World Cultures

COURSE OVERVIEW

This course focuses on the five themes of geography and the six essential elements of geography.  The course examines the world’s people, places, and landscapes by using geographic tools to help to view the world in new ways.  The course will focus on cultures throughout the world and how each must depend on natural resources and water.  In addition, how countries and regions are globally connected for trade purposes, but this can lead to conflict.  The course will also examine how belief systems, disease, drought, famine, social and political issues are problems for some regions of the world.  The course will identify different governments and how the economies of each are affected.

• How to use maps and other geographic tools.
• How to use mental maps to organize information.
• How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments.
• The physical and human characteristics of places.
• How people create regions to interpret earth.
• How culture and experience influence people’s perceptions of places and regions.
• The physical processes that shape the earth’s surface.
• The distribution of ecosystems on earth.
• The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations.
• The complexity of earth’s cultural mosaics.
• The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on earth.
• The patterns of human settlement.
• The forces of cooperation and conflict.
• How human actions modify the physical environment.
• How physical systems affect human systems.
• The distribution and meaning of resources.
• How to apply geography to interpret the past.
• How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.
• Identify the different geographic regions of the world’s people and places.
• Explain why geography affects the culture of any region in the world.
• Categorize and list examples of human geography and physical geography.
• Evaluate different regions of the world by using the five themes and six essential elements of geography.

• Examine the many cultures found throughout the world and understand that cultures differ from place to place and change over time.

• Identify and describe the different governments found throughout the world and explain how economies are affected by the government, physical features, and natural resources.

• Examine how people around the world are linked by culture and trade in a global community.
• Examine the diverse physical features, resources, and cultures found in countries throughout the world.

• Compare and contrast different countries by using diagrams and charts to show similarities and differences by listing facts and characteristics.

• Conclude how the culture and history of the countries of North and South America reflect native and European influences.

• Identify the great civilizations, colonialism, and struggles for independence of different countries.

• Understand that climate and location influences culture of different regions throughout the world.

• Determine how waterways led to trade to connect different regions around the world.
• Justify how resources have affected the economies of individual countries throughout the world.

• Evaluate how ancient traditions, foreign rule, and ethnic diversity have affected regions and how countries face many issues and challenges in a global economy.

• Explain how European countries have influenced parts of the world through colonization and imperialism.

• Understand how countries with abundant wildlife and resources, but drought and ethnic conflict are problems.

• Identify and classify countries that face economic and political challenges.
• Justify why oil, water, disease, war, and environmental problems are major challenges for countries in different regions of the world.

• Compare and contrast rural and urban areas throughout the world.
• Analyze how the Indian Subcontinent consists of ancient traditions blended with British colonial influences.

• Examine how the early history of Japan and Korea was influenced by China.
• Identifying common elements found in games across cultures and throughout the centuries, specifically how games reflect the social, religious, political, and economic elements of a culture.

• Distinguishing similarities and differences among ancient cultures.
• Constructing game boards played in ancient cultures.
• Applying knowledge of game rules to ancient and modern games during game play.
• Comparing and contrasting the design of games played throughout the ages.

UNITED STATES HISTORY

8.1.8.A: Compare and contrast events over time and how continuity and change over time influenced those events.

8.1.8.B: Compare and contrast a historical event, using multiple points of view from primary and secondary sources.

8.1.8.C: Produce an organized product on an assigned historical topic that presents and reflects on a thesis statement and appropriate primary and secondary sources. 

8.3.8.A: Examine the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development of the United States.

8.3.8.B: Evaluate the importance of historical documents, artifacts and places critical to United States history.

8.3.8.C: Summarize how continuity and change have impacted U.S. history: Belief systems and religions; Commerce and industry; Technology; Politics and government; Physical and human geography; and Social organizations.

8.3.8.D: Examine how conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations have impacted the growth and development of the U.S: Ethnicity and race; Working conditions; Immigration; Military conflict; and Economic stability.

WORLD HISTORY

8.4.8.A: Compare the role groups and individuals played in the social, political, cultural, and economic development throughout world history.

8.4.8.B: Illustrate how historical documents, artifacts, and sites are critical to world history.

8.4.8.C: Illustrate how continuity and change have impacted world history: Belief systems and religions; Commerce and industry; Technology; Politics and government; Physical and human geography; and Social organizations.

8.4.8.D: Compare conflict and cooperation among groups and organizations which have impacted the history and development of the world.

GEOGRAPHY

7.1.8.A: Explain and illustrate how geographic tools are used to organize and interpret information about people, places, and environments.

