Important Class Dates

Important Class Dates:

Date Assigned	Assignment	Due Date
	Unit 1 common assessment test
	Unit 2 common assessment test
	Unit 3 common assessment test
	Unit 4 common assessment test
	Unit 5 common assessment test
	Unit 6 common assessment test
	Unit 7 common assessment test
	Unit 8 common assessment test
All Final Exams will be held the last week of school	Final Exams	Last week of School

Unit 1Culture in the beginning

An emphasis will be placed on the basic institutions of civilizations and the key components of cultures by stressing the similarities existing in all. The student will become aware of different civilizations/cultures from around the world. Unit I introduces civilization as geography, history, culture, art, science, technology, economics, government and citizenship.

Enduring Understandings:

Geography influences the settlement patterns of people.

Culture develops to meet the needs and expressions for specific groups.

All cultures exhibit uniqueness.

Economic systems are organized in various ways.

People organize economic systems to produce, distribute, and consume goods and services.

Governments can be organized in different ways.

Essential Questions:

What is culture?

What are the components of culture and civilizations?

What happens when one culture interacts with another culture?

How do different cultures define wealth?

What is economics and how do economic indicators help us to compare civilizations?

What is government?

What types of governments exist in the world?

Who decides what the rules are?

Unit 2 The Americas

This unit will focus on the relationship between the U.S. and its neighbors. Governments, economic policies, and natural resources will be compared. The history and culture of the people of the Americas will be examined. Special attention will be given to the concept of migration with an emphasis on why people move and the effects of that movement

Enduring Understandings

Geography influences the settlement patterns of people.

Cultures are dynamic and ever-changing

People develop, learn, and adapt cultures

People usually migrate to find a better life for themselves and their family

Cultural diffusion is an ongoing process of spreading ideas that helps shape what we believe and how we live.

There are various categories of economic activities used to measure a society’s economic level.

Students use a decision-making process to identify a situation that requires a decision, gather information, identify options, predict consequences, and take action to implement a decision.

Essential Questions:

How does your political neighborhood affect how you behave?

What causes people to move from their present location to a new place? (push)

What causes people to choose a certain location for their new home? (pull)

What are the effects of migration?

What is diffusion and what causes ideas to move?

What effect does diffusion have on cultures and societies?

How do cultures change when they come in contact with one another?

What effect does diffusion have on cultures and societies?

What are the cost/benefits of economic change?

What are the cost/benefits of governmental change?

Unit 3 Europe

This unit will examine how Europe has influenced the world politically. Students will compare how Europeans have adapted to regional geographical features. They will examine the recent developments of the European Union and the adoption of the Euro.

Critical Questions:

People, events, and issues from the past influence the present and the future.
Changes in a government have ripple effects on the economic system and on the citizens.
Economic and Governmental systems require adaptation and modification.
Economic systems are organized in various ways.
Unequal distribution of resources necessitates systems of exchange
Interactions between people and the physical environment impact the development of places and regions.

Essential Questions:

How does human activity affect the physical environment where you live?
How does where you live affect how you live?
What are the rights and responsibilities of citizenship?
How do governments and economic systems change in response to each others needs and rules?

Topical Essential Questions:

What factors contribute to population distribution in the European regions?
What are the affects of human adaptations on the environment?
What are the historical connections to our current political systems?
How do cultural characteristics differ from region to region?
What are the changes in Europe's economic system?
What are the costs and benefits of economic change?
How involved is the government in the economy?

Unit 4 Russia

The relatively recent changes in Russian government, and economics will be the focus of this unit. Changes from the Communist Soviet Union to the Russian Republic as well as a changes from a command to amarket economy. Show struggles faced by Russian people.Russian contributions to art, literature, music and science will also be studied.

Enduring Understandings:

People create systems of government as well as structures of power and authority to provide order and stability.
Changes in a government have ripple effects on the economic system and on the citizens.
Government and Economic systems change in response to each others' needs.
Personal identity is shaped by one's culture, by groups, and by institutional influences.

Essential Questions:

How does where you live help define and shape your culture?
How are governments created, structured, maintained, and changed?
What responsibilities do governments have to their people?
How are governments involved in economic decisions?
How does geography determine economic development?
How do changes in the economy and government impact our daily lives?

