AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
(SECONDARY)
ESSENTIAL UNIT 1 (E01)
(Geography: Its Nature & Perspectives)
(July 2015)
Unit Statement: Essential unit one examines the cornerstone concepts and key skills in
geography as well as explains the purpose of geography tracing the early development of the
discipline. The student should begin to look at geography spatially observing at the dynamics
of human population growth and movement, patterns of culture, economic activities, political
organizations of space, social issues, gender, and human settlement patterns. The unit goes on
to discuss maps and their role in geography as well as the important elements of a map
including scale and projection. The unit also explains the role of contemporary geographic
tools such as Geographic Information System, Global Positioning System, Remote Sensing,
and Mash-Ups. The student will review key geographic concepts, vocabulary, skills and the
five themes of geography.
Essential Outcomes: (must be assessed for mastery)
1. The Student Will identify and label political, physical features, and regions around
the world.
2. TSW analyze the regionalization and globalization process. (1.8)
3. TSW summarize the development of geography in Antiquity and the Middle Ages. (1.2)
4. TSW analyze the geographical concepts of location, space, place, scale, pattern,
nature and society, regionalization, globalization, and gender issues; relating to
a geographical perspective. (1.6)
5. TSW evaluate geospatial data to pose and solve problems. (1.6-1.10)
6. TSW recognize and interpret how events and processes at different scales influence
one another. (1.6-1.12)
7. TSW analyze changing interconnections that occur in the same place such as tastes
and values, political regulations, and economic constraints. (1.9)
8. TSW identify patterns by using various sources of geographical information such as field
work, census data, online data, aerial photography, and satellite imagery. (1.6)
9. TSW apply geospatial technologies, such as, but not limited to: GIS, remote sensing,
GPS, and online maps such as Google Earth. (1.5)
10. TSW describe how people interact with their environment in different regions of the
world. (1.12)
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QSI AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY SEC E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
Practiced/Ongoing Outcomes: (not formally assessed)
1. The Student Will interpret maps and analyze geospatial data.
2. TSW understand and explain the implications of associations and networks in places.
3. TSW recognize and interpret the relationships among patterns and processes at
different scales of analysis.
4. TSW define regions and evaluate the regionalization process.
5. TSW characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places.
Key Terms and Concepts:
Those found on the list on page 30-31 as well as the following that have appeared on the exam.
Spatial
Location
[absolute, relative,
site, situation,
place name]
Direction
[absolute,
relative]
Distance
[absolute,
relative]
Size
Scale
Physical
attributes
[natural
landscape]
Cultural attributes
[cultural
landscape]
Changing
attributes of
place [built
landscape,
sequent
occupance]
Environmental
determinism
Possibilism
Spatial
interaction
[accessibility,
connectivity,
network,
distance
decay,
friction of
distance,
time-space
compression]
Diffusion
[hearth,
relocation,
expansion,
hierarchical,
contagious,
stimulus]
Distribution
Density
[arithmetic,
physiological]
Dispersion/
concentration
[dispersed/scattere
d,
clustered/agglome
rated]
Pattern
[linear,
centralized,
random]
Region
[formal/uniform,
functional/nodal,
perceptual/vernacu
lar]
Map scale
Distortion
Projection
Geographic
Grid
Map types
[thematic,
statistical,
cartogram,
dot,
choropleth,
isoline]
Geographic
Information
System (GIS)
Global
Positioning
System
(GPS)
Mental map
Remote
sensing
Suggested Materials/Resources:
 Rubenstein, Chapter 1: “Thinking Geographically”
 Kuby, Harner, and Gober, Chapter 1: “True Maps, False Impressions: Making,
Manipulating and interpreting Maps”
 Pearson’s Human Geography video series, “Message in a Bottle”
 Pearson Online Support via www.MasteringGeography.com
 Electronic device with QR reader and access to the Internet
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QSI AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY SEC E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
Technology Links:
Teaching Geography CD: http://www.aag.org/cs/tgmg Condition and Connection
Activity
Online Map Quiz (Country/Capitals/Physical) for individual study and/or quizzes:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Geography.htm
Google Maps: http://maps.google.com/
Mash-ups http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7016.pdf
Association of American Geographers: www.aag.org
The National Council for Geographic Education: www.ncge.org
The National Geographic Society www.nationalgeographic.com
Small Scale Maps: http://nationalatlas.gov/mapmaker
Mastering Geography: www.masteringgeography.com
Suggested Assessment Tools and Strategies:
 At the beginning of class, provide your students with maps of the United States or
world maps. Take a brief survey of where students come from and write those places
on the board by country or by state. Ask them to indicate if they have had any
experience with geography. If they have, put a check beside their state or country.
Ask students to generalize about the data on the board. Ask them if they think it could
be mapped. Demonstrate how to place this information on a map of your own and let
them do one or two states for themselves. Guide students to the conclusion the
information given is spatial and that most information can be mapped. From there you
can segue into a discussion of geography, its definition and development.
