Mr. Karl Snell, M.S.
Mon-Fri 7:25-8:10; 11:05-11:50 am
Office hours: by appointment only.
Learning Outcomes:
The goal of world geography familiarizes students with the world using the five geographic themes. Students will develop skills and knowledge regarding location, place, human/environmental interaction, movement and regions. The class aims to develop critical thinking and writing skills. Instruction includes the interaction and principles from history, economics, geography, civics, and the humanities.
Course Content:
Topics covered includes Geography Basics, SW Asia, South Asia, East Asia, SE Asia, Oceania, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Russia & the Republics, USA & Canada.
Instructional Method:
Instructional approaches used include lectures, exercises, games, student presentations & research papers etc.
Course Materials:
Arreola Daniel, D., Deal, Marci Smith, Petersen, James F., Sanders, Rickie (2007). World Geography. Houghton Mifflin: Evanston, IL.
Assignments & Evaluation:
Homework/Activity/Project/Presentations 40%, Quizzes/Tests 20%, Exam/Research paper 40%
A 95-100%, A- 90-94%, B+ 87-89%, B 83-86%, B- 80-82, C+ 75-79%, C 70-74%, C- 65-69%, D+ 60-64%, D 55-59%, D- 50-54%, F 0-49%
Some assignments and activities will use rubrics for altered grading such as but not limited to written assignments and student presentations.
Late work will be marked as a zero unless arranged with the instructor due to illness.
All students are responsible for the highest level of honesty. Cheating & plagiarism on any work will result in a zero for that assignment. Students are required to attend classes on time. All other means of misbehavior are addressed in the student handbook and will be dealt with by the administration as deemed necessary.
Standards
ESLO
1.1 Effectively uses a variety of complex strategies.
1.2 Effectively translates issues & situations into manageable tasks that have a clear purpose.
2.2 Uses resources & technology
2.3 Creates quality products
3.3 Demonstrates open-mindedness
3.4 Understands cultural differences
National Geography Standards
Spatial Terms
1.1 Knows how to use graphic representations to depict geographic problems.
1.2 Uses technologies to represent & interpret Earth’s physical & human systems.
2.1 Uses mental maps of physical & human features of the world to answer complex questions.
2.2 Understands how mental maps reflect the human perceptions of places.
3.1 Uses generalizations that describe & explain spatial interaction.
3.3 Understands spatial behavior of people.
Places & Regions
4.1 Knows the meaning & significance of place.
4.2 Understands changing physical & human characteristics of places.
4.3 Understands relationships between humans & the physical environment lead to forming places & a sense of personal & community identity.
5.1 Knows how multiple criteria can be used to define a region.
5.3 Knows ways in which physical & human regional systems are interconnected.
6.1 Knows why places & regions serve as symbols for individuals & society.
6.2 Knows why different groups of people within a society view places & regions differently.
6.3 Knows how changing perceptions of places & regions reflect culture change.
Physical Systems
8.2 Knows biodiversity & productivity of ecosystems.
Human Systems
9.2 Knows the impact of human migration on physical & human systems.
10.1 Knows the impact of culture on ways of life in different regions.
10.2 Knows how cultures shape the character of a region.
10.3 Knows spatial characteristics of the processes of cultural convergence & divergence.
12.1 Knows the functions, sizes & spatial arrangements of urban areas.
13.3 Knows how differing points of view & self-interests play a role in conflict over territory & resources.
Environment & Society
14.2 Knows the significance of the global impacts of human modification of the physical environment.
14.3 Knows how to apply appropriate models & information to understand environmental problems.
Uses of Geography
18.3 Understands how to use geographic knowledge, skills & perspectives to analyze problems & make decisions.
NG: Geographic Skills Index (2012) 12th Grade
5.2.A Explains & evaluates data & processes used to inform answers to questions, as exemplified by explaining the limits of the generalizations that may be made as a result of the data used in a geographic inquiry.
CA: Grades 9-10 Writing/HST
6.6 Uses technology, including the internet, to produce, publish & update individual or shared writing products, taking advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information & to display information flexibly & dynamically.