Unit

Learning Outcome

Critical Content

Guiding Questions

EALRs

Unit #1

Physical Geography

(approximately
3 weeks)

Identify and interpret the distinctive features in the physical geography of the world.

Use and construct maps, charts and other resources to gather and interpret geographic information.

Analyze, describe and evaluate how a particular region is affected by interrelated factors including climate and topography.

Five themes of geography:

Location:

relative and absolute location of major landforms, bodies of water, countries, boundaries and major cities.

Human-Environment Interaction:

relationships between people and their environment.

Place:

human and physical characteristics of a place.

Movement:

connection between people, goods, ideas and places .

Region:

formal region - divisions of the world based on common physical and human characteristics.

functional region - relationship between different places that are linked together and function as a unit.

How are cultures shaped by the land and the climate and how are the land and the climate shaped by human culture.

Geography 1

Civics 1

Geography 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Unit #2

Economics

(approximately
3 weeks)

Describe the characteristics of past and present economic systems.

Explain the distribution of goods and services around the world and how this distribution can have an affect on a region or country.

Explain how people's choices affect the resources on a global scale.

Economic systems

• traditional
• command
• market
• mixed

Distribution of goods and services around the world

• demand
• scarcity
• supply
• consumption
• distribution
• opportunity cost

Geography 1

Economics 1

Economics 1.1, 2.2, 3.1

Geography 2.2

Unit #3

Cultural/Political Geography

(approximately
10-12 weeks)

Investigate and give potential solutions to contemporary world issues using the five themes of geography through:

Analyzing historical events and explaining how cultural backgrounds and physical environments influence individual choices and have an impact on contemporary world issues.

Explaining the role of governments in past and present economic systems and how governments impact the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a country or region.

Analyzing how different types of technology have affected economic systems, employment levels and standards of living on a regional or global scale.

Analyzing how physical geography shapes the culture and economy of a country or region.

Analyzing how the availability and use of resources affect choices a country or region makes and how these choices affect resources and relationships between countries or regions on a global scale.

Role of governments

•  taxation

•  policy setting

•  property rights

•  mediums of exchange

Role of technology

International trade

•  treaties

•  role of government

•  global exchange

•  embargos

•  natural resources

•  population growth

Geography 1

Civics 1 and 2

History 1 and 2

Economics 1

Geography 1.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3

Economics 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 2.4

Civics 1.3, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2

History 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2