Topical Essential Questions:

What challenges does Russia's geography present to its citizens?
What challenges face Russia in moving from a command to market economy?
How has the change from communism to democracy affected Russia?
What are the science and art contributions of the Russian people?

Unit 5 Middle East

This unit focuses on the geography, culture, and history of the Middle East: (Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Yemen, Turkey, Qatar)

The students will examine in detail the three world religions originating in the Middle East: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.

Enduring Understandings:

People, events, and issues from the past influence the present and the future.
Relationships among people, places, and environments result in geographic patterns on Earth's surface.
The physical geography of a place helps shape the culture of that place.
Our personal point of view affects how we perceive historical events.
Conflict is an inevitable result of human interaction.

Essential Questions:

How do historic events shape individuals and groups of people?
Is conflict an inevitable result of human interaction?
How are conflicts resolved?
How do cultures and ones personal beliefs determine what is worth fighting for/over?
How does your political neighborhood affect how you behave?
What effect does diffusion have on cultures and societies?

Topical Essential Questions:

What is the history of the Middle East; land, oil, water?
How do the natural resources of the region affect the people's way of life?
What are the similarities and differences between the three major world religions?
How does the geography, history and culture of the Middle East lead to present day conflict?

Unit 6 South and East Asia

The study of Asia is divided into three regions: South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia. The distinct geographical regions of Asia will be studied, as well as the contributions of selected individuals in each area. Religions, trade, cultural diversity, population, modernization as well as the weatk of thier heritage will be explored.

Enduring Understandings:

Relationships among people, places, and environment result in geographic patterns on Earth's surface.
People and events from the past influence our perception of the present and future.
Unequal distribution of resources necessitates systems of exchange.
Development of new technology is usually motivated by the desire to solve existing problems.
Religion and philosophy are culturally defined.

Essential Questions:

How do historic events shape individuals and groups of people?
How does your political neighborhood affect how you behave?
How does where you live help define and shape your culture?
How does religion affect society?
What are the reasons for government involvement in the economy and what are the effects?
What affects does technology have on historical and current events?

Topical Essential Questions:

How do the political and economic systems of China and the U.S. compare and contrast with each other?
What is the role of religion in society?
What are the art forms of this region?
What are the causes and effects of the population density in Asia?
How do citizens and institutions in Asia cope with the massive changes taking place in this region?

Unit 7 Africa

The focus of this unit will be the challenges of the African people: overcoming the effects of colonization, controlling the ever encroaching deserts, managing the effects of AIDS and struggling to develop strong nations with solid economies. In addition, students will examine Africa's diverse geography and the consequences of the human impact on its environment.

Enduring Understandings:

People, events, and issues from the past influence the present and the future.
Development of new technology is usually motivated by the desire to solve existing problems.
Colonization and cultural interaction and diffusion contribute to conflict and or change.
Colonization creates lasting changes in a culture. The physical characteristic and resources of a place help determine the economic activities of that place.
Changes in a government have ripple effects on the economic system and on the citizens.
Geographic factors influence the economic development, political relationships, and policies of societies.

Essential Questions:

How do historic events shape individuals and groups of people?
How do people shape history?
How does technology affect the development of culture and people's daily life?
What affects does technology have on historical and current events?
What happens when one culture interacts with another?
What is the impact of conflict?
How does where you live affect how you live?
How are needs and wants met in different cultures?
How does geography determine economic activity?
How does technology affect the development of culture and people's daily life?

Topical Essential Questions:

What factors affect the changing population distribution in Africa?
How will Africa support its population?
How do foreign countries affect the economic interests in Africa?
How do foreign countries affect the economic, social, political and environmental interests in Africa?
What is the rich cultural heritage that is Africa?

Unit 8 Australia

Australia's origin as a British penal colony gives it a culture different to that of the United Kingdom, yet similar to other western cultures. Its economy, government, and customs will be studied along with its varied geographic features. The study of Australia is the culminating unit of world cultures and geography.

Enduring Understandings:

Relationships among people, places, and environments result in geographic patterns on Earth's surface.
Geography influences the settlement patterns of people.
Human beings seek to understand their historical roots and to locate themselves in time.
Colonization creates lasting changes in a culture.

Essential Questions:

How do people and ideas move and what is the impact of this movement?
How do cultures change when they come in contact with one another?

Topical Essential Questions:

How does Australia's physical environment affect its economy?
How is Australia's past reflected in its culture?