Social Studies Department

Essential Knowledge and Skills Students in Human Geography investigate the impact of human being on the physical environment and how that environment impacts human beings. They will explore the different concepts related to human interaction with the environment through the study of the five themes of Human Geography: Location, Human Environmental Interaction, Regions, Place, and Movement. The course follows the College Board’s Advanced Placement Human Geography curriculum. Students who take the advanced placement option are required to take the Advanced Placement Human Geography examination in the spring, and they will be evaluated according to Advanced Placement criteria. Students will thus explore the following topics as part of the Advanced Placement curriculum: Population, Migration, Cultural Landscapes, Identity, Language, Religion, Political Geography, Urban Geography, Development, Agriculture, Industry, Human Environment, and Globalization.

Indicators of Student Learning

Upon the completion of this course, students will:

Communication

• Express human geographic concepts in oral and written form, using correct terminology.

• Use communication strategies to facilitate retention of information such as repeating information, constructing mnemonics and taking notes.

• Connect prior knowledge and new information to expand understanding of Human geographic concepts.

• Share ideas and information in small groups and general class discussion, visual presentations, written response and multi-media presentations.

• Use writing as a learning tool, e.g. journals, learning logs, paraphrasing, summarizing, research reports, notebooks.

Content

• Demonstrate knowledge of how to use maps and other geographic tools to acquire information and interpret the world.

• Understand human have adapted and changed their environment and how their environment has changed human behavior.

• Describe how the study of regions provides a useful tool for understanding the interaction of humans and their environment.

• Apply human geographic concepts to interpret the variety of social, political, economic and cultural patterns that have developed around the world.

• Understand and appreciate the affects of human movement on the diffusion of culture.

Technology

• Create individual written projects using appropriate production software.

• Collaborate with peers to use technology to compile and produce projects, models, and other creative works.

• Create and give multi-media presentations.

• Use the Internet as an effective research tool.

Assessment

Upon the completion of this course, students will:

• Demonstrate their knowledge of how to use maps and other human geographic tools by passing various exam formats, including true and false, multiple choice, and short-answer questions. These exams will culminate in many students taking the Advanced Placement Human Geography Examination in the spring.

• Demonstrate competency in communication by using correct terminology, expressing ideas clearly, writing cohesive essays, presenting ideas and information in visual and multi-media presentations.

• Demonstrate competency in technology by researching, creating, and presenting, projects, papers, and multi-media presentations.