Younger students often fail to notice the shapes of political units (US states or countries, other nations, regions or continents) because they are often overwhelmed by the amount of information shown on the maps they see. Being aware of shapes can be helpful in remembering political units. It also provides insight into the advantages and disadvantages faced by some nations. Have students examine maps of the US showing the states. Any "shaped-likes" among them? What about the 50 states? (Oklahoma a clever, lower Michigan a mitten, Colorado a book, etc.) Now have them examine maps of the world. What shapes can they find? Do they find Sri Lanka a teardrop or pear? Chile, a machete blade? Somalia, a boomerang? Cameroon, a sitting hen? Cuba, a salamander? And many others. Older students can examine other nations to determine which of them are compact (e.g., Poland, Uruguay or Uganda), elongated (e.g., Chile, Norway or Somalia), insular (e.g., Cuba, Sri Lanka or Iceland), prorupt, i.e., being nearly compact with an extension or corridor attached as in the case of Zaire, Burma or Afghanistan, or fragmented (e.g., Indonesia, Malaysia or Italy because of Sardinia and Sicily). Using these four basic categories describing their shapes have students work in teams and analyze the major continents to determine which nations best fit these categories. Then have them suggest all of the advantages and disadvantages they can for each of these shapes. Which shaped nations might be easiest – or most difficult – to govern, defend, organize transportation systems for, or unify culturally or linguistically?