Analyze

PHYSICAL FEATURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS THAT HAVE INFLUENCED THE PAST AND MIGRATION PATTERNS AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF CULTURE GROUPS

Including, but not limited to:

• Physical features such as major mountain ranges, deserts, plains, bodies of water, and river basins can act as barriers to migration or facilitate migration. For example the Sahara desert has historically been a barrier to migration, while the Northern Plains of Europe have facilitated migration.  Where physical geography has facilitated migration, multicultural patterns emerge.
• Environmental conditions, such as drought, water scarcity, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events can impact migration as some choose or are forced to leave from affected areas.

Trace, Describe

SPATIAL DIFFUSION OF PHENOMENA AND THE EFFECTS ON REGIONS OF CONTACT

Including, but not limited to:

• Columbian Exchange – resulted in the spread of disease from the Eurasian region to the Americas; spread of primarily livestock to the Americas and crops to Europe, Africa and Asia; potatoes from the Americas to Europe supported a population increase in Europe; sugar from Asia to the America’s fueled the demand for enslaved people to work the plantations
• American popular culture – has resulted in a cultural landscape that is becoming more similar in commercial areas around the world

Describe, Analyze

HUMAN AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SAME REGIONS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS OF TIME TO EVALUATE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PAST EVENTS AND CURRENT CONDITIONS

Including, but not limited to:
Human Characteristic to analyze for change over time

• Development of governments, economies, cultural convergence
• Events like war, revolution, exploration, trade have an impact on societies over time, including changes in city landscapes and cultural landscapes

Physical Characteristics to analyze for change over time

• Domestication of plants and animals and the use of different geographic features (e.g., plains for agriculture)
• The expansion or decline of environment regions (e.g., the expansion of the Sahara and the decline of tropical rainforests)
• Major geological events on civilizations

Explain

HOW CHANGES IN SOCIETIES HAVE LED TO DIVERSE USES OF PHYSICAL FEATURES

Including, but not limited to:

• Increased demand for agricultural production, new technologies introduced to produce energy, and policies to deal with flooding are just a few examples of societal changes that have resulted in diverse uses of physical features over time. Population increases along with the spread of industrialization has also resulted in various diverse uses of physical features.  Examples include, terrace farming, building of dikes, levees, dams, and polders.

Explain

WEATHER CONDITIONS AND CLIMATE IN RELATION TO ANNUAL CHANGES IN EARTH-SUN RELATIONSHIPS

Including, but not limited to:

• Earth-Sun Relationship
  • The Earth-Sun relationship is responsible for annual changes in the seasons. The earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5°. As the earth revolves around the sun not all areas of the globe receive the same amount of sunlight because of this tilt.  The polar areas received the least amount of direct sunlight making these regions colder than other places on the globe. The equator receives the most direct sunlight causing this area of the globe to be the warmest.
  • Sunlight hits directly over the equator on the Equinox. The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn mark the farthest northern and southern points where the sun’s rays hit Earth directly.  The summer solstice occurs in the northern hemisphere when the sun’s rays hit directly above the Tropic of Cancer, this is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. The winter solstice in the northern hemisphere is the shortest day of the year and happens when the sun’s rays shine directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.
  • In the southern hemisphere the most direct rays of the sun hit in November, December, and January, causing these to be the warmest months. The coldest months are May, June and July when the sun’s light is less direct. The opposite is true for the northern hemisphere when the most direct sunlight is in the months of May, June and July and the least direct sunlight is in the months of November, December and January.

Describe

PHYSICAL PROCESSES THAT AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENTS OF REGIONS

Including, but not limited to:

• Weather – refers to the day to day condition of the atmosphere and is affected by solar energy, pressure systems and cloud cover.
• Tectonic forces – refer to the plates that make up the earth’s crust. Plate movements cause earthquakes and volcanic activity, as well as affecting the physical features of the earth. Divergent plate boundaries refer to areas where tectonic plates have moved apart. Convergent boundaries refer to areas where one tectonic plate is forced under another tectonic plate. Transform boundaries refer to areas where tectonic plates slide past each other. Tectonic plate movement results in earthquakes, volcanic activity and the formation of mountains and rift valleys.
• Erosion – refers to the movement of weathered material by wind, water or ice. Water erosion is evident in rivers and along coastlines. Wind erosion is responsible for the movement of particles from one location to another, creating such physical features as sand dunes. Ice erosion occurs when large ice structures, generally glaciers, transport and deposit materials.
• Soil-building – refers to the physical creation of weathered rock, organic matter, air and water. Erosion is generally a part of the soil-building process.

Describe

PHYSICAL PROCESSES AFFECT THE LITHOSPHERE, ATMOSPHERE, HYDROSPHERE, AND BIOSPHERE

Including, but not limited to:

• Hurricanes – causes high winds and large amounts of rainfall affecting the atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere; can uproot plants, stones, or other loose materials affecting the lithosphere; can cause loss of plant, animal and      human life affecting the biosphere
• El Nino – impacts precipitation levels causing periods of drought and flooding affecting all spheres
• Earthquakes – causes fractures in the lithosphere; possible damage to lives in the biosphere; tsunamis are created in the hydrosphere and threaten the lithosphere
• Volcanoes – releases gases and ash into the atmosphere; released ash affects lithosphere and hydrosphere; lava flows affect the lithosphere; eruptions can create craters in the lithosphere
• Lithosphere – the outermost shell of the earth
• Atmosphere – the layer of air that surrounds the earth
• Hydrosphere – comprised of all the water that is on earth including lakes, rivers, oceans and underground supplies
• Biosphere – refers to the living plants and animals that inhabit the land and water on the earth, also known as ecosystems

Explain

HOW ELEVATION, LATITUDE, WIND SYSTEMS, OCEAN CURRENTS, POSITION ON A CONTINENT, AND MOUNTAIN BARRIERS INFLUENCE TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, AND DISTRIBUTION OF CLIMATE REGIONS

Including, but not limited to:
Elevation

• Locations in higher elevations experience cooler temperatures and high amounts of precipitation in the form of snow. Thin air in higher elevations lacks ability to hold heat causing both cooler temperatures and precipitation.