 Have students trace the historical and theoretical development of geography.
 As an extension of your lecture, you may assign students the task of researching the
various theoretical approaches to academic geography (pages 6 and 7). You can have
your students create a table or chart similar to the one below with the information as
an in-class activity.
Geography Becomes a Science
Approach
Theory
Geographer
Impact on the
discipline
Environmental
determinism
Possibilism



Divide your class into groups. Provide each group of students with an enlarged picture
of Figure 1.5.1 and a map of New York City. Have each group identify site and
situation characteristics. Another group should identify place names on the map. Have
students discuss what information they learn about New York by just examining site,
situation, and toponyms. You can have them write about how site, situation,
toponym, and region can be used to describe a place.
To what extent is the process of globalization beneficial to a group or country?
Have your students list the types of projections, the distortions that each have, and
describe the utility of the projection. Ask students to describe how they could use
each projection to harm or to aid people.
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QSI AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY SEC E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
Possible Discussion/ Exam Questions
 What is geography? Describe the development of geography through the ages.
 Which theoretical approach to geography would you support? Under what
circumstances?
 How does each of the following describe place: site, situation, toponyms, regions?
 What are the advantages and disadvantages of certain types of projection? How can
they use maps to disseminate disinformation?
 To what extent is the process of globalization harmful to people?
 How is the global spread of McDonalds Corporation geographical?
Possible Mash-Up Assignments Using Google Earth
You can do this activity in class if you have access to a geography lab or let them do the
assignment at home. Have students go to Google Earth ™. Locate the city nearest your
school, then zoom in to street level. Students should describe how much detail they notice for
each level they zoom. Have students play with the features of Google Earth. Students should
place layers on their selected area then remove them. Have them go to copy/edit to create a
copy of their chosen area, with and without layers.
Their final output should include:
 Copy of their map with streets and toponyms
 The latitude and longitude of the place
 A description of the site and situation of your city
 Teacher created assessments
 Teacher Observation
 Generated Tests from textbook
 Previous AP Exam Questions
 Student created projects/presentations
RUBRIC FOUND ON FOLLOWING PAGE……………………………
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QSI AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY SEC E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY
Suggested Essential Unit 1 (E01) Rubric:
Name _____________________________________Class________ Date _______________
• All TSW’s must be mastered for a ‘B’.
• 4 of 6 ‘A’-level blocks should be met for an ‘A’.
• Teachers may choose to use their own rubrics; however, all TSW’s must be assessed.
The Student Will
‘A’ Above Mastery
‘B’ Mastery
1. identify and label political, identify and label all continents,
physical features, and regions oceans, major cities, landforms, identify and label all continents, oceans,
around the world
and world regions recommended major cities, and landforms upon teacher’s
by College Board: Big
parameters
Picture/Closer Look
2. analyze the regionalization
and globalization process
3. summarize the development
of geography in the ancient
world and the Middle Ages
4. analyze the geographical
concepts of location, space,
place, scale, pattern, nature
and society, regionalization,
globalization, and gender
issues; relating to a
geographical perspective
5. evaluate geospatial data to
pose and solve problems
6. analyze changing
interconnections that occur in
the same place such as tastes
and values, political
regulations, and economic
constraints
7. identify patterns by using
various sources of
geographical information
such as field work, census
data, online data, aerial
photography, and satellite
imagery
8. apply geospatial
technologies, such as, but not
limited to: GIS, remote
sensing, GPS, and online
maps such as Google Earth
9. describe how people interact
with their environment in
different regions of the world
10. recognize and interpret how
events and processes at
different scales influence one
another
analyze the regionalization and
globalization process from
multiple perspectives
analyze the regionalization and
globalization process
summarize the development of geography
in the ancient world and the Middle Ages
analyze the geographical
concepts of location, space,
place, scale, pattern, nature and
society, regionalization,
globalization, and gender issues;
relating comparing geographical
perspectives
analyze the geographical concepts of
location, space, place, scale, pattern,
nature and society, regionalization,
globalization, and gender issues; relating
to a geographical perspective by providing
an overview
evaluate geospatial data to pose
and solve problems by applying
tools in real-time
evaluate geospatial data to pose and solve
problems without tools
analyze changing
interconnections that occur in the
same place such as tastes and
values, political regulations, and
economic constraints giving
various examples
analyze changing interconnections that
occur in the same place such as tastes and
values, political regulations, and economic
constraints by providing an overview
identify patterns by using various sources
of geographical information such as field
work, census data, online data, aerial
photography, and satellite imagery
apply geospatial technologies,
such as, but not limited to: GIS, apply geospatial technologies, such as, but
remote sensing, GPS, and online not limited to: GIS, remote sensing, GPS,
maps such as Google Earth in
and online maps such as Google Earth
‘real-time’
describe how people interact with their
environment in different regions of the
world
recognize and interpret how events and
processes at different scales influence one
another
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QSI AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY SEC E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
Notes