Unit I.  Thinking Geographically

This first unit sets the foundation for the course by teaching students how geographers approach the study of places. Students are encouraged to reflect on the “why of where” to better understand geographic perspectives. Many other high school courses ask students to read and analyze data, but for this course, students also apply a spatial perspective when reading and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data.

Students learn the ways information from data sources such as maps, tables, charts, satellite images, and infographics informs policy decisions such as voting redistricting or expanding transportation networks. They also learn about how people influence and are influenced by their environment; the resulting impact on topography, natural resources, and climate; and the differences between and consequences of environmental determinism and possibilism.

Finally, students are introduced to the language of geography, learning discipline-specific terminology and applying that language to contemporary, real world scenarios so they can better study population processes and patterns in the next unit.

Unit I Topics

Topic 1.1 Introduction to Maps
A. Geographers use maps and data to depict relationships of time, space, and scale.
     1. Identify types of maps. The types of information presented in maps and different kinds of spatial patterns and relationships portrayed in maps.
          a. Types of maps include reference maps and thematic maps.
          b. Types of spatial patterns represented on maps include absolute and relative distance and direction, clustering, dispersal, and elevation.
          c. All maps are selective in information; map projections inevitable distort spatial relationships in shape area distance and direction.

Topic 1.2 Geographic Data
A. Geographers use maps and data to depict relationships of time, space, and scale.
     1. Identify different methods of geographic data collection.
          a. Data may be gathered in the field by organizations or by individuals.
          b. Geospatial technologies include geographic information systems (GIS), satellite navigation systems, remote sensing, and online mapping and          visualization.
          c. Spatial information can come from written accounts in the form of field observations, media reports, travel narratives, policy documents, personal interviews, landscape analysis, and photographic interpretation.

Topic 1.3 The Power of Geographic Data
A. Geographers use maps and data to depict relationships of time, space, and scale.
1. Explain the geographical effects of decisions made using geographical information.
a. Geospatial and geographical data, including census data and satellite imagery, are used at all scales for personal, business and organizational, and governmental decision making purposes.

Topic 1.4 Spatial Concepts
A. Geographers analyze relationships among and between places to reveal important spatial patterns.
1. Define major geographic concepts that illustrate spatial relationships.
a. Spatial concepts include absolute and relative location, space, place, flows, distance decay, time-space compression, and pattern.

Topic 1.5 Human Environment Interaction
A. Geographers analyze relationships among and between places to reveal important spatial patterns.
1. Explain how major geographic concepts illustrate spatial relationships.
a. Concepts of nature and society include sustainability, natural resources, and land use.
b. Theories regarding the interaction of the natural environment with human societies have evolved from environmental determinism to possibilism.

Topic 1.6 Scale of Analysis
A. Geographers analyze relationships among and between places to reveal important spatial patterns.
1. Define scales of analysis used by geographers.
a. Scales of analysis include global, regional, national, and local.
B. Explain what scales of analysis reveal.
1. Patterns and processes at different scales reveal variations in, and different interpretations of, data.

Topic 1.7 Regional Analysis
A. Geographers analyze complex issues and relationships with a distinctively spatial perspective.
1. Describe different ways that geographers define regions.
a. Regions are defined on the basis of one or more unifying characteristics or on patterns of activity.
b. Types of regions include formal, functional, and perceptual/vernacular.
c. Regional boundaries are transitional and often contested and overlapping.
d. Geographers apply regional analysis at local, national, and global scales.

 

Questions

  1. Why is geography important as a field of study?
  2. How can geography help us understand human-environmental interactions?
  3. What is location?
  4. What is place?
  5. What is scale?
  6. What is a small-scale map?
  7. What is a large-scale map?
  8. How is a network a geographic concept?
  9. What is regionalization?
  10. What is globalization and how can geography help us understand it?
  11. What is landscape analysis?
  12. How can landscape analysis help us understand the location of people?
  13. How can landscape analysis help us understand human-environment relationships?
  14. How can landscape analysis help us understand interconnections between places and regions?
  15. What is meant by the phrase “human organization of space”?
  16. How can spatial concepts be used to interpret and understand population and migration?
  17. How can spatial concepts be used to interpret and understand cultural patterns and processes?
  18. How can spatial concepts be used to interpret and understand political organization of space?
  19. How can spatial concepts be used to interpret and understand agriculture, food production, and rural land use?
  20. How can spatial concepts be used to interpret and understand industrialization and economic development?
  21. How can spatial concepts be used to interpret and understand cities and urban land use?
  22. What is a political map? What is an example of how it could be used?
  23. What is a physical map? What is an example of how it could be used?
  24. What is a choropleth map? What is an example of how it could be used?
  25. What is a dot map? What is an example of how it could be used?
  26. What is a graduated symbol map? What is an example of how it could be used?
  27. What is an isoline map? What is an example of how it could be used?
  28. What is a cartogram? What is an example of how it could be used?
  29. Describe map projection.
  30. What is accurate on a Mercator projection? What is distorted?
  31. What is the rate of natural increase in population (NRI)? What does that mean?
  32. What is population doubling time? How can that number be determined?
  33. What is rank-size rule for cities?
  34. What is distance-decay? What are the functions for it?
  35. What is a region?
  36. Define and give an example of a formal region.
  37. Define and give an example of a functional region.
  38. Define and give an example of a perceptual region.
  39. What is regionalism?
  40. How are pollutants an example of interconnections among places?
  41. How is money an example of interconnections among places?
  42. What is GIS?
  43. What is GPS?
  44. What is remote sensing?
  45. How are geospatial technologies used for personal purposes?
  46. How are geospatial technologies used for business purposes?
  47. How are geospatial technologies used for governmental purposes?
  48. How is field study used in gathering geographic information?
  49. What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative geographic data?
  50. Give examples of how qualitative geographic data could be used in economic, environmental, political, or social decision making.
  51. Give examples of how quantitative geographic data could be used in economic, environmental, political, or social decision making.