CULTURAL STUDIES-9
ESSENTIAL UNIT 1 (E01)
(Geography: Physical Characteristics)
(July 2015)
Unit Statement: In this unit, the student will explore geography with a focus on physical
characteristics. He/she will apply map skills, identify landforms, examine how physical
processes have created patterns on Earth’s surface, analyze how people have modified and
adapted to the environment, and students will explore the uses of renewable and
nonrenewable resources.
Five Themes of Geography Focus: Location, Human-Environment Interactions, Place
Essential Question/s:
How do physical processes create physical patterns on the surface of the Earth?
How do people modify and adapt to the environment?
How do people use renewable and nonrenewable resources?
Essential Outcomes: (must be assessed for mastery)
1. The Student Will apply map skills to locate the Prime Meridian, Tropic of Cancer,
Tropic of Capricorn, Equator, scale, and coordinates on a variety of maps. (Harcourt
Social Studies: World Regions A2-A27, 32-33).
2. TSW examine how bodies of water are formed (HSS 26-31).
3. TSW identify how physical processes (i.e. climate, vegetation, plate tectonics,
earthquakes, erosion, and ocean circulation) have created physical patterns on
Earth’s surface (HSS 20-39).
4. TSW analyze ways people have modified and adapted to the physical environment
(HSS 20-39, Down to Earth Geography 112-127).
5. TSW examine how renewable and nonrenewable natural resources (i.e. fossil fuels,
fertile soil, and timber) are used (HSS 40-45, DEG 128-135).
6. TSW locate and summarize current event related to geography.
Introduced Outcomes: (taught, but not assessed)
1. The Student Will evaluate issues that arise when natural resources are in short supply
(HSS 40-47).
2. TSW identify unknown landforms and locate them on a map (HSS 20-25, A26-A27) .
Practiced/Ongoing Outcomes: (ongoing development, but not assessed)
1. The Student Will identify key terms and concepts.
2. TSW name and define the 5 Themes of Geography (HSS 2).
3. TSW apply age-appropriate research skills to gather information about a topic.
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QSI CULTURAL STUDIES-9 E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
Key Terms and Concepts:
landform
plate tectonics
continental drift
fault
latitude
longitude
Equator
Prime Meridian
Tropic of Cancer
Tropic of Capricorn
climate
natural resource
relative location
absolute location
deposition
map title
renewable resource
nonrenewable
resource
map key
compass rose
geography
cardinal direction
map scale
human feature
physical feature
Suggested Activities and Strategies:
● Students can create a map of the world (TSW 1).
● Students can locate their city on a map using latitude and longitude (TSW 1).
● Students can create maps of their homes or classrooms (TSW 1).
● Students can create models of different bodies of water (TSW 2).
● Students can choose a location and research how people have modified and adapted to
their physical environment (TSW 4).
● Students can create projects aligned to the TSWs.
Cross-curricular Suggestions:
Reading:
● Students can read nonfiction and primary source texts about geography.
● Students can read travel diaries.
Writing:
● Students can write a speech about common household items and how they can be
recycled or reused in other ways (HSS 48).
● Students can write a tall tale that explains how mountains are formed. After writing
their tall tales, students can write a paragraph about how mountains are actually
formed (HSS 48).
Mathematics:
● Students can research the depths of the Earth’s ten deepest lakes or the sizes of the ten
largest lakes and create a bar graph of their data (HSS 28).
● Students can calculate the population density of their country (HSS 58).
● When studying fractions, students can create their own maps using an appropriate
map scale.
Science:
● Students can create a model that shows how one type of mountain is formed or how
earthquakes occur. They can present their research and write a report about their
model (HSS 22).
● Students can set up or manage a recycling program to promote taking care of the environment.
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QSI CULTURAL STUDIES-9 E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
Suggested Materials: (provided by school)
Harcourt Social Studies World Regions Teacher Edition Volume 1: Unit 1, Chapter 1
Harcourt Social Studies World Regions Student Edition: Unit 1, Chapter 1
Additional Harcourt Social Studies World Regions Teacher and Online Resources
Learning History & Geography, Pearson Chapter 1: Using Maps
Down to Earth Geography, Grade 4, Teacher Created Resources
Additional Resources: (may not be provided by school)
Harcourt Leveled Readers
Natural Resources (O)
Maps (R/S)
Classroom atlas
Daily Geography Practice, Grade 4, Evan-Moor EBook
Around the World in 80 Pages: An Adventurous Picture Atlas of the World, Mason,
Antony, Copper Beech Books, 1995
On the Same Day in March: A Tour of the World’s Weather, Singer, Marilyn,
HarperCollins, 2000
Mapping the World, Johnson, Sylvia A., Atheneum, 1999
Changing Climate, Morgan, Sally, Franklin Watts, 1999
Over the Top of the World: Explorer Will Steger’s Trek Across the Arctic, Steger, Will,
Scholastic, 1999
Illustrated Book of Great Adventures, Platt, Richard, Dorling Kindersley Publishing, 1999
Earth, Van Rose, Susanna, Dorling Kindersley Publishing, 1999
Videos and DVDs
Globes and Their Use, United Learning, 2000
Landforms & Living Patterns: Geography Basics: Rainbow Educational Media, 2001
Technology Links:
Destiny Webpath Express (see Librarian)
Use this search engine to find age-appropriate websites that align with your unit.
