7th Grade Social Studies World Geography


Unit 1: Basic Geography Skills

Standards/Objectives:

  1. The students will be able to identify and use the map elements (map title, compass rose, scale, and legend, date and author) to interpret data on a given map.

  2. The students will be able to use a compass rose to determine cardinal and intermediate directions on a map.

  3. The students will be able to use map symbols in a legend to interpret and analyze map information.

  4. The students will be able to construct a map containing the necessary map elements on given narrative information.

  5. The students will be able to identify various types of maps and their uses.

  6. The students will be able to explain the five themes of geography

  7. The students will be able to analyze, interpret, and apply information found on charts, diagrams, and graphs to explain geographic information.

  8. The students will be able to identify and explain the four components of Earth’s physical system.

Essential Questions:

  1. What are the themes and elements associated with the study of geography?

  2. Can students identify and use the map elements (map title, compass rose, scale, legend, date and author) to interpret data on a given map?

  3. Can students construct a map containing the necessary map elements on given narrative information?

  4. Can students identify various types of maps and their uses?

  5. Can students explain the five themes of geography?



Content (Major Concepts, Figures, and Events)

Suggested Activities

Resources

Assessment Strategies

  • Geography

  • 5 Themes of Geography

  • Absolute and Relative Location

  • Hemispheres

  • Equator

  • Prime Meridian

  • Latitude and Longitude

  • Globe

  • Map

  • Cartographer

  • Map Projections

  • Types of Maps

  • Continents

  • Continental Drift

  • Types of Physical Features

  • Weathering and Erosion

  • Seasons, Weather, and Climate

  • Climate Regions

  • Vegetation

  • Plate Tectonics

  • Volcanoes

  • Earthquakes

  • Maps

  • DVDs

  • Primary Sources – TBD

  • Activities with Technology

  • Hands-On Activities

  • Primary Sources

  • The world and Its People

  • Safari Montage

  • Google Earth

  • Guest Speakers

  • Formative

  • Summative

  • DBQs

  • Worksheets

  • Review Questions (Critical Thinking Questions)

  • Student Presentations

  • Kahoot

  • Eggbert

  • Short Essays



Unit 2:

Standards/Objectives:

  1. The students will describe the concept of place by explaining how the culture of a region is a product of the region’s physical characteristics.

  2. The students will explain how cultural characteristics of a place can be used to describe a place.

  3. The students will be able to analyze how physical factors such as mountains, climate and bodies of water interact with the people of a region to produce a distinctive culture.

  4. The students will be able to explain how the development of customs and traditions help to define a culture and people.

Essential Questions:

  1. What stimulates the movement of goods, people and ideas?

  2. How does the movement  of goods, people and ideas affect culture?

  3. What is geography and how can its tools be used to consider relationships between people and places?

  4. What are the 5 themes pf geography and how can they be used to show the relationship between people and places?

  5. What factors have affected culture in North America, South America and Europe?

Content (Major Concepts, Figures, and Events)

Suggested Activities

Resources

Assessment Strategies

  • Culture

  • Ethnic Groups

  • Population patterns

  • Resources

  • World Trade

  • Language Families

  • Major World Religions

  • Types of Government

  • Differing Economic Systems

  • Natural Resource

  • Effects of Technology

  • Interdependence

  • Globalization

  • Maps

  • DVDs

  • Primary Sources – TBD

  • Activities with Technology

  • Hands-On Activities

  • Primary Sources

  • The world and Its People

  • Safari Montage

  • Google Earth

  • Guest Speakers

  • Formative

  • Summative

  • DBQs

  • Worksheets

  • Review Questions (Critical Thinking Questions)

  • Student Presentations

  • Kahoot

  • Eggbert

  • Short Essays




Unit 3:

Standards/Objectives:

  1. The students will describe how the interaction of physical and human systems has shaped contemporary North America, to include United States and Canada.

  2. The students will describe the location of major physical features and their impact on the five regions (NE, SE, Midwest, NW and SW) of North America.

  3. The students will describe the pattern of population distribution and its impact on the environment as we have modernized in the five regions (NE, SE Midwest, NW and SW) of North America.

  4. The students will describe the major climates of the five regions (NE, SE, Midwest, NW, SW) of North America.

  5. The students will analyze how the migration of people impacts the economy, the culture and political aspects of North America.

