1. AP Human Geography 8th Grade Parent Meeting
April 3, 2017

2. What is AP?
AP classes consist of college-level coursework that is made available to high school students.
Depending upon the student’s level of
achievement on the AP exam, the student
may receive college credit for the course.
(Each college sets the requirement for college credit.)

3. GPA/Class Rank
Grades in AP classes are weighted more heavily when calculating GPA and class rank
An 85 in an AP class is equivalent to a 95 in a CP class
An 80 in an AP class is equivalent to an 90
A 70 in an AP class is equivalent to an 80
A 95 in an AP class is like making a 105 in a CP class

4. Course Overview
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the concepts surrounding human development and human-environment interaction.
Course topics include:
Population and migration
Culture
Development
-9th grade course
-Simply put, this course analyzes the impact physical geography and human culture have on each other
-Besides teaching the basics of geography, this course covers population and migration patterns, world religions, language, ethnicity, economics, political structures, and agriculture.

5. Skills to be Successful
Study Habits
Reading Comprehension
Writing
Ask for Help!
-To be successful in this course, there are many skills that we focus on and develop throughout the year.
-Students will have to practice good time management and dedicate time each day to studying.
-The textbook used for this class is typically at a higher reading level than what most freshmen are used to. Because of this, we will work on strengthening students’ reading skills and help develop their note-taking abilities.
-This course involves a lot of writing, and it will be important for students to pay attention to detail during assignments. This is a skill we will focus on throughout the year.
-Students should never be afraid to ask for help. We are always available to assist students in any way we can!

6. Resources Textbook Kaplan Review Text iPads
-We will use the textbook, The Cultural Landscape, every day.
-We require students to purchase an AP review book. The one that we use the most comes from the Kaplan Publishing company; this helps to break down the textbook’s information into easier to understand “chunks.”
-We use the iPads every day!

7. Examples of Projects Women in Society Article
Create Your Own Country Paper & Video
Energy Resource Brochure
-Throughout the year students will be challenged to apply what they have learned in class to a project
-Here are just a few examples of work.
-The “Women in Society” article asks students to take on the role of a newspaper reporter and research a foreign country’s treatment of women.
-In this second assignment, students will design their own country and identify various components of development. Students present their creations through a paper and make a video.
-In this third example, students will research a type of energy source (such as solar power, petroleum, or nuclear power) and try to persuade their peers to adopt their topic. Students give an oral presentation to the class and support their findings with an informational brochure/phamplet.

8. Summer Reading Outcasts United by Warren St. John.
-Students are required to read Warren St. John’s non-fiction novel, Outcasts United. This is a great account of a refugee community near Atlanta and follows the journey of the local teenage soccer team.
-We reference the book throughout the year and students will required to complete an assignment during the first portion of the year.

9. We’d Love To Hear From You!
Molly Rains
Paige Dillard
Seth Young
-We would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact either of us for more information!
-Please feel free to Mr. Clark or myself with any questions or comments.
-Check out our classroom websites through the Wren High School homepage.
-Please feel free to visit our classroom websites