Harcourt Social Studies
http://www.harcourtschool.com/socialstudies
This is the companion website for the textbook. It includes activities, primary sources,
multimedia biographies, virtual tours, videos, technology links, and online references.
BrainPop
https://www.brainpop.com/socialstudies/geography/
BrainPop has resources about geography including continents of the world, geography
themes, oceans, poles, latitude/longitude, map skills, and more.
United Nations Cyber School Bus
http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/index.shtml
This website has a variety of geography resources for elementary students.
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QSI CULTURAL STUDIES-9 E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
National Geographic Kids
http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/?ar_a=1
This website has a variety of geography and map resources for teachers to use with their
students.
Misson Map Quest
http://www.classtools.net/mapgame/game.php
This is a map-based tool for creating virtual treasure hunts. The teacher creates a series of
clues that students need to follow to identify places around the world.
Geoguesser
https://geoguessr.com/
This is a geography game that lets you create your own geography games based on
locations around the world.
Overlap Maps
http://overlapmaps.com/index.php
This service can be used to compare the size of countries, states, provinces, and some
bodies of water by overlapping the maps.
Place Spotting
http://www.placespotting.com/
This is a website of geography riddles based on the Google Earth platform. Users can
create their own geographic riddles or try to solve riddles created by others.
Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org/
This website has a variety of videos, lesson ideas, and articles that can be used with this
unit. Use the search feature for specific unit resources.
DOGO News
http://www.dogonews.com/
This website has articles and videos about current events around the world written in kidfriendly language.
Suggested Assessment Tools:
1. Attached rubric or teacher-generated rubric that assesses ALL essential outcomes
(TSWs). An effective rubric is presented and discussed with the student at the
beginning of the unit, referred back to throughout the unit, and used to assess at
the end. Students will collaborate with peers and the teacher to assess mastery of
the unit with final judgment by the teacher.
2. Chapter tests and activities can be used to evaluate student mastery of TSWs from the
textbook.
RUBRIC FOUND ON FOLLOWING PAGE………………………
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QSI CULTURAL STUDIES-9 E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
Student Name:________________________________________________ Date:_____________________
CULTURAL STUDIES-9 E01 RUBRIC
(Geography: Physical Characteristics)
To receive a ‘B’, the student must show ‘B’ level mastery on ALL Essential Outcomes (TSW’s).
To receive an ‘A’, the student must show ‘A’ level mastery on 4 of 5 available TSWs and ‘B’ level mastery on all
TSW’s.
‘A’ Level
The Student Will (TSW)
‘B’ Level
1. TSW apply map skills to
locate the Prime Meridian,
Tropic of Cancer, Tropic of
Capricorn, Equator, scale,
and coordinates on a variety
of maps.
I can use map and geography
skills to locate the Prime
Meridian, Tropic of Cancer,
Tropic of Capricorn,
Equator, scale, and
coordinates on different
types of maps.
2. TSW examine how
bodies of water are formed.
I can also classify bodies of
water.
I can explain how bodies of
water on Earth are formed.
3. TSW identify how
physical processes (climate,
vegetation, plate tectonics,
earthquakes, erosion, and
ocean circulation) have
created physical patterns on
Earth’s surface.
I can also compare and
contrast physical processes
and how they create
patterns on Earth’s surface.
I can identify physical
processes and explain how
they create physical patterns
on the Earth’s surface.
4. TSW analyze ways
people have modified and
adapted to the physical
environment.
I can also make predictions
for future modifications and
adaptations to the physical
environment.
I can list examples of how
people have modified and
adapted to the physical
environment.
5. TSW examine how
renewable and
nonrenewable natural
resources (i.e. fossil fuels,
fertile soil, and timber) are
used.
I can also make predictions
about the future uses of
renewable and
nonrenewable resources.
I can explain how renewable
and nonrenewable resources
are used.
6. TSW locate and
summarize current event
related to geography.
I can also make connections
to what I have learned in
this unit.
I can summarize current
events related to geography
and share my summary with
my class.
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QSI CULTURAL STUDIES-9 E01
Copyright © 1988-2015
‘P’- In Progress