Latitude

• Latitude has a significant impact on temperature with locations nearest the equator experiencing high temperatures and those near the poles experiencing cold temperatures. Average yearly temperatures decrease in progression from north and south of the equator.  Latitude has a slight influence on precipitation, mostly near the equator where rising hot air contributes to the humidity.

Wind systems

• Wind systems serve to move warm or cool air across the earth’s surface and to distribute precipitation around the globe. Wind systems can bring moist air from across an ocean or dry air from across land. Monsoons are an example of a wind pattern that brings moist air across areas of South Asia causing heavy rainfall. Temperatures in coastal locations are affected by the temperature of the water nearby and the winds that cross over the water.

Ocean currents

• Ocean currents help to distribute heat away from the equator. Warm water at the equator circulates toward the tropics. Water from the tropics circulates to the poles where the water cools and then circulates back towards the equator.  Wind systems have an effect on ocean currents and like wind systems, ocean currents also transfer precipitation around the world.

Position on continent

• Locations that are located nearer coastlines tend to experience more moderate temperatures as opposed to locations that are further inland. Locations that are further inland generally experience greater daily and seasonal temperature variations.  Locations near coastlines also tend to experience greater amounts of precipitation. Position on continent is most evident in the middle latitudes and it along with latitude has the greatest effect on climate.

Mountain Barriers

• Mountain barriers have a great effect on precipitation. As air rises to pass over a mountain barrier it releases moisture as the air cools.  This creates a wet side or windward side and a dry side or leeward side to mountain barriers. The windward side of a mountain is generally on the side closest to ocean.  This process is referred to as orographic precipitation or the rain shadow effect. Windward sides of mountain ranges receive higher average precipitation and leeward sides of mountain ranges tend to receive lower average precipitation.

Distribution of Climate Regions

• Climate regions are characterized by a combination of average temperatures with average amounts of precipitation. There are five major categories of climate; polar, temperate, tropical, arid, and highland along with many sub categories within these larger groups.
• The polar climate region is located in the higher latitudes and is characterized by generally low temperatures, low precipitation, long winters and short summers. Within the polar climate region are the sub regions of subarctic, tundra, and ice cap.
• The temperate climate region is located in the mid latitudes and is characterized by seasonal temperature variations and seasonal precipitations variations. Within the temperate climate region are the sub regions of marine west coast, Mediterranean, humid subtropical and humid continental. Humid subtropical climates vary around the globe.
• The tropical climate region is located in the low latitudes and characterized by warm temperatures year round and abundant rainfall.  Within the tropical climate region are the sub regions of tropical rainforest and savanna.
• The arid/dry climate region is characterized by variations in temperatures and low rainfall. This climate zone is most commonly sub divided into desert or steppe.
• Highland climate regions are located in higher elevations no matter the latitude.

Describe

DIFFERENT LANDFORMS AND THE PHYSICAL PROCESSES THAT CAUSE THEIR DEVELOPMENT

Including, but not limited to:

• Mountains, islands, rifts, volcanos – tectonic forces
• Plains – erosion from water, ice or wind; flowing lava
• Atolls – growth of coral reefs around a volcano
• Valleys – glacial erosion and tectonic forces
• Deltas – soil building and water erosion
• Canyons – water erosion
• Fjord – glacial erosion
• Sand dunes – wind erosion

Explain

THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF BIOMES

Including, but not limited to:

• Biomes or ecosystems are defined by a specific community of plants and animals that inhabit that region. Biomes are classified into four main categories: forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundra.

Forests

• Temperate Deciduous Forest – found in the mid latitudes where the climate is characterized by plentiful rainfall, moderate temperatures, and cool winters. Characterized by trees that lose their leaves after changing colors in the fall.
• Temperate Coniferous Forest – found in temperate climate zones where the summers are warm and the winters are cool and rainfall is adequate. Evergreens predominate and these forests can be found in coastal areas that experience mild winters and heavy rainfall as well as inland in mountainous areas.
• Taiga or Boreal Forest – the world’s largest biome is located in the highest northern latitudes where average temperatures and average precipitation are low and are characterized by evergreen coniferous forests.  Animals living in this biome must adapt to very cold temperatures.
• Tropical Rainforests – found in tropical areas near the equator where the climate is characterized by plentiful rainfall and warm year round temperatures. This biome is home to a great variety of plant and animal life.

Grasslands

• Steppes – found in climates that are experience low levels of rainfall, therefore there is an absence of trees. This biome is home to large grazing animals.
• Savannas – found in climates that experience low levels of rainfall, yet have a little more than steppes and therefore have some trees. Also home to a variety of large animal species.

Deserts

• Deserts are distinguished by a lack of rainfall, usually less than ten inches per year and can be hot or cold. These climate conditions require the plants and the animals in this biome to adapt to the extreme conditions.

Tundra or Arctic Biome

• Found almost entirely in the Northern Hemisphere near the Arctic Ocean, it is characterized by low amounts of precipitation and extremely cold temperatures. Permafrost or frozen subsoil makes it difficult to sustain plant life in this biome; therefore this biome lacks trees and is distinguished by small shrubs and low growing plants. These plants have adapted to the colder climate conditions and thrive in the short summer and spring. Animals in this region are few and must adapt to the extreme climate conditions.

