: Advance Placement Human Geography involves the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students will employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to analyze human social organization and its environmental consequences. They will also learn and apply the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practices.
:
- Use and think about maps and spatial data sets.
- Understand and interpret the implications of associations among phenomena in places.
- Recognize and interpret the relationships among patterns and processes.
- Define regions and evaluate the regionalization process.
- Characterize and analyze changing interconnections among places.
:
- Geography: Its Nature and Perspectives
- Population Patterns and Processes
- Global Linguistic Mosaic (Language)
- Geography of Religion
- Political Organization of Space
- Agricultural and rural Land Sue
- Industrialization and Economic Development
- Cities and Urban Land use.
:
- Case Studies
- Assignments: Reading-Writing-Research-Skill Application
- Lecture/Discussion
- Maps and Data
- Pairs and Group Work
- Quizzes and Tests
- Guest Speakers
- Mobile Computer lab
: All scoring and grading will follow a total point system. Rubrics will be used for all writing assignments. The majority of all other assignments will be based on objective scoring. The course will use the standard Sioux Falls School District grading scale. Students and parents are encouraged to follow course progress using the Parentview computer system available on the internet.
Sioux Falls School District grading scale :
93-100 = A
85-92 = B
76-84 = C
65-83 = D
74 -00 = F

:
- Base Text:
Human Geography – People, Place and Culture
DeBlij and Murphy (8 th ed. 2007)
- Supplemental:
Human Geography – Student Companion (CD-ROM )
Gabrys-Alexson (7 th ed. 2003)
Human Geography in Action - (CD-ROM)
Kuby – Harner – Gober (3 rd ed. 2002 )
Rand McNally – Goodes World Atlas
Erpenshade (20 th ed. 2000)
Advance Placement Human Geography joined the ranks of other AP courses just five years ago. This will be the fourth time this course has been taught in Sioux Falls. Other school districts across the nation have made this a yearlong study, but we continue to teach it in one semester . The majority of the classroom “delivery” will be in the lecture/discussion mode. We will be moving rapidly, and students will have a lot of personal responsibility for their education. We will try to simulate many of the same methodologies these young people will experience in their future education. Reading, writing and study will be assumed as major components in this course.
: All chapter and unit tests are text based, and will include at least one, and sometimes two essay
(free response) type questions. Testing may be both objective and subjective. Scores are cumulative.
:
Each student will be required to write a reaction paper of 3-5 pages on a teacher selected article or professional essay. This year’s choice will be Ralph Linton’s
100% American
This course presents a challenge to both the student, and the instructor. We enter into this realm together, and I hope we gain something special from it. Many of you have worked with me before, and I trust we will continue to learn from each other as we test these waters. As usual…I want you to not only secure more content knowledge…but, also develop and practice skills that will serve you well in future endeavors. Now is the time to apply your spatial reasoning strengths…and work those higher level thinking skills. Become the cultural determinist we have tried to mold you into. Remember…its not next year…it’s this fall. College, is much close than you think.
: I am usually at school by 7:00 am, and can be found in either A-118 or the Social
Studies TPC. After school contact can be arranged by agreement with the instructor. Feel free to contact me with questions or concerns.
John Keill - Washington High School - 367-7970
- Home - 336-1787
- E-mail -

:
Chapter 1 Geography and Human Geography
Vocab Focus.
-Human Geography
-Spatial Perspective
-Location-Place-Interaction-Movement-Region (Five Themes)
-Landscape (cultural)
-GIS – Remote Sensing
-Diffusion
-Regions / functional-perceptual-hierarchy
Concept Focus
-Alfred Wegener - Continental Drift
-“A Sense of Scale” - local-regional-global
Map Skills
-Goodes Atlas exercises – projections-scales-thematic-
-Satellite Imaging
Activity: Mobile Computer Lab
*Guest Speaker: Mr. Wayne Rohde (ret.) Eros Data Center
Theme: “ Remote Sensing and Satellite Imaging”
Chapter 2 Cultures, Environments and Regions
Vocab focus
-Culture (definitions)
-Cultural Landscape
-Culture Hearths
-Cultural Diffusion
-Cultural Perception
-Cultural Environments
Concept Focus
-Spread of culture from early hearth and riverine settlements
-Intro - Cultural vs. Environmental Determinism.
Chapter 3 The Earth as Humanity’s Home
Vocab Focus
-Agricultural Revolution
-Plant and Animal Domestication
-Fertile Crescent
-Social Stratification
Concept Focus
:Land and Climate

