Commentary on Proposed SS Curriculum -- Geography

Hi Michelle -- sorry it has taken me so long to come back to this.  I've had a couple of major family crises and have been just hanging on day by day.  Maybe today I'll have enough time to think of something else for a few hours....

 

I do hope you are well and that your school year is going well.  My additions and/or thoughts are highlighted in yellow.

 

All the best,

Sue

 

Geography: (focus on -- but perhaps not limited to -- Europe, Asia, and Africa as connected with the history studied)

 The study of the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa should focus on:

4. Placing countries, cities, deserts, mountain ranges, and bodies of water on the continents on which they are located
5. Use coordinates of latitude and longitude to locate points on a world map
6. Name and identify on a map the countries in each continent
7. Identify:

·         Major mountain ranges

·         Rivers

·         Bodies of water

·         Climate

·         Natural resources

8. Describe ways humans depend on and modify the environment and the positive and negative consequences of the modifications
9. Explain how particular regions and resources in these regions influence the availability of the growth of technology, transportation, and communication
10. Identify and describe a variety of physical and human regions by analyzing maps, charts, and graphs that show patterns and characteristics that define regions

Two thoughts:

1)  I believe that we need to specifically guide students toward awareness and increasing understanding that geography influences interactions between human communities.  It is necessary, if one is to understand the history, culture, economics, politics, etc. of any region that there be a working knowledge of the impacts of the geography.

2)  The most current work being done with regard to the environment cautions us about viewing the land, water, forests, minerals, and animal life of the planet as "resources."  That language helps us persist in the belief that it is all here for us to use exactly as we might choose -- without regard to what is just.