Analyze

HOW THE CHARACTER OF A PLACE IS RELATED TO ITS POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND CULTURAL ELEMENTS

Including, but not limited to:

• Character of a place refers to the physical and human geographic characteristics that distinguish a particular place. Physical geographic factors such as climate, vegetation, settlement patterns, population density relate to the character of a place as do the political, economic, social and cultural features that make a place unique. Since these features can change over time the character of a place can change over time also.
• Character of place can be analyzed on a macro level such as examining the character of a culture region or on a micro level, such as examine the character of a city or neighborhood.

 

Interpret

POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS TO DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT AND STANDARD OF LIVING IN NATIONS

Including, but not limited to:

• Human Development Index (HDI)- refers to the ranking of nations done by the United Nations based on a composite data; intended to measure human development; the index is based on a measure of basic facets of human development, including a decent standard of living, long and healthy life, and education
• The HDI provides data which allows for a glimpse of current conditions as well as an examination of long term trends

Locate, Describe

HUMAN AND PHYSICAL FEATURES THAT INFLUENCE THE SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION OF SETTLEMENTS

Including, but not limited to:

• Human features that influence settlement patterns may include the availability of economic opportunities, the location of transportation routes, access to housing, opportunities for political participation. Populations tend to settle in areas that provide services, have infrastructure in place and are politically attractive.
• Physical features greatly influence the habitability of a place. Populations tend to concentrate in regions with favorable climates, where there is access to water and areas that are suitable for agricultural output. Through most of history settlements have concentrated near coastlines and in river valleys. For example the eastern coast of China, or along the coast in Australia.

Explain

PROCESSES THAT HAVE CAUSED CHANGES IN SETTLEMENT PATTERNS

Including, but not limited to:

• Urbanization refers to the migration of people from rural to urban settings generally to access jobs, which primarily coincidences with industrial development in a nation
• Transportation systems facilitate the settlement of areas that were previously inaccessible; generally settlements grow near locations along the transportation routes and allow people to live further from location of work; examples include the building of railroads such as the Trans-Siberian and Transcontinental Railroads, building the Interstate highway system which resulted in the growth of suburban settlements; urban and suburban road systems of principal  and minor arteries connecting dwellings with commerce and employment.
• Availability of resources such as water facilitate population centers that need abundant water resources; settlements grow near locations of economic activities associated with extraction of natural resources
• Economic activities facilitate people migrating to and settling where there are new economic opportunities; examples include the California Gold Rush, the Austin Colony, migration from the Rust Belt to the Sun Belt, Eastern Europe to Western Europe migration within the EU, migration to western North Dakota and south Texas to work in an expanding oil industry

Analyze

POPULATION PYRAMIDS

Describe

POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

Predict

FUTURE POPULATION TRENDS

Including, but not limited to:

• Population pyramids refer to a graphic model of the age and gender demographics of specific population at a given time; analysis will indicate negative, rapid or slow growth rates; students should also examine what processes created the observable trend and make predictions based on observable trends, i.e. one child policy in China.
• Population trends can also be analyzed by looking at population density maps, cartograms, and population growth charts

Explain

HOW PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY AND PUSH AND PULL FACTORS AFFECT HUMAN MIGRATION

Including, but not limited to:

Human Geographic Push-Pull Factors

• Political push-pull factors relate to the migrations that are motivated by war, political persecution or the attraction of a political circumstance in another country. Examples include refugees from wars and defections from totalitarian government.
• Economic push-pull factors relate to the migration of individuals seeking better economic opportunities. Examples include migration from Mexico to the United States and Canada, east to west migration within the European Union and eighteenth century migration of Europeans to the United States.
• Social push-pull factors relate to the migration of an entire group of people escaping persecution because of religion or ethnicity. Examples include the migration of Jews from Europe prior to the formation of Israel and migrations of the Puritans to the America’s in the 1600s.
• Environmental push-pull factors relate to migrations that occur as a result of a natural disaster or changing environment conditions
• Physical Geographic Push-Pull Factors
• Mountain ranges, deserts and dense forests have served as barriers to human migration, while the steppes, water routes, plains and valleys have facilitated the flow of human migration

Describe

TRENDS IN WORLD POPULATION GROWTH AND DISTRIBUTION

Including, but not limited to:

• World population growth is dependent on birth rates and death rates and these rates vary across the globe. Less developed regions tend to experience higher birth rates and higher infant mortality rates and lower life expectancy rates, while developed regions characteristically have low birth rates resulting in slow population growth and sometimes negative growth rates.
• Over the last 150 years the world’s population has grown exponentially reaching one billion in the early nineteenth century. Currently the world’s population is over seven billion and is projected to reach nine billion by the year 2050. Medical advances have resulted in increased life expectancies at the same time birth rates have been declining. Since the early nineteenth century the world’s population has increasingly become urbanized so now half of the world’s population lives in urban areas.
• The world’s population is distributed unevenly and is correlated to the access to economic opportunities and resources as well as to climate. Increased economic opportunities accounts for a concentration of population in urban areas, along transportation corridors and near water. Population is less concentrated in in the polar regions of the globe because of the extreme climate in the region.

