Six Elements, Eighteen Standards of Geography (from Geography for Life)

National Standards Six Elements Six Elements World in Spatial Terms World in Spatial Terms Places and Regions Places and Regions Physical Systems Physical Systems Human Systems Human Systems Environment and Society Environment and Society Uses of Geography Uses of Geography Eighteen Standards Eighteen Standards

I. The World in Spatial Terms Geography studies the relationships between people, places, and environments by mapping information about them into a spatial context. Geography studies the relationships between people, places, and environments by mapping information about them into a spatial context.

The student knows and understands: The student knows and understands: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technology to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technology to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective

The student knows and understands: How to use mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context How to use mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context

The student knows and understands: How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth’s surface How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth’s surface

Activity: Mental Mapping Show aerial photos of crop patterns Show aerial photos of crop patterns Draw the world in 30 seconds Draw the world in 30 seconds Sketch six circles roughly in the right places and roughly proportionate sizes of the continents (exclude Anarctica). Sketch six circles roughly in the right places and roughly proportionate sizes of the continents (exclude Anarctica). Which is the largest continent? Which is the largest continent? Which is the smallest continent? Which is the smallest continent?

The World in 30 Seconds

II. Places and Regions The identities and lives of individuals and peoples are rooted in particular places and in those human constructs called regions. The identities and lives of individuals and peoples are rooted in particular places and in those human constructs called regions.

The student knows and understands: The physical and human characteristics of places The physical and human characteristics of places

The student knows and understands: That people create regions to interpret Earth’s complexity That people create regions to interpret Earth’s complexity

The student knows and understands: How culture and experience influence people’s perceptions of places and regions How culture and experience influence people’s perceptions of places and regions

Activity: Regions Compare geographic characteristics of regions of the world at similar latitudes Compare geographic characteristics of regions of the world at similar latitudes Example: Gulf Coastal plain in the New Orleans area, Nile River Valley in Cairo area, and Yangtze River in Shanghai area Example: Gulf Coastal plain in the New Orleans area, Nile River Valley in Cairo area, and Yangtze River in Shanghai area Examine photographs to determine the physical and human characteristics of a town Examine photographs to determine the physical and human characteristics of a town Examine religions in your community. Examine religions in your community.

III. Physical Systems Physical processes shape Earth’s surface and interact with plant and animal life to create, sustain, and modify ecosystems. Physical processes shape Earth’s surface and interact with plant and animal life to create, sustain, and modify ecosystems.

The student knows and understands: The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth’s surfaces The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth’s surfaces

The student knows and understands: The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth’s surface The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth’s surface

Activity: Earth/Sun Relations Relate seed and garden catalog descriptions of growing seasons to the U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone maps Relate seed and garden catalog descriptions of growing seasons to the U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone maps Examine how water can change a place Examine how water can change a place What ecosystems are found in your state? What ecosystems are found in your state?

IV. Human Systems People are central to geography in that human activities help shape Earth’s surface, human settlements and structures are part of Earth’s surface, and humans compete for control of Earth’s surface. People are central to geography in that human activities help shape Earth’s surface, human settlements and structures are part of Earth’s surface, and humans compete for control of Earth’s surface.

The student knows and understands: The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth’s surface The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth’s surface

The student knows and understands: The characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth’s cultural mosaics The characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth’s cultural mosaics

The student knows and understands: The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth’s surface The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth’s surface

The student knows and understands: The processes, patterns, and functions of human settlement The processes, patterns, and functions of human settlement

The student knows and understands: How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth’s surface How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth’s surface

Activity: Student Population Develop a census questionnaire featuring population characteristics of interest to students (number of sisters and brothers, favorite sport, types of pets, etc.). Collect data from students in two classes. Describe and compare the two populations. Develop a census questionnaire featuring population characteristics of interest to students (number of sisters and brothers, favorite sport, types of pets, etc.). Collect data from students in two classes. Describe and compare the two populations. Discuss The Great Migration. Why were the impacts on the North and the South? Discuss The Great Migration. Why were the impacts on the North and the South? Look at Population Pyramids Look at Population Pyramids Have students examine clothing labels and denote all countries represented Have students examine clothing labels and denote all countries represented

V. Environment and Society The physical environment is modified by human activities, largely as a consequence of the ways in which human societies value and use Earth’s natural resources, and human activities are also influenced by Earth’s physical features and processes. The physical environment is modified by human activities, largely as a consequence of the ways in which human societies value and use Earth’s natural resources, and human activities are also influenced by Earth’s physical features and processes.

The student knows and understands: How human actions modify the physical environment How human actions modify the physical environment

The student knows and understands: How physical systems affect human systems How physical systems affect human systems

The student knows and understands: The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources

Activity: Natural Hazards Collect data on the occurrence of natural hazards in the student’s state and elsewhere in the U.S. over a period to create a map Collect data on the occurrence of natural hazards in the student’s state and elsewhere in the U.S. over a period to create a map What impact will the dam on the Yangtze River have on surrounding communities? What impact will the dam on the Yangtze River have on surrounding communities? How did hurricane Katrina impact the city of New Orleans? How did hurricane Katrina impact the city of New Orleans? Examine who controls oil and how is it distributed. Examine who controls oil and how is it distributed.

VI. The Uses of Geography Knowledge of geography enables people to develop an understanding of the relationships between people, places, and environments over time—that is, of Earth as it was, is, and might be. Knowledge of geography enables people to develop an understanding of the relationships between people, places, and environments over time—that is, of Earth as it was, is, and might be.

The student knows and understands: How to apply geography to interpret the past How to apply geography to interpret the past

The student knows and understands: How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future

Activity: Past Community With interviews, maps, and pictures create a booklet of the history of your community With interviews, maps, and pictures create a booklet of the history of your community Why did the Vietnam War fail? Why did the Vietnam War fail? Propose an alternative solution to an environmental problem Propose an alternative solution to an environmental problem

Resources Geography for Life (1994). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Research & Exploration: Author. Geography for Life (1994). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Research & Exploration: Author.