Strands in the Study of
Geography
(Final)
End of Year Project: 05/22/14
• Create a game about World Geography.
• Game will be played by classmates.
• Teams will be comprised of 4 members or less.
• Teams will have to create a playable game and
promotional poster by due date.
Eight Strands of Social Studies
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History
Geography
Economics
Government
Citizenship
Culture
Science, Technology, and Society
Social Studies Skills
Social Studies Strand - History
• People, events, and issues from the past that
– affect people presently
– will continue to affect people in the future
• Explains how individuals and societies
interact over time
Social Studies Strand - Geography
• Relationships among people, places, and
environment that result in patterns on the
Earth’s surface
• Meant to help people
– Compete in a global economy
– Make sure the environment stays healthy
– Understand different cultures and how they live
together in the same planet
Social Studies Strand - Economics
• Meant to organize systems based on what is
produced, what is distributed, and what is
consumed
Social Studies Strand - Government
• Structures of power and authority
• Power is meant to provide order and stability
Social Studies Strand - Citizenship
• Requires that people understand their
– Responsibilities as citizens
– Rights as citizens
– Ethical behavior
• People fully participate when they understand
– Civic ideals
– Citizenship practices
– Basis for constitutional republics
Social Studies Strand - Culture
• How people develop, learn, and adapt
cultures
• Meant to help people understand variety of
human cultures in the community and around
the world
Social Studies Strand – Science,
Technology, and Society
• How people live, learn, and work - past,
present, and future – based on their
relationship with science, technology, and the
environment
Social Studies Strand –
Social Studies Skills
• Used to acquire, organize, and use
information for problem-solving and decisionmaking.
• Meant to help people become better
problem-solvers, decision-makers, and
independent lifelong learners
Exploring Geography
• You should now understand what is meant by
the following terms:
– History
– Geography
– Economics
– Government
– Citizenship
– Culture
– Science, Technology, and Society
– Social Studies Skills
Chapter 1:
The Earth
Space
 The Earth is the third
planet from the sun and is
a terrestrial planet.
 Two types of planets:
 Terrestrial planets
(made up of rocky crusts)
 Giant gaseous planets
(more gaseous and less
dense)
Spheres
 Hydrosphere- All of earth’s
water.
 Lithosphere- The earth’s
crust.
 Atmosphere- The earth’s
air.
 Biosphere- The part of the
earth that supports life.
Landforms
 The four major landforms
are mountains, hills,
plateaus, and plains.
 The seven most visible
landforms are the
continents:
Africa, Asia, Antarctica,
Australia, Europe,
North America,
South America.
Water
• About 70% of Earth’s
surface is water.
• 97% is saltwater and 3%
is freshwater. Many
parts of the world are
already suffering from
water shortages.
Climate
Climate and Weather
• Weather is what is
occurring in one place
during a short period of
time.
• Climate describes long
term weather patterns.
What Effects Climate?
• Latitude
• The Atmosphere
• Elevation
• Ocean/Wind Currents
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Latitude- Middle of Earth gets the
most rays.
• The areas between The
Tropic of Cancer and
the Tropic of Capricorn
receive the sun’s direct
rays and are thus
warmer. The farther you
get from the middle,
the colder it gets.
The Atmosphere and Climate
• The atmosphere keeps
heat from escaping too
quickly into space.
• This is key to life on
earth.
Pollution and the Greenhouse Effect
• Pollution traps more of
the Sun’s rays.
Increasing the
temperature.
Chinese Smog
Altitude/Elevation and Climate
• As you increase the
elevation. The air thins
out.
• This leads to two things:
less air, colder
temperatures.
Wind
• The Coriolis Effect causes
prevailing winds to blow
diagonally.
• These winds are the
major trade winds of the
world.
• They used to move ships.
They still move climate
and precipitation.
Ocean
• Ocean currents
moderate the
temperature. Making
places less cold and less
hot.
• Vacation time!
