Grade 7 Geography: Physical Patterns in a Changing World

Learning Goals

  1. Understanding Geographic Context: Patterns in a Physical Environment
  2. Landforms (A3.1 – 3.3): Identify the location and describe the physical characteristics of various landforms (e.g. mountains, plateaus, plains, valleys) and some key natural processes and human activities that create and change landforms (e.g. tectonic forces, weathering and erosion, agriculture, mining, land reclamation)
  3. Extract information from and analyze topographical maps.
  4. Water bodies (A3.4 – 3.5): Describe patterns and physical characteristics of some major water bodies and systems around the world (river systems, drainage basins, lakes, oceans) and some key natural processes and human activities that change water bodies and systems (e.g. changes in rainfall, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, constructing dams, climate change, erosion, etc.)
  5. Climate (A3.6 – 3.8): Describe patterns and characteristics of major climate regions around the world (tropical, dry, temperate, continental, and polar climate regions) some key natural processes and other factors that create and change climate patterns (ocean currents, wind systems, latitude, elevation, bodies of water, deforestation, human activites)
  6. Analyze and construct climate graphs
  7. Vegetation (A3.9 – 3.10): Describe patterns and characteristics of major natural vegetation regions around the world describe some key natural processes and human activities that create and change vegetation patterns (erosion, deforestation, chemical fertilizers, monoculture, invasive species, domestic animals grazing, etc)
  8. Interactions (A3.11): Describe how different aspects of the physical environment interact with each other in two or more regions of the world.
  1. Application: Interrelationships between People and the Physical Environment
  2. How people respond and adapt to physical environment (A1.1): Describe various ways in which people have responded to challenges and opportunities presented by the physical environment and analyze short and long term effects of some of these responses (e.g. building dams, levees, dikes, water pollution, loss of animal habitat, deforestation, development of national parks)
  3. Different points of view (A1.2): Compare and contrast the perspectives of some different groups on the challenges and opportunities presented by the natural environment (e.g. Aboriginal peoples living on the land, organic vs. large-scale farmers, corporations, environmental organizations, land developers)
  4. Assessing physical environments (A1.3): Assess the physical environment in various locations around the world to determine which environment or environments have the greatest impact on people.
  5. How people have adapted to the similar environments differently (A1.4): Assess ways in which different peoples living in similar physical environments have responded to challenges and opportunities presented by these environments, and asses the sustainability of these responses (e.g. land reclamation and flood control in low-lying areas, nomadic lifestyles vs. extensive irrigation, ecotourism, clear-cutting rainforests)
  1. Inquiry: Investigating Physical Features an Processes:
  2. (A2.1) Formulate questions to guide investigations into the impact of natural events and/or human activities that change the physical environment from a geographic perspective (e.g. How do natural/man-made events (earthquakes, droughts, floods, hurricanes, industrial pollution, agricultural processes, land-reclamation, etc.) impact social, political, economic, and environmental aspects of the region?)
  3. (A2.2) Gather and organize data and information about the above, ensuring sources reflect more than one perspective.
  4. (A2.3) Analyse and construct maps as part of investigating the impact of natural events and/or human activities that change the physical environment with a focus on spatial boundaries )
  5. (A2.4 – A2.5) Interpret and analyse data and information relevant to investigation, evaluate evidence and draw conclusions about the impact of natural events and/or human activities that change the physical environment.
  6. (A2.6)Communicate the results of their inquiries, using appropriate vocabulary (climate, land use, landforms, vegetation, drought, flood, climate change, agriculture, ecotourism, land reclamation, etc.)

Assessment:

  1. Observations (class discussions, group work, knowledge when questions asked, etc.)
  2. Topography diagram
  3. Climate graph & explanation
  4. Quiz 1
  5. Quiz 2
  6. Final Test
  7. Research Report (cross-curricular with Language – Writing)