7.1.8.B: Explain and locate places and regions as defined by physical and human features.

7.2.8.A: Explain the characteristics of places and regions.

7.2.8.B: Explain the physical processes that shape patterns on Earth’s surface.

7.3.8.A: Explain the human characteristics of places and regions using the following criteria: Population, Culture, Settlement, Economic activities, and Political activities.

7.4.8.A: Illustrate the effects of the physical systems on people within regions.

7.4.8.B: Interpret the effects of people on the physical systems within regions.

READING INFORMATIONAL TEXT

CC.8.5.6-8.A: Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.

CC.8.5.6-8.B: Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions.

CC.8.5.6-8.C: Identify key steps in a text’s description of a process related to history/social studies (e.g., how a bill becomes law, how interest rates are raised or lowered).

CC.8.5.6-8.D: Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including vocabulary specific to domains related to history/social studies.

CC.8.5.6-8.E: Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, causally).

CC.8.5.6-8.F: Identify aspects of a text that reveal an author’s point of view or purpose (e.g., loaded language, inclusion or avoidance of particular facts).

CC.8.5.6-8.G: Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.

CC.8.5.6-8.H: Distinguish among fact, opinion, and reasoned judgment in a text.

CC.8.5.6-8.I: Analyze the relationship between a primary and secondary source on the same topic.

CC.8.5.6-8.J: By the end of grade 8, read and comprehend history/social studies texts in the grades 6–8 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

WRITING

CC.8.6.6-8.A: Write arguments focused on discipline-specific content.

• Introduce claim(s) about a topic or issue, acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
• Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant, accurate data and evidence that demonstrate an understanding of the topic or text, using credible sources.
• Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), counterclaims, reasons, and evidence.
• Establish and maintain a formal style.
• Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

CC.8.6.6-8.B: Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.

• Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories as appropriate to achieving purpose; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
• Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.
• Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.
• Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
• Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone.
• Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.

CC.8.6.6-8.C: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

CC.8.6.6-8.D: With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.

CC.8.6.6-8.E: Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas clearly and efficiently.

CC.8.6.6-8.F: Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.

CC.8.6.6-8.G: Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation.

CC.8.6.6-8.H: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis reflection, and research.

CC.8.6.6-8.I: Write routinely over extended time frames (time for reflection and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences.

Unit: Introduction to Geography

Lessons:

• Geographer’s World: Geography Themes; Branches of Geography
• The World’s People: Culture; Population; Government and Economy; Global Connections

Unit: The Americas

Lessons:

• The United States: Physical Geography; History and Culture; The United States Today
• Canada: Physical Geography; History and Culture; Canada Today
• Mexico: Physical Geography; History and Culture; Mexico Today
• Central America and the Caribbean: Physical Geography; Central America; The Caribbean Islands
• Atlantic South America: Physical Geography; Brazil; Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay
• Pacific South America: Physical Geography; History and Culture; Pacific South America Today

Unit: Europe and Russia

Lessons:

• Southern Europe: Physical Geography; Greece; Italy; Spain and Portugal
• West-Central Europe: Physical Geography; France and Benelux Countries; Germany and the Alpine Countries
• Northern Europe: Physical Geography; The British Isles; Scandinavia
• Eastern Europe: Physical Geography; The Poland and the Baltic Republics; Inland Eastern Europe; The Balkan Countries
• Russia and the Caucasus

Unit: Southwest and Central Asia

Lessons:

• Eastern Mediterranean: Physical Geography; Turkey; Israel; Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan
• The Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, and Iran: Physical Geography; The Arabian Peninsula; Iraq; Iran
• Central Asia: Physical Geography; History and Culture; Central Asia Today

Unit: Africa

Lessons:

• North Africa: Physical Geography; History and Culture; North Africa Today
• West Africa: Physical Geography; History and Culture; West Africa Today
• East Africa: Physical Geography; History and Culture; East Africa Today
• Central Africa: Physical Geography; History and Culture; Central Africa Today
• Southern Africa: Physical Geography; History and Culture; Southern Africa Today

Unit: South and East Asia and the Pacific

Lessons:

• India Subcontinent: Physical Geography; History and Culture; India Today; India’s Neighbors
• China, Mongolia, and Taiwan: Physical Geography; History and Culture; China Today; Mongolia and Taiwan
• Japan and the Koreas: Physical Geography; History and Culture; Japan Today; Koreas Today
• Southeast Asia: Physical Geography; History and Culture; Mainland Southeast Asia Today; Island Southeast Asia Today
• The Pacific World: Australia and New Zealand; The Pacific Islands; Antarctica