Examples
Forces of Change
Dynamism Inside Earth
 There is extreme heat and
pressure inside of the
Earth. In fact,
temperatures there reach
8,500 *F.
 Magma is in the Mantle.
 The Crust is a thin layer of
rock that is about 2 miles
thick. The crust is broken
into plates that float on
the upper mantle.
Plate Movement
• 500 million years ago,
our continents were
together in one
supercontinent called
Pangaea.
• The plates have since
moved apart.
Internal Forces of Change
• The same forces that
move the continents,
also create mountains,
islands, volcanoes and
earthquakes.
Erosion
• Erosion is the wearing
away of the Earth’s
surface by wind,
glaciers, and moving
water.
• A terrible example
would be the Dust Bowl
that devastated
America during the
1930’s.
Chapter 2
The Human World
Culture
• The way of life of a group of people
• Share similar beliefs and customs
• Group of people with common
characteristics
Elements of Culture
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History
Language
Religion
Entertainment/Recreation
Cultural Expression
Social Classes
Social Groups
Economic Activities
Government
Culture Regions
World Religions
World Culture Regions
Culture
• We are very familiar with culture
because we see it everyday
Cultural Change
• Does culture stay the same?
• Internal and external factors are always changing
cultures
• Internal: new ideas, lifestyles, & inventions
• External: trade, migration, war
• Cultural Diffusion
– The spread of ideas from one culture to
another
Cultural Diffusion
I. Agricultural Revolution – We used to be
nomads (people that move from place
to place)
• The invention of farming allowed
people to settle in one place creating
CIVILIZATIONS
Cultural Diffusion
• Cultural Hearths – centers of civilizations
whose ideas and practices spread to
surrounding areas
• Most influential –
– Egypt
– Iraq
– Pakistan
– China
– Mexico
World Culture Hearths
Cultural Diffusion
• Trade – the development of civilizations
allowed for the creation of technology
– The invention of new technology gave way
to long distance trade and the spread of
ideas
Cultural Diffusion
• Permanent Migration – the movement
of people gives way to the movement of
ideas
– Migrants carry their cultures with them,
and their ideas and practices often blend
with those of the people already living in
the migrant’s adopted country
Cultural Diffusion
• Industrial & Informational Revolution
– Industrial – the transformation of
economies led to social changes
– Informational – globalization!
Exploring Geography
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Culture
Cultural Diffusion
Culture Hearths
Culture Region
Population
Population Growth
• Demographics
– Tell you specific statistical information about
population
• Example: El Paso is 72% Latino
• Example: University of Texas at El Paso is 55% Female
Growth Rates
• Death rate – the # of deaths per year for every 1000
people
• Birth rate – the # of births per year for every 1000 people
• Growth rate = Birthrate – Death Rate
– How much the population is growing by, total
– Can be positive, more people being born than dying
• Negative Population Growth
– When more people dying than being born
– Death rate is greater than birth rate
• Zero Population Growth
– When birth rate and death rate are equal
Population distribution
Pattern of human settlement is uneven
People live where the following are available
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Fertile soil
Water
Climate without harsh extremes
Terrain that allows for human life
Areas where population is highly concentrated
are typically metropolitan areas
**population density
How crowded a country or a region is
measured by population density
Sparsely Populated
Densely Populated
Not too much
population in one
area
A lot of population
in one area
Population movement
• Human Migration – movement of people from
place to place
• Emigration – people move out of a place
• Immigration – people move into a place
• Urbanization – when people move into cities or
urban areas (areas with heavy population
density) from rural areas (areas with lighter
population density)
Push – pull factors
• Push factors – Things that push people to emigrate away
from an area
• Pull factors – Things that pull people to immigrate to an
area
Push Factors
Pull Factors
Doubling time
• High birthrates and low death rates greatly
increases population growth
• Doubling time – the number of years it takes a
population to double in size
– Usually occurs in developing countries
• Ex: Africa – 25yrs
• EX: US – 300 yrs
C. Population pyramids
(Age-Sex graph)
Useful tool to help you understand population
characteristics of a country
Reveals a lot about a countries patterns of
fertility, mortality, immigration and history
Population Pyramid
pyramid
• Usually seen in
underdeveloped
countries
• High birthrates
• Young life
expectancy
Column
• Developed
country
• Roughly the
same birthrate
and death rate
• What else can
you interpret?
