Scott Hughes, Principal
Leon M. Goldstein High School for the Sciences
AP Human Geography Course Requirements
1830 Shore Blvd, Brooklyn NY 11235
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the systematic study of the patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use and alteration of the Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to analyze human social and economic organization and their environmental consequences. They learn about and use the methods and tools used by geographers in their science and practice. This is a tentative syllabus and will be altered accordingly. See LMGHS website for text book assignments, vocabulary terms, worksheets, and readings. Vocabulary book must be in a marble notebook, Define each term and GIVE DETAILED EXAMPLES. APPL Y THE
TERM. *** This will be useful as you prepare for the AP Exam. Purchase 5 steps to a 5: AP Human Geography. *** After we complete a chapter review questions from 5 steps to a 5.
Five College level Goals of this course are
• To be able to use and analyze the meaning of spatial data sets
• To understand and interpret the implications of associations among phenomena in places by seeing the relationships between tastes, values, politics, economics, and place
• To recognize and interpret at different scales the relationships between patterns and processes, particularly the impacts of globalization and local diversity
• To define regions and evaluate the regionalization process
•
To analyze the changing interconnections among places
As a textbook, we will use An Introduction to Human Geography by James Rubenstein with excerpts from
Introductory Reader in Human Geography by William Moseley. Other readings will include parts of Guns, Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond, 36 Views of Mt Fiji by Cathy Davidson, AP: Foner, Eric. Who Owns History?
Rethinking the Past in a Changing World. Hill and Wang, 2003. Assignment TBA AP:Kunstler, James Howard.
Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America's Man-Made Landscape. Simon and Schuster, June
1993. Assignment due date TBA , The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman, Ciao, America! By Beppe Severiginini and a History of the World in Six Glasses by Thomas Standage. Students will also use current events articles from The New York Times , Wall Street Journal , Newsweek, Time, National Geographic and various other news magazines . Films from National Geographic, Learn 360, and other sources will be integrated into the class as well. At least one guest speaker has been planned – 1)Mr. Joseph Bello Project Manager for the NYC Parks
Department will present a lecture on urban planning and /or Mr.Wade Goria NYU Professor Lecture on Lebanon,
The Middle East and Geo-political issues. Other class activities will include the creation of maps from student – gathered data, the tracing of migration patterns, keeping a current events marble notebook , debates, a research paper, an oral/video project, discussion of environmental issues , Constructing a project in unison with the Henry Street Art School, neighborhood awareness activities. Students will also be required to complete 40 hours of Community Service cleaning, mulching, planting and take a historical tour of Prospect Park ,The
Gentrification of Brooklyn and Central Park. “Field walks” to observe local patterns, analyze land usage and understand economic patterns in our neighborhood are planned as well. The College Board also strongly suggests that the use of the computer and Internet to do research will give students a competitive edge.
This class begins with an overview of the history of geographic study and map making. Then follow a review of basic geographic concepts and the uses of various types of maps, mapping systems such as GPS and
GIS. The Human Geography course is them divided into two parts. In the first semester we will study social and

political themes: population, migration, folk and popular culture, language, religion, ethnicity, and politics. The second semester deals with economic themes such as the development agriculture, industry services, urbanization, and resource problems. In each chapter, the United States and several other countries are examined as Case Studies.
Grades (per semester)
Chapter tests and Quizzes
Essays/ Weekly Vocabulary /Homework /Pen Pal
Activity (TBA and explained)
Research Paper/Presentations/Projects
25%
25%
Midterm/Final
Participation/Classwork
20%
20%
10%
Class Materials: 1)A spiral notebook or section of your binder devoted to Human Geography class, Pens (blue or black ink only)2) A marble composition book to use for vocabulary terms from the homework assigned on our
LMGHS website. (No spiral notebooks for this) 3) a marble notebook for your current events articles and synopisis, analysis and or evaluation A stapler (to be left at home) colored pencils for making maps, charts, and graphs. A good world atlas and world almanac to be kept at home.
Class Rules: Be on time. This means you must be in class and ready to begin. It also means you must turn your work in on time. Much of the work assigned will be covered in class. You will have ample time to complete projects, assignments, presentations and classwork. For all assignments see LMGHS website for assignments and due dates. Homework is assigned on Monday and is due by Monday of the following week. There will be weekly vocabulary quizzes.
Be Prepared: This means listening when others are speaking, waiting your turn to speak, not doing anything to disturb the learning experience of others, and being respectful of others in class discussions.
Syllabus
First Quarter-Movement of Peoples Assign Folk Music and Dance topics for video presentations at the end of the Quarter.
Chapter One: Basic Concepts of Geography-Maps, Map Skills and Map-making
History of Geographic Knowledge, Scale, types of Maps and Projections Location: Site, Situation, Longitude and
Latitude GIS, GPS, and other High Tech Mapping Systems
Uniqueness of Place, Landform, Climate Regional Geography Population, Density and Concentration, Types of
Diffusion-Cargo Cults