Chapter 4 Fundamentals of Population: Location, Distribution and Density
Vocab Focus
-Population Geography (demography)
-Distribution and Density
-Arithmetic and Physiologic Density
-Megalopolis
-Major Population Concentrations
Concept Focus
-Population Data
-Review of data – Population Reference Bureau - U.S. Census Bureau
Chapter 5 Processes of Cycles of Change
Vocab Focus
-Linear and Exponential Growth
-Doubling Time
-Population Pyramids
-Natural Increase – CBR/CDR/TFR
-Infant Mortality
-Demographic Transition (stages)
Concept Focus
-Study of Graphs and Charts:
-Population Growth
-Demographic Transition
-Thomas Malthus
Quick Reaction Paper: Page 71 “An Aging Population”
Chapter 6 Where and Why People Move
Vocab Focus
-Absolute and Relative Distance
-Migration (internal and external)
-Push-Pull factors
-Intervening Opportunity
-Voluntary/Forced Migration
-Refugees/Dislocation
Concept Focus
-Factors of Migration - Push-Pull example from ELL student.
Chapter 7 Policy Responses to Demographic Changes
Vocab Focus
-United Nations
-Expansive/Eugenic/Restrictive Policies
-One-Child Policy
Concept Focus
-Case Studies
Japan-India-China
Activity: Kuby: The Hidden Momentum of Population Growth
Video: “The Population Bomb” CNN – News.
* Guest Speaker: Dr. Charles F. (Fritz) Griztner SDSU Geography Department
Theme: “Population, Migration and Change”

Chapter 8
Vocab Focus
-Dialects
Geography of Language
-Language (definition)
-Language Families
-Indo-European Language
Concept Focus
-World Languages - Europe/India/China
Chapter 9
Vocab Focus
-Language Divergence/Convergence
-Diffusion
-Superfamily
Concept Focus
Diffusion of Language
-Conquest./Agricultural Theories
-Greenberg Hypothesis
Chapter 10
Vocab focus
Modern Language Mosaics
-Language and Culture
-Mono/Multi Lingual States
-Toponymy
Concept Focus
-Lingua Franca
Quick Reaction Paper: Page 140
Activity:
Video:
World Language Map - Analyze
“Do You Speak American”?
PBS Robert McNeil
Sense of Scale: Page 145
“English As A Global Language”.
“Linguistic Transition Zone”.
Chapter 11
Vocab Focus
Religious Origins of Distribution
-Religion (definition)
-Ethnic Religions
-Universalizing Religions
-Major Religions – Chris/Hindu/Islam/Budda/Judaism
Concept Focus
-Universalizing Religions
-Minority Religions

Chapter 12
Vocab Focus
Religions: Character, Diffusion, and Landscape
-Hinduism – Caste/Reincarnation
-Buddhism
-Taoism/Confucianism
-Judaism
-Christianity
-Islam (Sunni/Shiite)
Concept Focus
-Diffusion/Landscape
Chapter13
Vocab Focus
Religion, Culture and Conflict
-Interfaith Boundaries
-Exclave/Enclave
-Intrafaith Boundaries
-Religious Fundamentalism
-Jihad
Concept Focus
-Ethnic Cleansing.
Quick Reaction Paper: Page 194 “The Changing Place of Religion”.
Sense of Scale: Page 192 “Analyze the Distribution of Religious Diversity”.
Chapter 14
Vocab Focus
-Nation/State
Political Culture and the Evolving State
-Political Culture (definition)
-Human Territoriality
-Renaissance
-Sovereignty
-Exclave/Enclave
-Theocracy
Concept Focus
-The European Model
-Shapes
-Boundaries
Chapter 15
Vocab Focus
-Colonialism
-Geopolitics
-Capital Cities
-Primate Cities-Forward Capitals
Concept Focus
State Organization and National Power
-Heartland/Rimland theory

