WORLD GEOGRAPHY
CURRICULUM
COURSE DESCRIPTION
In this two-semester course, students use maps, globes, graphs, and information technology as they
study global patterns of physical and cultural characteristics. Students are expected to apply knowledge
of geographic concepts to research, inquiry, and participatory processes. Standards are organized
around six elements: the world in spatial terms, places and regions, physical systems, human systems,
environment and society, and the uses of geography.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
DESIRED RESULTS
Students will be able to:
 Use maps, globes, atlases, and grid-referenced technologies to acquire and process
information about people, places, and environments
 Identify the physical and human characteristics of places
 Describe the framework for thinking about Earth’s physical systems: Earth/sun relations,
climate and related ecosystems, and land forms.
 Identify and analyze the human activities that shape Earth’s surface
 Analyze ways in which humans affect and are affected by their physical environment
 Apply the geographic viewpoint to local, regional, and world policies and problems
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
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Where are the major bodies of water?
Where are the major cities of the world located?
Where are the countries of the world located?
Where are the major mountain ranges of the world located?
How have places and regions changed over time?
What is the difference between weather and climate?
What are the threats to the world environment?
INDIANA STATE STANDARDS
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Standard 1 – The World in Spatial Terms
Standard 2 — Places and Regions
Standard 3 — Physical Systems
Standard 4 — Human Systems
Standard 5 — Environment and Society
Standard 6 — The Uses of Geography
KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS
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Population
GPS
GIS
Culture
Environment
Longitude and Latitude
Ecosystem
Climate
El Nino
Atmosphere
Migration
Pollution
APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY
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Internet for Research
Safari Montage
UNITS OF INSTRUCTION (STATE STANDARDS)
1. The World (Standards 1, 3, 6)
2. The U.S. and Canada (Standards 2, 4, 5)
3. Latin America (Standards 2, 4, 5)
4. Europe (Standards 2, 4, 5)
5. Russia (Standards 2, 4, 5)
6. North Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia (Standards 2, 4, 5)
7. Africa – South of the Sahara (Standards 2, 4, 5)
8. South Asia (Standards 2, 4, 5)
9. East Asia (Standards 2, 4, 5)
10. Southeast Asia (Standards 2, 4, 5)
11. Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica (Standards 2, 4, 5)
COURSE ASSESSMENTS
STUDENT PRODUCTS FOR ASSESSMENT
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Maps
Section Review Activities
Vocabulary
Study Guides
Tests
Final Exam
WORLD GEOGRAPHY
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TIMELINE
SEMESTER ONE
Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 – The World
 Introduction to course, read chapter 1, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete
study guide, test. Standards 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7
 Read chapter 2, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10
 Read chapter 3, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10
 Read chapter 4, discuss sections 1-4, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9,
6.10, 6.11, 6.12
Weeks 6, 7, and 8 – The United States and Canada
 Read chapter 5, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
 Read chapter 6, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
 Read chapter 7, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
Weeks 9, 10, and 11 – Latin America
 Read chapter 8, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
 Read chapter 9, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
 Read chapter 10, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
Weeks 12, 13, 14 – Europe
 Read chapter 11, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8,
 Read chapter 12, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
 Read chapter 13, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
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Weeks 15, 16, and 17 – Russia
 Read chapter 14, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
 Read chapter 15, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
 Read chapter 16, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
Week 18 – Final Exam
SEMESTER TWO
Weeks 1, 2, and 3 – North Africa, Southeast Asia, Central Asia
 Read chapter 17, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
 Read chapter 18, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
 Read chapter 19, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
Weeks 4, 5, and 6 – Africa South of the Sahara
 Read chapter 20, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
 Read chapter 21, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
 Read chapter 22, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
Weeks 7, 8, and 9 – South Asia
 Read chapter 23, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
 Read chapter 24, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
 Read chapter 25, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
Weeks 10, 11, and 12 – East Asia
 Read chapter 26, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
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Read chapter 27, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
Read chapter 28, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
Weeks 13, 14, and 15 – Southeast Asia
 Read chapter 29, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
 Read chapter 30, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
 Read chapter 31, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
Weeks 16 and 17 – Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica
 Read chapter 32, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete map, complete study
guide, test. Standards 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8
 Read chapter 33, discuss sections 1-3, complete vocabulary, complete section review
activities, complete study guide, test. Standards 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9,
4.10, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.14, 4.15, 4.16, 4.17, 4.18, 4.19
 Read chapter 34, discuss sections 1-2, complete vocabulary, complete study guide, test.
Standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.10
Week 18 – Final Exam
COURSE MATERIALS: MAJOR TEXTS, PRINCIPAL MATERIALS AND FILMS
KEY TEXTS:
Semester One/Two
World Geography
Publisher: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS:
Semester One
* Parents should contact the teacher or department chair to discuss concerns with texts. If required, the teacher will
provide a substitute text of comparable length that approximates the stated academic purpose. Selected essays, short
stories, poems and articles will be used to teachers to augment major units.
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COMMERCIAL FILMS/VIDEOS:*
Teachers may select from the following:
Semester One/Two
National Geographic Series
American Legacy
OTHER FILMS/VIDEOS *
Semester One
*A parent may excuse his/her child from the viewing of a commercial film/video. The parent should contact the teacher or
Department Chair to discuss his/her concerns. The teacher will provide any excused student an alternative assignment
of comparable length that is relevant to the stated academic purpose.
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