River Valley School District Curriculum Template

Course name: World Studies (Johnson/Hollenberger)

Credit(s) or Grade Level:9th

Academic Standards: SS.Geog1.a.hSS.Geog1.b.hSS.Geog1.c.hSS.Geog2.a.hSS.Geog2.b.hSS.Geog2.c.hSS.Geog2.d.hSS.Geog3.a.hSS.Geog3.b.hSS.Geog4.a.hSS.Geog5.a.hSS.Geog5.b.h

Prerequisite(s): Freshmen status

Course Description:

Students will develop an understanding of world geography through the introduction of key geography skills and examples to better understand the world. Students will identify and explore the continents and countries of the world.

Units:

Duration:

Essential Learning/Outcomes:

Geography is the study of human and nonhuman features of the earth

2-3 Weeks

(yearlong)

● Understand and determine relative and absolute location through the use of geographical tools including maps, compasses, and coordinate grids.

● Analyze and create maps.

● Differentiate between various landforms and water features.

 ● Read a variety of maps including political, physical, and special-purpose maps.

● Identify the seven continents and five oceans.

North America is comprised of unique physical and political features, climate, culture, natural resources, and current events

2-3 Weeks

(yearlong)

● Identify the countries of North and Central America.

● Analyze how humans have interacted with and changed the landscape of North America.

● Determine the relationship between physical and political boundaries

● Apply geographical evidence to explain human settlement patterns in North America.

● Make inferences into the ongoing culture changes of North America.

● Understand the unique governments of North America and their processes.

● Discover North American current events.

Latin America is composed of unique physical and political features, climate, culture, natural resources, and current events.

2-3 Weeks

(yearlong)

● Identify the countries of South America.

● Analyze how humans have interacted with and changed the landscape of South America.

● Determine the relationship between physical and political boundaries.

● Apply geographical evidence to explain human settlement patterns in South America.

● Make inferences into the ongoing culture changes of South America.

● Understand the unique governments of South America and their processes.

● Discover South American current events.

Europe is comprised of unique physical and political features, climate, culture, natural resources, and current events.

2-3 Weeks

(yearlong)

● Identify the countries of Europe.

● Analyze how humans have interacted with and changed the landscape of Europe.

● Determine the relationship between physical and political boundaries.

● Apply geographical evidence to explain human settlement patterns in Europe.

● Make inferences into the ongoing culture changes of Europe.

● Understand the unique governments of Europe and their processes.

● Discover European current events.

Asia is comprised of unique physical and political features, climate, culture, natural resources, and current events.

2-3 Weeks

(yearlong)

● Identify the countries of Asia.

● Analyze how humans have interacted with and changed the landscape of Asia. ● Determine the relationship between physical and political boundaries.

● Apply geographical evidence to explain human settlement patterns in Asia.

Detailed look into the the Middle East current and past conflicts

● Make inferences into the ongoing culture changes of Asia.

● Understand the unique governments of Asia and their processes.

● Discover Asian current events.

Africa is comprised of unique physical and political features, climate, culture, natural resources, and current events.

2-3 Weeks

(yearlong)

● Identify the countries of Africa.

● Analyze how humans have interacted with and changed the landscape of Africa.

● Determine the relationship between physical and political boundaries.

● Apply geographical evidence to explain human settlement patterns in Africa.

 Make inferences into the ongoing culture changes of Africa.

● Understand the unique governments of Africa and their processes.

● Discover Africa current events.

Oceania is comprised of unique physical and political features, climate, culture, natural resources, and current events.

1-2 Weeks

(yearlong)

● Identify the countries of Oceania.

● Analyze how humans have interacted with and changed the landscape of Oceania.

● Determine the relationship between physical and political boundaries.

● Apply geographical evidence to explain human settlement patterns in Oceania.

● Make inferences into the ongoing culture changes of Oceania.

● Understand the unique governments of Oceania and their processes.

● Discover Oceanian current events.

Ultimate Country Project

3-4 Weeks

(Yearlong)

● Determine the relationship between physical and political boundaries.

● Apply geographical evidence to explain human settlement patterns

● Make inferences into the ongoing culture changes in country project

● Understand the impact of  governments, culture and economics.

● Develop presentation skills and organization on a large scale.