Chapter 16
Vocab Focus
-Supranationlism
-Law of the Sea
Concept Focus
-United Nations
Multinationalism on the Map
-The Truman Proclamation
-European Union (EU)
Chapter 17
Vocab Focus
-Globalization
The Changing Global Political Landscape
-New World Order
-Ethnonationalism
-Religious Fundamentalism
Concept Focus
-Devolition
Quick Reaction Paper: Page 265
“Geopolitics in the Twenty-First Century”.
Activity: Kuby:
Sense of Scale: Page 246
Do Orange and Green Clash?
“Analyze the Euro Regions along Poland’s
Chapter 18
Vocab Focus
Traditional Livelihoods and Rural People
-Economic Activities
-Agriculture (definition)
-Hunter/Gatherer
-1 st Agricultural Revolution
-Plant/Animal Domestication
-Subsistence Farming
-Shifting Cultivation (slash and burn)
-2 nd . Agricultural Revolution
-3 rd Agricultural Revolution
Concept Focus
-Classify Activities
-Von Thunen Model
Chapter 19
Vocab Focus
Landscape of Rural Settlement
-Dispersed/Nucleated Settlement
-Diffusion (house types)
-Village/Hamlets
-Village forms
Concept Focus
-Residential Traditions
-Materials
Boundaries”.

Chapter 20
Vocab Focus
Commercialization and Transformation - Rural Sector
-Commercial Agriculture
-Plantation Agriculture
-Livestock/Fruit/Grain
-Illegal Drugs
Concept Focus
-Green Revolution
Quick Reaction Paper: Page306
Activity:
Chapter 21
Vocab Focus
Kuby:
“Organic Agriculture”.
The Globalization of Agriculture
Sense of Scale: Page 308
“The Changing of American Agricultural Practices”.
Urbanization
Chapter 23
-Egalitarian Societies
-Urban Elite
-Theocratic Centers
-Diffusion
-Transport Network
-Primate Cities
-Mercantile/Manufacturing Cities
-Modern City
Concept Focus
-Earliest Civilizations
-The Miracle of China
Chapter 22
Vocab Focus
-Hinterland
Location, Pattern, and Structure of Cities
-Urban Geography
-Megalopolis
-Megacity
-Site
-Central Business District (CBD)
-Central City/Suburb
-Gated Communities
Concept Focus
-Urban Realms Model
-Central Place Theory (Christaller)
-Sioux Falls Growth
*Guest Speaker: Representative from Sioux Falls City Planning
Topic:
Global Urbanization
Sioux Falls Growth-Gentrification
(ArcView – GIS)

Vocab Focus
-Urbanization
-Megacities
-Agglomeration
-Modern Cities
-S.E. Asia City
-African City
Concept Focus
-Megacities of the Future
-Latin American City
Quick Reaction Paper: Page 350 “Megacities of the Future”.
Chapter 24
Vocab Focus
Industrial Activity
-Industrial Revolution
-Secondary Industries
-Variable costs/Friction of Distance
-Raw Materials/Labor/Transportation
-Infrastructure/Energy
Concept Focus
-Weber’s Model
-China’s Surge
Sense of Scale: Page 375 “Locational Interdependence”.
Chapter 25
Vocab Focus
-Primary Industrial Regions
-Break-of-Bulk
Resources and Regions: Global Distribution of Industry
-American Manufacturing Belt
-Russia’s Manufacturing Regions
-East Asia Manufacturing Regions
-Special Economic Zones
-NAFTA
Concept Focus
-Future of Oil
-The Four Tigers
Quick Reaction Paper: Page 383 “The Future of Oil”.
Chapter 27
Chapter 26
Vocab Focus
Concepts of Development
-Gross National Product
-Developed/Underdeveloped Countries
-Dependency Theory
Concept Focus
-World Systems Theory
-Modernization Model (Rostow)
Deindustrialization – Rise of the Service Sector

Vocab Focus
-Local Interdependence
-Economic Disparities
-World-National-Regional-Local Comparisons
Concept Focus
-World Effect on Local Needs
Sense of Scale: Page 415
Activity:
Video:
“Nike and Economic Globalization”.
Kuby: Rags and Riches: Dimensions of Development
“Is Wal-Mart Good for the U.S.” PBS Frontline
* The use of guest speakers are, of course, subject to change and availability due to scheduling.
Review will be held on two consecutive Saturdays in April before the AP Human Geography test is given.