Analyze

HOW GLOBALIZATION AFFECTS CONNECTIVITY, STANDARD OF LIVING, PANDEMICS, LOSS OF LOCAL CULTURE

Including, but not limited to:

•  Rising standards of living in regions that benefit from global markets
• Political cooperation/connectivity among nations, i.e. European Union
• Connectivity has increased with use of social media
• Spread of technological innovations, including advances in medical care
• Cultural diffusion that sometimes results in a rich cultural convergence or loss of local culture
• Pandemics as products and people travel more
• Poor treatment of low wage earners in some industries
• Growth in multinational corporations challenges the sovereignty of vulnerable nation-states
• Loss of jobs in some regions with the growth of outsourcing in other regions

Compare

WAYS THAT HUMANS DEPEND ON, ADAPT TO, AND MODIFY THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Including, but not limited to:

• Build dams, windmills, dikes, polders, levees, railroads, bridges, highways, terrace farming
• Installing solar panels
• Dredging and irrigation
• Deforestation, mining, oil extraction, desalination, soil leaching, overgrazing
• Burning fossil fuels
• Creating advanced  warning systems for earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis
• Planting seasonal and/or drought resistant crops  and using fertilizers to increase agricultural output

Droughts-lengthy periods of low rainfall in a given region. Droughts contribute to desertification, as well as economic decline, severe loss of agricultural output, and wildfires.Analyze

CONSEQUENCES OF EXTREME WEATHER AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS

Including, but not limited to:

• El Niño/La Niña refers to the periodic warming (El Niño) and cooling (La Niña) of the Pacific waters along the western coast of Central and South America. Both impact precipitation levels causing periods of drought and flooding. Both negatively impact agricultural output and the fishing industries in Latin America causing economic disruption.
• Hurricanes are westward moving tropical cyclone activity organized due to warm air rising from the warm waters near the equator. Hurricanes are responsible for flooding and high winds that cause extensive property and crop damage along with loss of lives. The Caribbean, eastern Mexico, eastern Central America, and the eastern gulf coasts of the United States are most vulnerable to hurricanes.
• Earthquakes/Volcanoes refer to the seismic activity that occurs with tectonic plate movements. Earthquakes cause significant damage to property and loss of lives as well as produce tsunamis, immense ocean waves which also cause severe damage and loss of lives. Volcanic eruptions create lava flows that threaten people and property and release ash that can blanket large areas causing damage and respiratory issues for some.
• Monsoons   are winds that blow from the northeast across South Asia and Southeast Asia   carrying dry air during the winter and blowing from the southwest Indian   Ocean in the summer carrying moist air. Summer monsoons are responsible for large   amounts of rainfall in South and Southeast Asia, which causes extensive   flooding but is also needed for agricultural output.
• Tornados are violently rotating columns of air extending from a thunderstorm cloud to the ground. Generally occur when the atmospheric conditions are favorable to producing severe thunderstorms. Tornados cause huge amounts of damage in a short period of time along with loss of lives. Many occur in a swath across the central and southeastern United States referred to as “tornado alley”.
• Droughts-lengthy periods of low rainfall in a given region. Droughts contribute to desertification, as well as economic decline, severe loss of agricultural output, and wildfires.

Evaluate

ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SETTLEMENTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Including, but not limited to:

• Sustainable development refers to a pattern of economic development and resource management that ensures the preservation of the environment for future generations.  Political entities have a vested interest in economic development.  The challenge for most political entities is to balance economic development with promotion of sustainable development, environment protection and management of natural resources, both renewable and nonrenewable.

Identify

PHYSICAL AND/OR HUMAN FACTORS THAT CONSTITUTE A REGION

Including, but not limited to:

• Physical factors that constitute a region include common landforms, vegetation, climate, biomes
• Human factors that constitute a region many include culture regions, trade networks, religion, language, political units, supranational organization, trade corridors

Describe

DIFFERENT TYPES OF REGIONS

Including, but not limited to:

• Geographers examine the world by dividing it spatially into regions. Regions all have spatial extents and boundaries. Regions vary in size and are generally categorized as formal, functional or perceptual.
• Formal regions refer to spatial areas that are unified by a physical or human geographic factor. Examples may include culture regions, political entities, climate zones, biomes.
• Functional regions refer to spatial systems that are defined by an interaction or connectivity. Examples may include trade corridors, metropolises, business districts, spheres of influence.
• Perceptual regions are less structured than formal and functional regions and are constructed around a reality that is perceived by the people living in the area or the general society. Perceptual regions are not based on objective data. Examples may include “Dixie”, vernacular regions, “Chinatown”, gang “turfs”, “Bible belt”, “Rust belt”

Describe

THE FORCES THAT DETERMINE THE DISTRIBUTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES IN TRADITIONAL, FREE ENTERPRISE, SOCIALIST, AND COMMUNIST ECONOMIC SYSTEMS

Including, but not limited to:

Traditional

• Goods and services are produced and distributed in a manner that reflects the customs and beliefs of a society. Bartering is typical for transactions with little surplus produced. The only true traditional economies today exist typically among isolated, tribal societies
• Also described as subsistence economy

Free Enterprise

• The production of goods and services in a free enterprise system are determined by consumer demand for products. Free enterprise is characterized by private ownership of businesses and economic decisions are made by the business owner responding to consumer demand.

Socialist

• A socialist economic system is characterized by government ownership and operation of large scale industries, such as health care, schools, utilities and mass transportation. Smaller businesses are privately owned and do respond to consumer demand.

Communist

• A communist economic system is characterized by government control of all economic decisions.

