SYLLABUS FOR WORLD GEOGRAPHY
I.
PURPOSE
The World Geography course is designed to prepare young people to think
creatively and critically and to help them function as social beings in today’s
world. It is also a compass that students will use to find themselves on the map
of human history. This curriculum will introduce5, build, expand, and refine
student’s knowledge and skills of world geography. Any Changes to the syllabus
will be made by the teacher only.
LENGTH OF COURSE
Fall Semester: August – December
Spring Semester: January – May
TEXT BOOK
World Geography Texas Edition by McDougal Littell
PLANNING AND CONFERENCE
3A
CLASS DAILY ROUTINE
Warm Up, Journal Current Events
15 minutes
Preview/Review
10 minutes
Lesson
45 minutes
Closure
5 minutes
Practice –Class Assignment, Quiz
25 minutes
SUPPLIES LIST:
 Three(3) or Five (5) Subject Spiral Notebook
 Blue or Black Ink Pens
 Textbook
CLASSROOM RULES:
 Be on time to class EVERYDAY
 Bring all required material to class everyday
 Be respectful of the teacher and each other
Grading Scale:
 Test Grade
40%
 Daily Grade
30%
 Quiz Grade
20%
 Warm – Up Grade
10%
 Total
100%
Special Note*
Fall Semester Exam – 25% of Fall Semester Average
Spring Semester Exam – 25% of Spring Semester Average
I ____________________________ acknowledge that I received this syllabus and will follow
all classroom rules and expectations for the following school year.
Student Signature _______________________________
Date _________________
Parent Signature ______________________________
Phone Number _______________
1
II.
COURSE OVERVIEW
FALL SEMESTER: August - December
Unit I:
The World in Spatial Terms: Places/Regions
This two-part unit serves is a review of geographic tools such as maps, mental maps,
and other data tools. It introduces students to the geographic standards related to the
World in Spatial Terms and Places.
Unit 2: ESPN Physical Systems
This two-part unit explores the geographic elements of Physical Systems and addresses
the processes that shape the earth’s surface as well as significant landforms, ecosystems
and other physical aspects of places.
Unit 3: ESPN: eNvironment and Society
This two-part unit examines how humans adapt to, depend on and often modify the
physical environment in which they settle. It also explores the impact that the physical
environment has on the human systems within that space.
Unit 4: Population and Migration
This two-part unit explores settlement patterns, routes of migration, and distribution
and population patterns.
Unit 5: ESPN: Social/Cultural – Defining Culture
This two-part unit attempts to answer the question: What is culture? It also explores
how cultural traits spread from place to place.
Unit 6:
Reviewing Geographic Concepts
This two-part unit helps reinforce concepts learned in the first semester. These concepts
support learning as students move into second semester.
2
SPRING SEMESTER: January – May
Unit 7: ESPN: Sources of Conflict and Cooperation
By examining religion as one particular aspect of the cultural mosaic this unit attempts
to use a social/cultural lens to explore how culture influences people’s perceptions of
religion. It also examines instances of conflict and cooperation among world regions.
Unit 8 ESPN Political Systems
This four-part unit explores the development of political systems and divisions. As
humans settled together in larger and larger groups the need for rules and laws
emerged and humans began to form systems of government and various political
divisions on the earth’s surface. As urban migration and worldwide population increases
there is a continuing need for understanding urban societies
Unit 9:
ESPN Economic Systems
This three-part unit explores how humans develop economic systems and how economic
activity is dependent on available human and physical resources and the management,
use, and distribution of those resources. In Part 3 the unit addresses the concept of
globalization and economic interdependence
Unit 10: ESPN Examining Economic Disparity
This two-part unit examines political, economic, social and demographic indicators that
help determine various levels of economic development. This unit provides
opportunities for students to interpret data to compare levels of development and the
relationship between availability of resources and economic disparity.
Unit 11:
Researching Geographically
This two-part unit allows students to explore a topic of interest using a research process
and to present results of their findings to the class.
Unit 12: ESPN World Overview [Review Unit]
This four-part unit uses the ESPN themes to review key concepts and understandings in
World Geography Studies. This focus on the ESPN themes helps students review how the
character of a place/region is related to its economic, social-cultural, political and
environmental elements.
Unit 13:
Researching Geographically
This two-part unit allows students to explore a topic of interest using a research process
and to present results of their findings to the class.
3