Column
• More females
than males
• Low birthrate
Exploring Geography
 Birth
rate
 Cities
 Death Rate
 Densely Populated
 Developed Country
 Developing Country
 Emigration
 Human Migration
 Immigration
 Life Expectancy
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Literacy Rates
Per-Capita
Population Density
Population Distribution
Population Pyramids
Rural
Sparsely Populated
Standard of Living
Urban
Urbanization
Political and Governmental
Systems
GOVERNMENT
• Institution through which a society –
– Maintains social order
– Provides social services
– Ensures national security
– Supports its economic well-being
Levels of Government
• Unitary System
– Gives all key powers to the national or central
government
• Federal System
– Divides the power of government between the
national and state Government
Types of Government - Stems
• Definitions of pieces of words
– Beginnings of words
• “uni” – means “one”
• “auto-” means “self”
• “oli-” means “some or a few”
• “mono-” means “one”
• “demo-” means “many”
– Ends of words
• “-cracy” means “ruled by or governing body”
• “-archy” means “ruled by or governing body”
AUTOCRACY
RULE BY ONE PERSON
• Oldest and most common form of government
• Most autocrats receive power through inheritance or
ruthless use of military or police control
• Suppress political opposition
AUTOCRACY
RULE BY ONE PERSON
• Ex: Absolute or Totalitarian dictatorships
– One person seeks to control all aspects of social
and economic life
– Government is not responsible for the people
– People have no power to limit rulers’ actions; for
example:
• Adolf Hitler (Nazi Germany)
• Benito Mussolini (Italy)
• Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)
AUTOCRACY
RULE BY ONE PERSON
• Ex: Monarchy
– King or Queen exercises the supreme power of the
govt
• Usually inherit their positions
• Absolute Monarchs: have complete and unlimited
power to rule the people
• Constitutional Monarchs: share governmental powers
with elected legislatures or serve as ceremonial leaders
OLIGARCHY
RULE BY A FEW PEOPLE
• Small group holds power
• Group derives its power from
– Wealth
– Military power
– Social position
– Religion
– And/or combination of these elements
• Suppress political opposition
OLIGARCHY
RULE BY A FEW PEOPLE
• Many times both dictatorships and oligarchies claim
they rule for the people
• But only give the illusion and no actual commitment
is made to support the people
– Ex: Communist China
DEMOCRACY
RULE BY MANY PEOPLE
• System of government where leaders rule with the
consent of the citizens
• Latin (Demos=“the people”) + (kratia=“Rule”)
• Government by the many not the FEW
DEMOCRACY
RULE BY MANY PEOPLE
• Ex: Representative Democracies
– People elect representatives with the
responsibility and power to make laws and
conduct govt
– Called either:
• Council
• Legislature
• Congress
• Parliament
DEMOCRACY
RULE BY MANY PEOPLE
• Ex: Republics (US & France)
– Voters elect all major officials, who are
responsible to the people
– Head-of-State – President
– Not every democracy is a republic
• ie: United Kingdom – democracy with a
monarch
Exploring Geography
• By now, you should have definitions for the following terms:
– Government
– Oligarchy
– Monarchy
– Republic
– Representative Democracy
– Autocracy
– Unitary System
– Federal System
Economic Systems
By SHS Social Studies
ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
• The financials of a country
• How you buy, sell, and/or trade goods for
other stuff or currency (money)
ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
• Three basic questions all economic systems
must ask:
1.What goods and services should be produced and how many
goods and services should be produced?
2.How should the goods and services be produced?
3.Who gets the goods and services that are produced?
ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
• There are 3 major types of economic systems
1. Traditional Economic System
2. Command Economic System
3. Market Economic System
a. Mixed Economy
TRADITIONAL Economic System
• Habits and customs determine the rules for
how you buy, sell, or trade things (economic
activity)
• You behave based on customs and traditions
– Ex: Hunter and gatherer
– Today: Hunting and gathering practiced in few
parts of the world
COMMAND Economic System
• The government owns or directs how goods
are made (means of production) and controls
the distribution of goods
• Means of Production –
–Land
–Labor
–Capital (machinery, factories)
–Business managers
COMMAND Economic System
• Hope: decisions made will benefit all of society
and not just a limited few
• Intent: to distribute goods equally
• Problem: citizens have no voice in how tax
money is spent
COMMAND Economic System
• Two types of Command Economic Systems
–Communism
–Socialism
• Communism – the government has complete
and total control over the economic system
–The fear……..that two free decision-making
businesses will not work for the people
–Ex: Soviet Union
COMMAND Economic System
• Socialism – allows free enterprise alongside
government-run activities
• Three main goals:
1. Equal distribution of wealth
2. Society’s control, through its government, of all major decisions about
production
3. Public ownership of most land, factories and other means of production
Democratic socialism – people have basic human
rights even though the government controls
certain industries
MARKET Economic Systems
• Individuals and private groups make decisions
about what to produce
• People decide what they will and will not
purchase and what job they will hold
• Based on the idea of free enterprise or
capitalism
–Idea that private individuals or groups have the
right to own property or businesses and make a
profit with only limited government interference
MARKET Economic System
• No country in the world has a PURE market
economic system, the next alternative is…..
• Mixed economies – one in which the
government supports and regulates free
enterprise through decisions that affect the
marketplace
• Government’s responsibility is to keep the
economic system fair
Exploring Geography
• By now, you should have definitions for the
following terms:
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Economic Systems
Goods and Services
Market Economic System
Mixed Economy
Command Economic System
Socialism
Communism
Traditional Economic System
Means of Production
Click on the links below for more
information on each region.
PPT Palooza
Mr. Donn
Analyzing Maps, Charts, Graphs,
Political Cartoons and Excerpts
By SHS Social Studies Department
Part D
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Analyzing Maps, Charts, Graphs,
Political Cartoons and Excerpts
1. Look at the map, chart, graph, political cartoon, or
excerpt once, ask yourself “What do you see?”
2. Highlight, underline, or write down any key words,
images, trends, legends, etc. that you understand
(this will become your EVIDENCE)
3. Try to figure out what the author/artist is trying to
tell the reader(s)/observers
4. Read the question and try to figure out what it’s
trying to ask you
Analyzing Maps, Charts, Graphs,
Political Cartoons and Excerpts
5. Answer the question in your own words (prior
to looking at options)
6. Read your responses from D to A, allowing
your mind to break from its usual routine
7. You should respond based on the BEST answer
that is also based on your EVIDENCE and a
little on outside historical evidence (that you
remember)
Practice
• Let’s try #1 together
Analyzing and Image
DON’T READ THE QUESTION YET!
– Ask yourself – “What do you see?”
Analyzing and Image
Now that you’ve written down what
you see, read the question
1. The photograph above shows how
farmers on the Great Plains —
Analyzing and Image
Read the answers from D to A, eliminating
and “way off” answers
1. The photograph above shows how farmers on
the Great Plains —
D. maintained contact with their neighbors
C. developed new agricultural technology
B. adapted to their environment
A. utilized irrigation techniques
Analyzing the Image
• The correct answer
is “B” because it
doesn’t look very
“neighborly” (D), it
has nothing to do
with agriculture (C),
and it doesn’t look
like there’s a lot of
irrigation going on
(A). It mostly shows
how they adapt to
the “plains”
environment
Analyzing Maps, Charts, Graphs, Political
Cartoons and Excerpts
• Analyze the following maps, charts, graphs,
political cartoons and excerpts and answer
them on your own.
• You will review the answers as a class once you
have finished.