Classify

COUNTRIES ALONG THE ECONOMIC SPECTRUM BETWEEN FREE ENTERPRISE AND COMMUNISM

Including, but not limited to:

• Possible specific countries to place along the economic spectrum may include Japan, United States, Canada, Sweden, Germany, Iran, Brazil, India, China, Russia, North Korea, Australia, Nigeria

Compare

WAYS PEOPLE SATISFY THEIR BASIC NEEDS THROUGH THE PRODUCTION OF GOODS AND SERVICES

Including, but not limited to:

• People who practice subsistence farming produce enough agricultural output to provide for the needs of their family.  In comparison, commercial agriculture is characterized by agricultural surplus output that is sold for profit.
• Cottage industries are characterized by the small scale production of goods done generally in a home-based setting, such as weaving cloth. In comparison commercial industries produce in a larger setting, such as a factory, produce a larger amount of goods, and employ more workers.

Compare

GLOBAL TRADE PATTERNS OVER TIME

Analyze

IMPLICATIONS OF GLOBALIZATION

Including, but not limited to:

Changing Global Trade Patterns

• Over time the pace of global trade has increased to include more trade partners as well to cover more area. Early trade routes were overland with the Silk Road being a prominent early trade route linking China to the Mediterranean region along with many routes crossing Asia Minor. Water trade routes developed in the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean bringing Africa, Southwest Asia, South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia into contact on a regular basis. Overland routes crisscrossed North Africa, routes developed from Southern Europe to Northern Europe, and routes formed across the Sahara desert. Trade was common within the Pre-Columbian cultures of the Americas.  After the European colonization of the Americas a truly global trade network developed that was trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific. Free trade zones became a feature of global trade in the later twentieth century. Some of the largest free trade zones include North America created by the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the European Union (EU).

Implications of globalization

• Access to more products for consumers and access to more labor for producers
• Similar commercial landscapes worldwide
• Cultural diffusion
• Increasing connectivity of national economies causing economic growth and depression to be experienced more widely
• Participation in economic markets by more individuals and businesses
• Potential cooperation between nation-states that have economic connectivity including the creation of free trade zones
• Potential resentment and political repercussions in regions that perceive globalization as negative, i.e. Great Britain voting to leave the European Union
• Outsourcing creates jobs for some and results in job loss for others as businesses seek to find the cheapest labor costs

Understand

CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Including, but not limited to:

• Developing countries rely more on primary and secondary economic activities, while developed countries rely more on tertiary and quaternary activities. More developed countries are able to offer more service-oriented jobs, while importing raw materials and manufactured goods from developing countries.
• Primary activities include those jobs focused on raw extraction of natural resources (e.g., mining, agriculture, fishing), secondary activities are jobs focused on manufacturing goods (e.g., manufacturing, construction), tertiary activities include those in the service sector (e.g., transportation, sanitary services, commerce and trade), and quaternary activities involve jobs related to information processing and management (e.g., finance, computer industry, high education, research).

Identify

FACTORS AFFECTING LOCATION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Including, but not limited to:

Factors affecting the location of subsistence agriculture

• Favorable climate, access to arable land and water, as well as natural resources

Factors affecting the location of commercial agriculture

• Favorable climate, arable land, access to labor, access to water, proximity of transportation corridors

Factors affecting the location of manufacturing

• Availability of labor, infrastructure, capital resources and proximity to transportation corridors

Factors affecting the location of service industries

• Availability of labor, capital resources, access to consumers, and proximity to transportation corridors

Assess

HOW CHANGES AFFECT LOCATION AND PATTERNS OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Including, but not limited to:

Climate changes affecting economic patterns

• Climate changes can affect economic patterns by impacting the output of agricultural production, such as when droughts occur. Increasing desertification results in the movement of agricultural activities. Natural disasters can cause economic disruptions and relation of businesses, as well as destroying cash crops.

Resources affecting economic patterns

• Access to cheaper resources can affect the location of economic activities. This is evident in the relocation of economic activities to regions with cheaper labor as well as the relocation of economic activities to be near skilled labor, such as locating near higher education facilities.

Infrastructure affecting economic patterns

• Economic activities tend to located near transportation networks that allow for distribution of goods as well as allow for access for consumers. Improvements and lower costs in communication technologies have allowed for outsourcing.

Analyze

HOW CREATION, DISTRIBUTION, AND MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES AFFECT LOCATION AND PATTERNS OF PRODUCTS, MONEY, AND PEOPLE

Including, but not limited to:

• Discovery of key deposits of natural resources results in migration of people seeking economic opportunities working to extract natural resources. Examples of this include the migration of South Asians to work mines in South Africa, the California Gold Rush, and migrations to oil fields. In order to distribute key resources roads and pipelines are constructed, such as the Interoceanic Highway linking Peruvian ports with Brazil.
• Demand for arable land can result in the loss of forested areas and cause animal populations in those regions to be pushed out of their habitat.
• Creation of resources such as the through the use of desalination allows for settlement in regions stricken by a lack of water resources.
• Analysis may include examination of land redistribution, extraction of minerals and oil, desalinization, cutting of rainforests, and building of infrastructure such as pipelines.

Evaluate

GEOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF POLICIES RELATED TO THE USE OF RESOURCES

Including, but not limited to:

• Geographic impacts of policies related to the development, use, and scarcity of natural resources include loss or preservation of habitats, human development and growth of urban centers, and sustainable use of resources.
• Policies related to use, scarcity, and development (water): desalination, water recycling, conservation
• Economic impacts of policies related to the development, use, and scarcity of natural resources include growth or loss in income, creation or loss in jobs, and sustainability of resources for economic use in the future.
• Management of water resources, particularly in areas of scarcity, can have social, political, economic, and environmental impacts.

Interpret, Explain

MAPS OF POLITICAL DIVISIONS AND UNITS

Including, but not limited to:

• Physical geographic features such as mountains, rivers, and oceans can create natural borders between political units.
• Several factors can contribute to the creation of man-made borders. Man-made political borders are generally made following wars to reflect the changes in control of territory. Man-made division may reflect the ethnic divisions within a region, colonial land claims, or the efforts of groups to isolate themselves.

