World Geography
Description
This full year course explores world regions and also studies a geographer’s tools.
In Semester A, topics include:
Exploring Geography; People and Geography; North and South America.
In Semester B, topics include:
Europe and Northern Asia; Central, South, and Southeast Asia; Middle East and Africa; Pacific World and Antarctica.
Ongoing review of countries, capitals, currencies, stamps, and flags provides students with a solid knowledge base; a must for today’s globalized economy.
Students also study the leading world organizations such as United Nations, World Bank, NATO, IATA, and Interpol to learn how countries cooperate together.
Topics:
- Analyze factors that contribute to Earth’s climate.
- Examine processes that shape the physical environment.
- Analyze patterns of human settlement.
- Analyze the relationship between natural resources and economic development.
- Analyze the human and physical geography of:
- North America
- South America.
- Europe
- Asia
- Africa
- Australia and New Zealand
Lesson Outline:
INTRODUCTION TO GEOGRAPHY
- -Five themes of geography
-Geography skills and basic terms (including map terms and skills)
-How external forces shape the Earth (flooding, etc.)
-How internal forces shape the Earth (tectonic activity, etc.)
-Climate and seasons
-Types of Vegetation
-Human geography (defining and identifying elements of culture, world religions, terminology and skills for studying population, economic types {primary, secondary, tertiary}, types of government, cultural diffusion)
NORTH AMERICA (US & Canada)
- *United States:
-Physical overview
-subregions
-history
-resources by region
-economic ventures by region
-impending issues
-NAFTA
-urban sprawl (megalopolis) - *Canada:
-physical overview
-sub regions: provinces and territories
-system of government
-history
-multiculturalism
-major resources
-role in global economy
-issues of concern
LATIN AMERICA
- *Mexico:
-physical overview
-resources
-economic ventures
-urbanization
-issues of concern - *Central America & the Caribbean
-physical overview
-cultural variety
-colonization
-effects of tourism
-impact of plantation agriculture
-impact of natural disasters
-issues of concern - *South America
-physical overview
-urbanization: population & pollution concerns
-depletion of rain forest
-effects of colonization
-multiculturalism
-indigenous peoples
-other issues of concern
EUROPE
- *General
-European Union
-economic crisis
-Europe as a colonizing power
-historical legacy
-access to sea
-changing political boundaries
-issues of concern - *Mediterranean:
-physical overview
-impending issues
-trade
-tourism
-role of climate and resources - *Western:
-impact of industrialization
-issues of concern
-impact of immigration - *Northern:
-physical overview
-environmental concerns (areas below sea level)
-other issues - *Eastern:
-physical overview
-political unrest
-impact of wars
and new nations
-issues of concern - *Russia and The Republics
-regional conflicts
-impact of Cold War
-economic challenges
-impact of industrialization
-pollution & environmental concerns
-issues of concern
AFRICA
- *General
-impact of colonization (struggle for independence)
-environmental issues (famine, water, desertification)
-role of natural resources in global economy
-challenges faced by developing countries
-cultural mosaic (religions, languages, ethnicities)
-impact of disease (AIDS, etc.)
-issues of concern - *East:
-physical geography
-cultural diversity
-Civil War
-genocide
-refugees - *North:
-physical geography
-climate
extremes
– impact of Islam
-cultural ties to SW Asia
-impact of oil
-refugees - *West:
-physical geography
-deforestation
-historical legacy
(ancient kingdoms, slave trade, trade routes)
-political unrest - *Central:
-physical geography
-genocide
-internal migration (refugees)
-deforestation
-mineral resources - *Southern Africa
-apartheid
-impact of disease
-resources
-multiculturalism
-historical legacy
SOUTHWEST AND SOUTH ASIA
- *Southwest Asia
-physical geography
-resources (impact of oil)
-historical legacy (birthplace of civilization, trade routes)
-current wars (Arab/Israeli conflict, Iraq, Afghanistan)
-role of Islam
-role of women
-economic gap
-importance of religion and culture
-religious conflict
-urbanization (rural to urban migration)
-variety of systems of government
-hearth of monotheistic religions
-issues of concern
- *South Asia
-overview of physical features
-impact of monsoon climate
-population issues (challenges of India being world’s most populous democracy –
urbanization and overcrowding
-impact of colonization (British Empire)
-religious and cultural identity
-role of religion in political boundaries (Islam/Hinduism)
-linguistic diversity
-systems of government
-terrorism
-emerging role in global economy (outsourcing)
-issues of concern
EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
- *East Asia
-physical geography and extremes of weather
-cultural identity
-historical legacy (ancient and more recent empires)
-recent governmental changes
-role of technology in global economy
-cultural diffusion (globalization, spread of pop culture, similarities and differences)
-role of East Asia in global economy
-megacities
-systems of government (communism, emerging democracies)
-population issues
-economic emergence of Pacific Rim
-role of government in economic and cultural policies (Korea)
-issues of concern
-impact of tectonic activities - *Southeast Asia
-physical features – fragmentation due to island countries
-impact of tectonic activity (Ring of Fire)
-impact of European colonization
-religious and cultural diversity
-Vietnam War
-rural to urban migration
-trade and role in global economy
-issues of concern
AUSTRALIA, OCEANIA, ANTARCTICA
- -physical geography
-aborigines/ indigenous peoples
-legacy of British Empire (forced migration)
-unique flora and fauna
-effects of extreme weather
-fragmentation of island countries
-examples of environmental change (global warming, desertification, rising sea levels)
-issues of concern