Essential Questions:

  1. Can students apply the five themes of geography to US and the Canada?

  2. Can students construct a graph to display geographic information?

  3. Can students analyze strategies to deal with environmental challenges in US and the Canada?

  4. Can students describe how the physical environment or the impact of natural processes poses environmental challenges?

  5. Can students compare, contrast, and analyze the distribution, growth rates, and other demographic characteristics of human populations in various countries or regions in US and the Canada?

  6. Can students identify the distribution of economic systems in US and the Canada?

  7. Can students analyze regional issues associated with territory and resources?

Content (Major Concepts, Figures, and Events)

Suggested Activities

Resources

Assessment Strategies

  • Political Map of US/Canada

  • Physical Map of US/Canada

  • Physical Features of US/Canada

  • Economy of US/Canada

  • History of US/Canada

  • Diverse Culture of US/Canada


  • Maps

  • DVDs

  • Primary Sources – TBD

  • Activities with Technology

  • Hands-On Activities

  • Primary Sources

  • The world and Its People

  • Safari Montage

  • Google Earth

  • Guest Speakers

  • Formative

  • Summative

  • DBQs

  • Worksheets

  • Review Questions (Critical Thinking Questions)

  • Student Presentations

  • Kahoot

  • Eggbert

  • Short Essays




Unit 4:

Standards/Objectives:

  1. The students will describe how the interaction of physical and human systems have shaped South America (Latin America).

  2. The students will describe the location of major physical features and their impact on South America.

  3. The students will describe the patter of population distribution and its impact on the environment of South America.

  4. The students will describe the major climates of South America.

  5. The students will analyze how the migration of people impact the economy, the culture and political aspects of South America.

Essential Questions:

  1. Can students apply the five themes of geography to South America?

  2. Can students construct a graph to display geographic information?

  3. Can students analyze strategies to deal with environmental challenges in South America?

  4. Can students describe how the physical environment or the impact of natural processes poses environmental challenges?

  5. Can students compare, contrast, and analyze the distribution, growth rates, and other demographic characteristics of human populations in various countries or regions in South America?

  6. Can students identify the distribution of economic systems in South America?

  7. Can students analyze regional issues associated with territory and resources?

Content (Major Concepts, Figures, and Events)

Suggested Activities

Resources

Assessment Strategies

  • Political Map of South America/ Latin America

  • Physical Map of South America/ Latin America

  • Physical Features of South America/ Latin America

  • Economy of South America/ Latin America

  • History of South America/ Latin America

  • Diverse Culture of South America/ Latin America

  • Maps

  • DVDs

  • Primary Sources – TBD

  • Activities with Technology

  • Hands-On Activities

  • Primary Sources

  • The world and Its People

  • Safari Montage

  • Google Earth

  • Guest Speakers

  • Formative

  • Summative

  • DBQs

  • Worksheets

  • Review Questions (Critical Thinking Questions)

  • Student Presentations

  • Kahoot

  • Eggbert

  • Short Essays




Unit 5:

Standards/Objectives:

  1. The students will describe how the interaction of physical and human systems have shaped Europe.

  2. The students will describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Europe.

  3. The students will describe the patter of population distribution and its impact on the environment of Europe.

  4. The students will describe the major climates of Europe.

  5. The students will analyze how the migration of people impact the economy, the culture and political aspects of Europe.

Essential Questions:

  1. Can students apply the five themes of geography to Europe

  2. Can students construct a graph to display geographic information?

  3. Can students analyze strategies to deal with environmental challenges in Europe?

  4. Can students describe how the physical environment or the impact of natural processes poses environmental challenges?

  5. Can students compare, contrast, and analyze the distribution, growth rates, and other demographic characteristics of human populations in various countries or regions in Europe?

  6. Can students identify the distribution of economic systems in South America?

  7. Can students analyze regional issues associated with territory and resources?


Content (Major Concepts, Figures, and Events)

Suggested Activities

Resources

Assessment Strategies

  • Political Map of Europe

  • Physical Map of Europe

  • Physical Features of Europe

  • Economy of Europe

  • History of Europe

  • Diverse Culture of Europe

  • Maps

  • DVDs

  • Primary Sources – TBD

  • Activities with Technology

  • Hands-On Activities

  • Primary Sources

  • The world and Its People

  • Safari Montage

  • Google Earth

  • Guest Speakers

  • Formative

  • Summative

  • DBQs

  • Worksheets

  • Review Questions (Critical Thinking Questions)

  • Student Presentations

  • Kahoot

  • Eggbert

  • Short Essays


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