Unit 1: World Geography
Introduction: This unit will give students an introduction to World Geography by using the 5 Strands of Social Studies and map skills.
Grade Level: / Suggested Unit Pacing (# of days)Conceptual Overview (information for parents) / This will be a 1-2 week unit in which students will learn concepts of World Geography and be able to apply the 5 Strands of Social Studies throughout various places in the World.
Week 1 = Pre-assessment, Introduction of Strands, Continents and Oceans, Landforms, barriers to movement
Week 2 = Assessment, Research Project/Skit, Constructed Response
Essential Understandings (information for students) / By the end of this unit, students will be able to:
· Explain how environmental conditions and human response to those conditions influence modern societies and regions (e.g. natural barriers, scarcity of resources and factors that influence settlement).
· Explain how demographic trends (e.g. population growth and decline, push/pull factors and urbanization) lead to conflict, negotiation, and compromise in modern societies and regions.
· Explain how natural disasters (e.g. flooding, earthquakes, monsoons and tsunamis), preservation efforts and human modification of the environment (e.g. recycling, planting trees, deforestation, pollution, irrigation systems and climate change) affect modern societies and regions.
· Construct maps, charts, and graphs to explain data about geographic phenomena (e.g. migration patterns and population and resource distribution patterns).
· Use maps, charts, graphs, geographic data and available technology tools (i.e. GPS and GIS software) to interpret and draw conclusions about social, economic, and environmental issues in modern societies and regions
Essential Standards by Strand / History
Geography and & Environmental Literacy / 7G.1.1, 7G.1.2 , 7G.1.3 7G.2.1, 7G.2.2
Civics and Government
Economics and PFL
Culture
Learning Targets / · By the end of the Unit, SWBAT identify major landforms of the world including the continents (and oceans)
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT identify the 5 strands of social studies.
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT explain purpose of various parts of a map and will demonstrate how to use maps to gain information that is presented visually.
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT reconstruct the continents and oceans on a map.
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT explain the impact various features such as landforms and latitude have on human population patterns
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT compare different ways to convey information on maps or in text form.
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT explain the role that geographic features contribute to human development.
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT create a visual representation of barriers to human migration.
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT compare the size and current population of the continents.
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT analyze purpose of various maps and create one type to convey information.
· By the end of the Unit, SWBAT apply the 5 Strands of Social Studies to their own lives through a graphic display.
Essential Terminology / Cardinal and Intermediate directions, Compass rose, Location, Map element, Physical characteristic/feature, Physical map, Political map, Migration, Push and Pull Factors, Scale, Territory, Thematic map, History, Geography/Environmental Literacy, Economics, Culture, Civics and Government, Social Studies, Equator, Prime Meridian, Hemisphere, Climate, Barrier, Latitude & Longitude
Literacy Integration / Literacy Standards / Reading:
RH.6-8.2. Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.
RH.6-8.7. Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.
RH.6-8.10. Read and comprehend complex literary and informational texts independently and proficiently
Writing:
WH.6-8.2. Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content
WH.6-8.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience
WH.6-8.5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.
WH.6-8.9. Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Literature Connections / Physical Geography by Tom McKnight
The Mapmakers By John Wilford
World Almanac And Book Of Facts
A Dictionary Of Geography By Susan Mayhew
The Handy Geography Answer Book
Technology Integration / Technology Standards / NCES.07.IT.SI.1.2, NCES.07.IT.TT.1.1, NCES.07.IT.SE.1.1, NCES.07.IT.SE.1.2., NCES.07.IT.TT.1.3
Resources / · http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/contnent.htm
· http://www.earthbrowser.com – Download program to Desktop and use on SmartBoard for student manipulation
· http://www.googleearth.com
· http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/World_Continents.htm - Online World Geography Games
· http://www.worldatlas.com
· http://www.geosense.net/ - Online Geography Games students can play in pairs
· http://www.nationalgeographic.com
· http://www.mrdonn.org/geography.html
· Oceans WebQuest http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=131158
· SmartBoard Exchange File with Notes and Games:
http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=a37c7298- 5796-4d84-8614-54057cd560ec
· Five Strands of Social Studies WebQuest: http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=132885
· https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html CIA World Factbook
· http://www.ncwiseowl.org/zones/middle/index.htm - NC Wise Owl Resource
Cross Curricular Integration
Assessment / Pre-/Post-assessment / · General Knowledge Pre-assessment
· Test to identify the continents and oceans
· Personal Communication
· Selected Responses
· Peer to Peer collaboration
· Constructed / Extended Writing Assignments
· Constructed Response Prompts
· Self Assessment
· Homework
· Benchmark
On-going/
Formative Assessment / · Create informational poster or presentation on the 5 strands of Social Studies, including real world examples
· Creating an info-graphic showing barriers to human migration
· Rank the continents by area and population, make written observations about the data.
· Create a cartogram or some other appropriate map to convey information.
Summative / Continent Drop activity (Walkabout a continent identifying climates, landforms, and other barriers to travel. Create a diary with multiple entries made along the journey).
Re-teaching / All About World Geography Game (www.shepherdsoftware.com)
www.brainpop.com (Longitude and Latitude Quiz)
Enrichment / Human-Environment Interaction: House Design Based 5 Themes of Geography and Geographical Description
Geography A-Z Online: (www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/archives/geography_az.shtml)