Compare, Infer

MAPS OF VOTING PATTERNS AND POLITICAL BOUNDARY IN RELATION TO POLITICAL POWER

Including, but not limited to:

• An examination of maps showing voting patterns may illustrate the distribution of political support across a territory as well as changing patterns of political party geographic influence over time.
• An examination of maps showing political boundaries may illustrate the extent of territorial control a political power currently yields or has in the past.

Analyze, Infer

CURRENT EVENTS AND PROCESSES THAT LEAD TO FORMATION OF BOUNDARIES AND DIVISIONS

Including, but not limited to:

• Physical processes such as climate change, natural hazards, and plate tectonic movement can lead to the formation of new boundaries. Examples of this are evident in areas where rising sea levels are affecting coastal boundaries.
• Human processes generally associated with conflict and the resulting treaties have led to the development of new boundaries and political divisions. Examples include the new boundary divisions made following the First World War; the division of Korea and Vietnam following wars in those regions; the creation of boundaries in Africa by colonial leaders; the U.N. partition of Palestine and Israel; and the division of Republic of Sudan and South Sudan following years of conflict and vote for independence in South Sudan.

Compare

VARIOUS FORMS OF GOVERNMENT IN SPECIFIC COUNTRIES

Including, but not limited to:

• Democracy is a form of government where the ultimate power is derived from the people.
• Dictatorships are characterized by entire political power being invested in one single person or group such as North Korea and Cuba.
• Monarchy is a form of government in which the power is vested in one individual and is typically acquired through heredity. Constitutional monarchies are characterized by a sharing of power between the monarch and representative and executive bodies. Examples include Britain and the Netherlands.
• Republics are those governments in which the head of government is not a monarch. Republics can be democratic (ruled by the people) such as the United States and Australia, theocratic (ruled by religious law) such as Iran, or parliamentary (having a head of government separate from the monarch such as Britain). In China representatives are chosen at the local level, local officials then vote for national leaders, all chosen from the communist party. While a republic in name, in practice it is not reflective of democratic processes.
• Theocracy is a form of government lead by religious leaders who claim divine inspiration with citizens’ rights based on religious teachings.
• Totalitarianism is a form of dictatorship that seeks to control all aspects of social life within a country. Historical examples include Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Currently North Korea serves as an example.

Analyze

FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE POWER, CONFLICT, AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Including, but not limited to:

• The power to control territory is most dependent on access to resources and the ability to transport resources. The ability to control territory is influenced by a political entity’s capacity to maintain military power, create stable government, and provide economic investment. Additionally, scientific innovation is important for development of new techniques to manage key resources and advance military capabilities. Favorable physical geography facilitates the mobilization of military forces and the transportation of resources, hence why the control of the Panama and Suez canals have been historical issues.
• Conflicts and war arise from the need to control key natural resources, including access to water and energy sources, such as oil. Inherent in the need to access resources is the need to control territory, so that competing claims to territories leads to conflicts also, such as the conflict in Palestine.  Physical geography serves to isolate and protect some locations and facilitate the mobilization of troops in other places. International organizations such as the United Nations (UN) often serve to mitigate conflicts and respond to war.
• The need to share resources has impacted international relationships, including creating trade agreements between nation-states such as free trade agreements, creating cartels such as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and facilitating the creation of the European Union (EU).

Identify, Give examples

DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW THAT INFLUENCE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC POLICIES AND DECISION-MAKING

Including, but not limited to:

• Possible points of view to examine may include climate change, globalization, environmental regulations, migration, sustainability, wildlife management, use of alternative energy sources.

Explain

HOW CITIZENSHIP PRACTICES, PUBLIC POLICIES, AND DECISION-MAKING MAY BE INFLUENCED BY CULTURAL BELIEFS

Including, but not limited to:

• Citizens influenced by patriotism may choice to volunteer for public service and show high levels of civic engagement.
• Citizens motivated by nationalism historically have exhibited unquestioning devotion to the policies of the nation-state. Examples include the nationalism exhibited by citizens in 1920s and 1930s Italy and Germany.
• Cultures characterized by strong beliefs in individual rights and individualism, such as the USA and Canada, tend to support practices and policies which support promoting and protection of freedoms/rights and limit government actions.
• Culture characterized by collectivists cultural beliefs, such as many in East Asia, tend to support practices and public policies which give the government more power to subordinate individual rights for the collective good.

Describe

CULTURAL PATTERNS AND HOW PATTERNS INFLUENCED THE PROCESSES OF INNOVATION AND DIFFUSION

Including, but not limited to:

• Cultural landscape refers to the modification of a place by people and includes what humans have planted, built and modified in the physical landscape.
• Cultural patterns refer to the distribution and characteristics of the beliefs, values, attitudes, norms, and customs in a region.
• Distinctive cultural patterns of Texas, the United States, and other regions of the world include cultural landscapes of agriculture versus urban centers, and reflect varying belief systems and values of cultures.
• Cultural landscapes and cultural patterns are influenced by the processes of innovation and diffusion. An example of this is the predominance of fast food restaurants around the globe that have created a common cultural landscape.

Describe

ELEMENTS OF CULTURE

Including, but not limited to:

• Culture refers to the attitudes, values, knowledge and behaviors shared by a particular group which are taught to successive generations. All cultural groups are distinguished by their language, religion, beliefs, institutions and technologies.