Film: The Shape of the World
Homework: Rubenstein Chapter 1 Vocabulary and Chapter questions
Chapter 2: Population ( Case Studies: India and China)** Tentative Reasons for Population Concentrations,
Arithmetic, physiological and Agricultural Density Fertility and Morality Rates Demographic Transition Models and Population Pyramids Homework: Rubenstein Chapter 2 and Population Pyramid Practice Packets
Film The Population Paradox Overpopulation Malthus Theory Homework Malthus Essay on the Principle of
Population
Chapter 2 Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
Chapter 3 Migration (Case Studies: Ireland and the USA)Immigration Project, Push and Pull Factors Internal and
External Migration, History of US Migration, The Problem with Illegal Immigration Attitudes Toward Immigrants
Homework: Rubenstein Chapter 3, Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
Chapter 4 Folk and Popular Culture (Case Study the Australian Aborigines)Amish and Orthodox Jews
Film: National Geographic Presents: Australia’s Aborigines Sports, Art and Music, American Folk Music-
Demonstrations of country, western and bluegrass Mississippi Delta The history of the Blues. Research Poster
Project on Music, Art or Sports DATE TBA Discussion/Activity of Food taboos in Orthodox Judaism and other cultures Lecture on Wine Production in Europe and the USA
Homework: Rubenstein Chapter 4 , with examples and chapter questions Standage A History of the World in 6
Glasses Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 Questions TBA
Shelter ,Lecture on types of housing found in the USA and other countries Field Walk in neighborhood to look at architecture, style of local homes. Compare and Contrast housing styles*** IF I AM ABLE TO COORDINATE A
FIELD TRIP.
Chapter 5 Language (Case Studies)Lectures on Language Families and the Evolution of the English Language
Discussion/Activity of Isolated languages-Basque, Islandic and QuechuaPreserving Endangered Languages
Chapter 5 Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
Chapter 6 Religion (Case Study: )
Universalizing Religions-Christianity, Islam Buddhism Ethnic Religions- Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism and
Judaism Origins and Distribution of Religions, Mormons AP Free Response practice
Holy Places, Calendars, Religious Architecture and Ritual Religious Conflict-Government Repression and Religious
Wars, PBS Sacred Spaces Chapter 6 Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
Chapter 7 Ethnicity and Gender( Case Studies: Rwanda and Bosnia)Lecture on Distribution of Ethnicities in the
US A Discussion/Activity of Ethnicity and Nationality Ethnic Cleansing: The Armenian Genocide Chapter 7
Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
Chapter 8 Political Geography (Case Studies) The Concept of the State, Colonialism and Imperialism Boundaries and the Shape of States, Russia to USSR to Russia again The United Nations, NATO and the European Union
Chapter 8 Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions

Chapter 9 Development (Case Studies: Japan, Eastern Europe and Bangladesh)The Human Development Index-
MDCs and LDCs Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Jobs Social and Demographic Indicators of Development,
Obstacles to Development and How to overcome them Chapter 9 Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
Chapter 10 : Agriculture (Case Studies))
Film Food Inc
History of Agriculture
Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture
Project: Students Research Agriculture in their Assigned Countries
Debate from Taking Sides: Clashing Views on African Issues on the topic Have the Contributions of Africans to
Agriculture Been Recognized? Chapter 10 Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions, Standage History of the World in Six Glasses Chapters 3,4,5 Questions TBA
Chapter 11 Industry (Case Studies: Japan, Korea and China)
Lecture: History of the Industrial Revolution
Distribution of Industry: Site and Situation Factors, Markets and Perishability
Globalization and Trade Blocs
Aiding LDS’s to Industrialize
Homework: Rubenstein Chapter 11 Standage’s History of the World in 6 Glasses Chapter 6 and Chapter 7
Questions TBA Chapter 11 Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
Chapter 12 (Case studies: Athens Paris, Tokyo and Washington)Types of Services Central Place of Theory and
Market Area AnalysisAncient and Modern Cities Downtowns and Suburbs Film: Frontline: Walmart Chapter 12
Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
Models :Worksheet :We will work on in class
Chapter 13 (Case Studies )Growth of Urbanization Models of Urban Structure- Concentric Zone, Sector and
Multiple Nuclei European Cities and Cities in LDCs (Least Developed Countries) Problems of Inner cities Suburbs and Transportation Issues Film the Gentrification of Brooklyn Chapter 13 Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
Chapter 14 : Resource Issues (Case Studies ) Global Food Shortages Film: An Inconvenient Truth/or Tapped
Chapter14 Vocabulary with examples and chapter questions
May 2016 : Putting it All Together ( Cumulative Activities , AP Practice Exam and Free Response )