Course Curriculum Map
Course Title:
First Quarter
Units Included
Begin Tools and Skills of Geography
Continue Human Geography
Begin Human Geography
Begin Human-Environment Interaction
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Evidence Outcomes
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Key Themes and Topics
Second Quarter
Gather data, make inferences and draw conclusions from
maps and other visual representations
Create and interpret various graphs, tables, charts, and
thematic maps
Analyze and present information using a variety of
geographic tools and geographic findings in graphs, tables,
charts and thematic maps
Proposes solutions to problems that show an awareness of
cultural norms
Explain how the uneven distribution of resources in the
world can lead to conflict, competition, or cooperation
among nations, regions, and cultural groups
Explain that world’s population is increasingly connected to
and dependent upon other people for both human and
natural resources
Explain how migration of people and movement of goods
and ideas can enrich cultures, but also create tensions
Analyze how cooperation and conflict influence the division
and control of Earth
Analyze patterns of distribution of settlements and the
processes of the diffusion of human activities
Make predictions and draw conclusions about the global
impact of cultural diffusion
Demonstrates the importance of understanding culture to
solve problems and how deep culture and values effect
decision making
Tools of Geography
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21st century geographic tools
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Climographs
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Locate physical and human features and evaluate their
implications for society
Evaluates how location, carrying capacity, physiological
density, rural to urban migration, urban planning and different
types of economic activity influence urban growth
Apply geography skills to help investigate issues and justify
possible solutions involving people, places and environments.
Topics to include but not limited how people prepare for and
respond to natural hazards
Identify, evaluate, and communicate strategies to respond to
constraints placed on human systems by the physical
environment
Explain how altering the environment has brought prosperity
to some places and created environmental dilemmas for others
Research and interpret multiple viewpoints on issues that
shaped the current policies and programs for resources use
Explain how information and changing perceptions and values
of places and environment influence personal actions
Define sustainability and explain how an individual’s actions
may influence sustainability
Applies knowledge of human systems to the local environment
and community (e.g., impact of mining, urbanization, the local
environment and community, recreational use, zoning issues)
Human Geography
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Changes in urban growth and population
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Geographic interconnectedness, which can include spread of
disease, global impact of modern technology, cultural
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Graphing and mapping geographic information
Satellite imagery and environmental changes
Uses for GIS
Human-Environment Interaction
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Location of resources, boundaries and population as a source
of conflict
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Significance of political boundaries
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Cultural conflicts
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Global population issues
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Supranationalism (eg. EU, Arab League, OPEC)
Tools of Geography
map projections (Mercator, Winkel-Tripel, Robinson, Goode’s)
mental map
political, physical, thematic map
absolute location
relative location
GPS
GIS
Google Earth
Climograph
Satellite imagery
Aral Sea
Glacier National Park
Key Terms and
Vocabulary
Human Geography
Human systems
European Union
Cultural values, norms, artifacts and institutions
Deep culture
Surface culture
Demographic Transition Model
demographics
Birth rate
Death rate
Population pyramid
Overpopulation
Population
Diffusion
Push/Pull Factors
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diffusion)
Impact of technology on cultural diffusion
Economic development (developed vs. developing countries)
Urban population and overcrowding
Human-Environment Interaction
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Local to global actions, such as the impact of recycling and
consumption of resources
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Human modification of and adaptation to the environment
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Technological impact on the environment (both positive and
negative)
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Natural hazards
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Resources and sustainability
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Renewable resources and alternative energies
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Cultural adaptations to the environment
Human Geography
Urbanization
Rural to urban migration
Carrying capacity
Overurbanization
Infrastructure
GDP
Standard of living
MDC (More developed country)
LDC (less developed country)
Levels of Economic Activity
Human-Environment Interaction
Desertification
Sahel
Deforestation
Climate regions (tropical rainforest, steppe, desert, temperate, tundra, ice
cap)
Amazon Rainforest
Borneo
Sustainability
Alternative Energies (wind, solar, geothermal)
Opportunity cost
Cost-benefit analysis
Arable lands
Efficiency
Hurricane tracking systems
Tools of Geography
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How have the tools of geography changed, and how do they
inform us with more complexity?
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What is the significance of spatial orientation, place and
location?
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How can maps be used for political purposes?
Inquiry Questions
Assessments
Human Geography
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How can current world events change maps?
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How do the division and control of the physical, social,
political, and cultural spaces on Earth cause cooperation and
conflict?
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What would the world map look like if physical geography
was the defining variable for country boundaries?
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Why do countries and cultures struggle to maintain spatial
cohesiveness and national identity?
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What predictions can be made about human migration
patterns?
Tools of Geography
Teacher designed Unit 1 Test
Essay: How have the tools of geography changed, and how do they
inform us with more complexity?
Mental map of the school
Create your own climograph using raw data
Human constructed GIS map
Human Geography
Current Event (use event to answer geographic questions)
Political Boundary Simulation
European Union Simulation
Population Pyramid Analysis
Key Skills
(including literacy,
technology, and Social
Studies skills)
Tools of Geography
Analyze different kinds of maps and map projections
Spatial reasoning
Understanding of basic algorithms
Computational thinking using GIS
Mapping
Human Geography
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How does increasing globalization influence the interaction of
people on Earth?
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How do cooperation and conflict influence the division and
control of the social, economic and political spaces on Earth?
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How do technologies result in social change, some of which is
unanticipated?
Human-Environment Interaction
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What will happen if farm land degrades around the world?
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How might the physical geography of Earth change in the
future?
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What might happen if we thought locally and acted globally?
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What are the maximum limits of human activity the
environment can withstand without deterioration?
Human Geography
Online infrastructure building game
Economic Analysis of Southeast Asia
Essay: How do human systems interact to create diverse patterns of
human geography?
Teacher designed Unit 3 Test
Human-Environment Interaction
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Alternative Energies
Non-Profit poster for Global Environmental Issue
Essay: How do humans interact with the environment?
Teacher designed Unit 4 Test
Human Geography
Analyze data and transfer it to narrative form
Support arguments using data
Human-Environment Interaction
Cost-benefit analysis
Problem solving global issues
Human Geography
Analyze news articles
Extract geographic themes
Use international/cultural perspective in decision-making