Describe

LIFE IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS

Compare

POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES

Including, but not limited to:

• Descriptions may include how political, economic, social and environmental changes affect ways of life in both rural and urban settings. For example how is life affected when living in democratic regions compared to the theocracy of Iran or the dictatorship of North Korea? How is life affected by economics, such as comparing life in more industrialized region with life in a less industrialized region? How is life affected by social patterns, such as living in colonial areas of the Caribbean or Australia?

Describe, Compare

PATTERNS OF CULTURE THAT MAKE REGIONS DISTINCTIVE

Including, but not limited to:

• Distinctive patterns of culture include similar language, religion, ethnicity, customs, and systems of education, technologies, and institutions.
• Similar cultural patterns create distinctive regions.

Describe

MAJOR WORLD RELIGIONS

Including, but not limited to:

• Buddhism – based on the central idea that pain and suffering is brought about by desire and that to reach a state of nirvana or release from pain and suffering may take multiple lifetimes; predominantly practiced in South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia
• Christianity – based on belief in one God and the central idea that salvation can be achieved by following the teachings of Jesus; predominantly practiced in Europe, North America, and South America
• Hinduism – based on the central idea of reincarnation in which one’s social class is determined by actions taken in a previous life; predominantly practiced in South Asia
• Islam – based on the central idea that one’s life must be lived in submission to God based on messages from the Prophet Muhammad; predominantly practiced in North Africa, Southwest Asia, Pakistan and Indonesia
• Judaism – based on the central idea that there is one God and that one must live according to the sacred Hebrew texts; predominantly practiced in Europe, Israel, and North America
• Sikhism – based on the central idea that there is one God and to seek oneness with God involves practicing meditation, service, and social justice; predominantly practiced in South Asia

Compare

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND MINORITIES

Including, but not limited to:

• Generally women, ethnic, religious minorities and underrepresented populations lack economic, political, or social opportunities in many regions of the world. These groups have historically been afforded more opportunities in western cultures where there has been a tradition of an expansion of freedoms and rights for underrepresented groups.
• Generally these groups, especially women are underrepresented in elected political bodies, even in democratic societies.
• In some regions there is a disparity in the number of girls being educated as opposed to boys. National and international organizations are working to close this gap and create more opportunities for an education for all groups.
• These groups continue to strive for economic opportunities with microcredit being one source of investment especially for women. Global economic recession and depression affect these groups adversely as many lack alternative income sources.
• Possible data to use in comparing cultures may include number of political representatives from these groups, numbers having access to public education, numbers of minority and women owned business, patterns of voting rights, etc.

Evaluate

EXPERIENCES AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF DIVERSE GROUPS

Including, but not limited to:

• Diversity adds ideas, innovation, technology, and new cultural beliefs and attitudes to groups, especially when new cultural traditions emerge from the cultural convergence of various groups.
• Cultural convergence examples are illustrated in the migration patterns of the United States, Canada, and especially Latin America

Analyze

CULTURAL CHANGE IN SPECIFIC REGIONS

Including, but not limited to:

• Spread of new cultural beliefs which may result in cultural convergence, such as forced migration of Africans to Latin America and the resulting new forms of music and dance
• Adoption of new economic and political practices, such as the adoption of some free enterprise principles in China and democratic ideals in Poland after the fall of communism
• Changes in the cultural landscape, such as the building of religious sites and the proliferation of fast food restaurants
• Increasing access to technologies and education, such as the spread of Internet connectivity
• Spread of languages, such as the widespread use of English, especially in aviation
• Loss of indigenous cultural practices along with processes to preserve those practices, such as in Australia and Canada

Assess

CAUSES, EFFECTS, AND PERCEPTIONS OF CONFLICTS

Including, but not limited to:

• Conflicts between groups generally occur when there is a disparity in access to resources and/ or a disparity in political power between groups.  Ethnic and cultural differences serve to differentiate the oppressed and the oppressors.
• Effects from conflicts between groups can result in genocide, ethnic cleansing, acts of terrorism, emergence of new cultural patterns such as  with colonization in Latin America, lingering animosities, and codified segregation such as apartheid in South Africa
• Perceptions of conflicts between groups of people can be influenced by propaganda, media reports, and one’s cultural beliefs.

Identify

EXAMPLES OF CULTURE THAT MAINTAIN TRADITIONAL WAYS

Including, but not limited to:

• Inuit of North America
• Indigenous peoples of Australia
• Pacific Islanders
• Nenets living in Siberia
• Indigenous peoples living in the Amazon rainforest
• Uzbeks, Kyrgyzs, Tajiks, and Turkmen of Central Asia
• Khoisan of Southern Africa
• Maasai of Kenya
• Latuka of Sudan
• Himba of northwest Namibia
• Traditional practices are passed from generation to generation

Evaluate, Find examples

CULTURAL CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE

Including, but not limited to:

• Cultural convergence occurs when the ideas, habits, skills, arts, and institutions of one culture come in contact and interact with those of another culture. Subsequently, this contact results in the cultures becoming more alike.
• Cultural divergence is the process of disassociating cultures or protecting a culture from other influences.
• Examples of cultural convergence include the spread of democratic ideas from Europe to North America and other countries around the world, the spread of the English language as the dominant form of communication, the spread of U.S.-based fast-food franchises and technology companies, spread and popularity of soccer, the emergence of new styles of dance and music in Latin America.
• Examples of cultural divergence include the historical ethnic division in the Balkans, the Basques in Spain, Québécois, and indigenous cultures.

