World Geography Curriculum

Semester Course .5 credit

Grade Level 9^th & 10^th

Introduction

Students of World Geography learn about the spatial distribution of people, places, physical features, resources, and human activities. They will ask the questions asked by geographers as they study the world: What are the physical and human characteristics of places? Why are things located where they are? What is the significance of the location of things? What patterns are reflected in the groupings of things?

Five fundamental themes and analytical questions introduced.  They are as follows:

• LOCATION: What is the location of this place on the map? What is its location relative to other places?
• PLACE: What are the physical and cultural characteristics of this place? What role do these two aspects of the environment play in the character of this locale? How are the people who live here affected by the physical characteristics of this place, and how do they affect the place?
• HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION: How do location and the physical environment affect the lives of people? What have people done to modify this setting, this environment we are studying? How have people adapted to this physical environment?
• MOVEMENT: What role have human migration, cultural diffusion, or the transportation of resources and goods had in shaping the world? How has the movement of people, ideas, and goods influenced life in this place? How is this place connected to other places by these movements?
• REGIONS: How are regions defined? Of what regions is a given place a part? How do regions change, how have they changed, and why? What is the significance of these changes?

Competency Goal 1

The learner will analyze relationships, between people and the location of places.

1. Describe the locations of places using relative and absolute terms.
2. Describe the locations of places using formal reference systems
3. Analyze ways that locations influence relationships between people and places

Competency Goal 2

The learner will examine physical characteristics of places

1. Define and illustrate terms used to describe physical characteristics of places
2. Compare the physical characteristics of places in different regions of the world

Competency Goal 3

The learner will analyze human characteristics of places

1. Describe human characteristics of places
2. Explain how different culture groups view the use and modification of the physical environment
3. Analyze factors that affect population distribution

Competency Goal 4

The learner will examine relationships between the cultural and physical geography of a region and explain how they affect and are affected by historical events

1. Explain how the physical and human characteristics of place combine to create cultural identity.
2. Examine the role of culture and geography in various events
3. Analyze the impact of historical events on geography and culture
4. Evaluate positive and negative aspects of change over time

Competency Goal 5

The learner will investigate ways people interact with the environment

1. Describe the effects of climate, landforms, vegetation, soils, and natural resources, on human activity.
2. Describe ways people interact with the environment to satisfy their wants and needs.
3. Elaborate on ways people modify and adapt to the environment that reveal their cultural values
4. Explain how the use of technology changes the environment.
5. Analyze ways environmental changes may influence regional or global systems.

Competency Goal 6

The learner will demonstrate that localities, states, and nations are interdependent.

1.      Identify linkages involving transportation and communication.

2.      Examine reasons for the interdependence of localities, states, and nations.

3.      Analyze the impact of locality’s use of resources and technology on other places.

4.      Analyze conflicts involving scarcity, barriers to trade, and discrepancies in technology.

5.      Evaluate alliances created to promote interdependent relationships.

Competency Goal 7

The learner will evaluate the significance of the movement of people, goods, and ideas among various world regions.

1. Identify conditions that cause movements of people, goods, and ideas.
2. Describe how communication and transportation influence the flow of ideas and resources from place to place.
3. Illustrate how cultures grow and change through the movement of people, goods, and ideas.
4. Examine impacts of cultural barriers on the movement of people, goods, and ideas.
5. Analyze ways that movement influences the interdependence of regions and people around the world.

Competency Goal 8

The learner will employ geographic understandings of world regions in analyzing problems and opportunities of developed and developing regions.

1. Identify criteria for evaluating the social and economic development of regions.
2. Distinguish between developed and developing regions
3. Analyze developmental in a variety of world regions and compare costs and benefits.

Competency Goal 9

The learner will demonstrate that regions are basic units of geographic study and explain differences among regions of the world

1. Generate criteria used to define a region
2. Identify major regions of the world and list the criteria used to differentiate each region
3. Examine factors that may produce change or promote stability in a region
4. Analyze factors that produce conflict or cooperation in a region.
5. Develop an appreciation of racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious diversity of a region.
6. Examine similarities and differences within and among regions.

Materials

Holt, Rinehart and Winston. World Geography Today.

Assessment

1. tests
2. lecture
3. quizzes
4. worksheets
5. paper