource a good fit for inclusion classrooms, tiered assignments, or small-group work. It is also easy to print or assign digitally. The article is available as a free download for printing, and the reading activity can also be saved as a PDF for easy use in class.

From a teaching perspective, this is the kind of resource that supports multiple learning goals. Students practice reading nonfiction, interpreting scientific ideas, and using vocabulary in context. At the same time, they learn about a specific and fascinating geographic region that many have never heard of before. The Driftless Area becomes more than a blank spot on a glacier map. It becomes a case study in how landforms tell stories.

For geography and science teachers looking to integrate literacy into their curriculum, this is a practical and well-structured option. It supports content knowledge and literacy skills while offering differentiated access points for all learners. Grab your free copy here. 



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