Evaluate

SIGNIFICANCE OF MAJOR TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS THAT MODIFY THE ENVIRONMENT

Including, but not limited to:

Innovations in Transportation

• Railroads have allowed for faster transportation of goods to market and the settlement of people to varied locations, examples include the Trans-Siberian Railroad, the Trans-Canadian Railroad and the Transcontinental Railroad
• Highways and roads have facilitated the transportation of goods to market and allowed for economic activities to move from city centers such as the Interstate Highway System in the United States and the Interoceanic Highway in South America
• Canals facilitate the faster  transportation of goods to market promoting economic development
• Dredging allows for the creation of deeper ports and creation of land such as the Hong Kong airport

Innovations in Energy

• Wind/Solar Power allow for the renewable creation of energy
• Dams/Hydroelectric Power provide for widespread access to electricity and control of flooding
• Oil drilling/Hydraulic fracturing increase the amount of oil extracted; may have environmental implications
• Nuclear power provides an alternative source of energy, but poses a risk for human exposure to radiation

Analyze

WAYS TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS HAVE ALLOWED HUMANS TO ADAPT TO PLACES

Including, but not limited to:

• Air conditioning has allowed growth of urban centers in areas of extreme heat.
• Desalinization provides clean drinking water in areas with scarce freshwater resources.

Analyze

IMPACTS OF ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY ON AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Including, but not limited to:

• Increase in the usage of pesticides, fertilizers, and genetically modified seeds (Green Revolution)
• Deforestation to create larger commercial farms
• Increased food production
• Farming in arid climates leading to irrigation
• Healthier soils with organic farming
• Access to previously unattainable natural resources through scientific advances
• Possible pollution of some physical landscapes
• Increased air and water pollution
• Increased mechanization requiring fewer workers
• Migration of unemployed workers to urban areas
• Erosion of traditional economies

Describe

IMPACT OF NEW INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

Including, but not limited to:

• Internet has allowed information to be easily accessible worldwide.
• Global Positioning System (GPS) allows for the transmission of location and weather information. Has facilitated precision in location and aided in navigational systems. Application of GPS technology has been used by the military as well as businesses and individuals.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have integrated data to produce charts, maps, and globes allowing for the visualization of geographic data that can be used to analyze relationships and patterns.

Examine

EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON SOCIETIES AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DEVELOPMENT

Including, but not limited to:

• Technological advances have resulted in medical advancements including better access to appropriate medical treatments, education about spread of diseases, and changes in cultural behaviors to improve health and sanitation as well as changing trade patterns. Over time technological advances have been applied to transportation methods that have changed trade patterns, such as the building of canals and railroads.
• Technological innovations that resulted in industrialization have changed global economic, environment and social patterns most evident in rising urbanization.

Analyze, Evaluate

VALIDITY AND UTILITY OF MULTIPLE SOURCES OF GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Including, but not limited to:

• Primary sources
• Secondary sources
• Aerial photographs
• Maps

Locate

PLACES OF CONTEMPORARY GEOPOLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE ON A MAP

Create, Interpret

TYPES OF MAPS

Including, but not limited to:

• Examples of types of maps: physical, topographical, political, climate, population, economic, cultural trait (e.g., religion), road
• Examples of types of map projections: Mercator, Robinson, Mollweide, broken equal area (interrupted), polar
• Use maps to
  • Answer geographic questions
  • Infer relationships
  • Analyze change

Analyze

INFORMATION

Including, but not limited to:

• Sequencing refers to the practice of arranging items in a specific order. Most commonly in social studies this is done with events either sequenced by absolute chronology or exact date of by relative chronology or placing events in chronological order without necessarily identifying exact dates
• Categorizing refers to the practice of placing items in particular groups.
• Identifying cause-and-effect relationships is a common skill applied in historical analysis to examine change over time.
• Comparing and contrasting refers to examination of similarities and differences.
• Finding the main idea is a literacy skill applied to the examination most often of textual and visual sources.
• Summarizing is a literacy skill utilized to condense information to a concise version.
• Making generalizations and predictions is facilitated by the examination of patterns. Generalizations are general statements that should be based on the evidence presented by patterns and predictions can be made based on that pattern.
• Drawing inferences and conclusions results from examining evidence and articulating interpretations of that evidence.
• Developing connections over time involves the examination of how political, economic, social, and geographic factors have change over time or how those factors have remained the same over time.

Identify

POINTS OF VIEW

Including, but not limited to:

• Point of view refers to the perspective, claim, or attitude an author expresses in a document.

Design, Draw

APPROPRIATE GRAPHICS TO COMMUNICATE GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES, DISTRIBUTIONS, AND RELATIONSHIPS

Including, but not limited to:

• Maps
• Diagrams
• Tables
• Graphs

Generate

SUMMARIES, GENERALIZATIONS, AND THESIS STATEMENTS SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE

Including, but not limited to:

• Summaries are a concise version of information.
• Generalizations are broad statements based on the evidence presented by patterns.
• Thesis statement refers to main claim or argument made in an essay.

Use

GEOGRAPHIC TERMINOLOGY CORRECTLY

Create

ORIGINAL WORK

Use

EFFECTIVE WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Including, but not limited to:

• Correct grammar and punctuation
• Accurate spelling
• Clear diction and sentence structure
• Proper citations to avoid plagiarism

Plan, Organize, Complete

RESEARCH PROJECT

Including, but not limited to:

• Asking geographic questions
• Acquiring, organizing, and analyzing information
• Answering questions
• Communicating results

Use

CASE STUDIES AND GIS

Identify

CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

Answer

REAL-WORLD QUESTIONS

PROBLEM-SOLVING AND DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES

Including, but not limited to:

• Identify a problem
• Gather information
• List and consider options
• Consider advantages and disadvantages
• Choose and implement a solution
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the solution