Geo Teacher's
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 Classroom

Honors Wd. Geography Course Outline & Objectives


First Semester Topics
Second Semester Topics
Skills Required


All students must successfully complete World Geography or World History to graduate from Newport News Public Schools.  Students enrolled in a World Geography class must take a World Geography end-of-course SOL test in May.

Honors World Geography is designed to meet the needs of those students who want a more rigorous learning environment.  It is a weighted course with an additional .5 grade value (an "A" equals 4.5 versus 4.0).

All World Geography students must demonstrate understanding of the following essential knowledge derived from the Virginia Standards of Learning:
 

First Semester
 

Unit 1:  Maps and Geographic Skills
 

  • What is Geography?
  • Five Themes of Geography  (10.1)
  • Projections  (10.1)
  • Latitude and Longitude  (10.1)
  • Map Symbols  (10.1)
  • Direction and Distance  (10.1)
  • Thematic Maps  (10.1)
  • Historical Maps  (10.1, 10.15)
  • Geography and Current Events  (10.15)


    • Unit 2:  Physical Geography
     

  • Physical and Ecological Processes
  • Forces Within the Earth
  • Forces on the Surface of the Earth  (10.2)
  • Landforms and waterbodies
  • Climate and Weather  (10.1)
  • Vegetation and Resources
  • Natural Hazards  (10.8)
  • Human/Environment Interaction  (10.2)


    • Unit 3:  Cultural (Human) Geography
     

  • Characteristics of Culture  (10.4)
  • Global Interdependence  (10.14)
  • Forces of Conflict and Cooperation  (10.14)


    • Unit 4:  Population Geography
     

  • Distribution and Growth Rates  (10.5)
  • Human Migration and Cultural Interaction  (10.6)
  • Patterns of Urbanization  (10.10)


    • Unit 5:  Economic  Geography
     

  • Natural, Human, and Capital Resources  (10.9)
  • Economic Interdependence  (10.12)
  • Economic Development  (10.13)


    • Unit 6:  Regional  Geography
     

  • Characteristics of Physical and Cultural Regions  (10.3)
  • Changing Regional Landscapes  (10.3)
  • Regional Studies:  United States and Canada--Anglo-America   (10.7, 10.11)
  • Major landforms and waterbodies
  • Climate and vegetation
  • Resources
  • History 
  • Population patterns
  • Social patterns
  • Political patterns
  • Economic patterns 
  • Subregions
  • Location of States and Provinces
  • Relative Importance in World
    		•

     

    Second Semester
     

    Regional Studies:  Latin America, North Africa and the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Northern Eurasia (Russia and the New Independent States), Europe, and Oceania          (10.7, 10.11 )
     
  • Major landforms and waterbodies  
  • Climate and vegetation
  • Resources
  • History 
  • Population patterns
  • Social patterns
    		•
  • Political patterns
  • Economic patterns 
  • Subregions
  • Location of Major Countries
  • Relative Importance in Major Countries
    		•

    Unit 1:  Latin America
     

  • Mexico
  • Central America and the Caribbean
  • South America


    • Unit 2:  North Africa and the Middle East (Southwest Asia)
     

    Unit 3:  Africa
     

  • West and Central Africa
  • East and Southern Africa


    • Unit 4:  Asia
     

  • South Asia
  • East Asia
  • Southeast Asia


    • Unit 5:  Northern Eurasia  (Russia and the Independent Republics)
     

    Unit 6:  Europe
     

  • Western Europe
  • Eastern Europe


    • Unit 7:  The Pacific World (Oceania) and Antarctica
     

  • Australia
  • New Zealand and the Pacific Islands
  • Antarctica


    • In addition, all World Geography students must demonstrate proficiency in the following essential skills that support the Virginia Standards of Learning:
     

  • Use the basic parts of a map to obtain information from, and to interpret maps.

    • Use compass rose to identify and use cardinal directions.
    Locate places using a grid.
    Locate places using latitude/longitude on maps and globes.
    Apply latitude and longitude (meridians and parallels) to identify direction on maps and globes.
    Measure and estimate distance using a simple scale.
     
  • Compare maps and globes and make inferences.
  • Identify and interpret regional patterns on maps and globes.
  • Identify and locate continents, oceans, regions, and major features on maps and globes.
  • Gather, classify, and interpret data.

    • Draw conclusions and make generalizations about data.
    Explain charts containing two or more ideas.
     
  • Interpret the idea, concepts, or event expressed by a cartoon, picture, or other graphic media.

    • Identify primary ideas expressed in graphic data.
     
  • Compare and contrast differing sets of ideas, beliefs, values, personalities, behaviors, and institutions.
  • Explain cause and effect relationships.
  • Recommend solutions to conflict.


    • In addition to the objectives listed above, honors World Geography students must also demonstrate proficiency in:
     

  • Writing Skills

    • essay test questions, independent research, documentation of research
     
  • Research Skills

    • Finding and using geographical resources, photographs, artifacts, and statistical informationóincluding such primary sources as periodicals, newspapers, historical documents, and Internet resources.
    Organizing and interpreting research in a coherent framework
    Presenting information in written or oral formósuch as research projects, oral presentations, power-point presentations, models, artifacts, visual presentations, portfolios, and/or or web-pages
     
  • Critical Thinking Skills

    • Greater emphasis on higher level thinking skillsósuch as evaluation, synthesis, application, analysis, and interpretation
    More in depth analysis of spatial patterns, cause and effect relationships, the impact of historical events on the development of regions, and contemporary international relations
    Ability to make geographic judgements

    Additionally, honors students will be responsible for a broader base of knowledge, with more attention to detail and current events, than students in an average level class.



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    © R. S. Williams  August 1998, 2000

    Last updated 9/9/01