History and Social Sciences - Global Learning: Virginia Standards of Learning

Standard(s) of Learning

WG.4
The student will locate and analyze physical, economic, and cultural characteristics of world regions: . . .Southeast Asia, East Asia, . . .

WG.12
The student will apply geography to interpret the past, understand the present, and plan for the future by

a)
using geographic knowledge, skills, and perspectives to analyze problems and make decisions;

b)
relating current events to the physical and human characteristics of places and regions.

Content

Describe how physical, economic, and cultural characteristics influence regional development. Use the regional information provided below.

Countries Vietnam
•    South Asia
      - Philippines
      - Indonesia
      - Malaysia
      - Thailand&
      - Cambodia
      - Burma (Myanmar)
      - Laos
      - Vietnam
      - Singapore
      - Brunei
•    East Asia
      - Mongolia&
      - China (People’s Republic of China)
      - Japan
      - Taiwan (Republic of China)
      - North Korea
      - South Korea

Physical Characteristics
•    Influence of mountains — Population, settlements, movement, climate
•    Mountains
      - Himalayas
      - Mount Fuji
•    Varied climate regions ranging tropical wet to humid continental
Natural hazards — Monsoons, typhoons, volcanoes, and earthquakes
Influence of water (rivers, seas, and ocean currents) on agriculture, trade, and transportation
Bodies of water
      - Bay of Bengal
      - Pacific Ocean
      - Yangtze River (Chaing Jiang)
      - Mekong River
      - Yellow River (Huang He)
•    Abundant arable land
•    Loess
•    Plateau of Tibet
•    Gobi Desert

Economic Characteristics
•    Varied economies in the region ranging from subsistence/commercial agriculture to high-tech industrial manufacturing
•    Participation in global markets
•    Newly industrialized countries — South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore
•    Japan — Economic leader
•    China in transition from a centrally planned economy
•    Agricultural advancements and technology, enabling greater food production — ”Green Revolution”
•    Environmental degradation
•    Deforestation
•    Fishing
•    ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
•    Rice, tropical crops

Cultural Characteristics
•    Areas of extremely dense and sparse population
•    Contrast between rural and urban areas
•    Religious diversity — Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism, Shinto, Confucianism
•    Respect for ancestors
•    Religious conflicts (Hindu/Muslim)
•    Cultural heritage
      - Silks
      - Batik
      - Wood and ivory carving
      - Ideograms, unique alphabets
      - Jewels
•    Cultural landscape
      - Angkor Wat
      - Great Wall of China
      - Pagodas
      - Temples and shrines
      - Terraced rice fields
•    Cities as centers of culture and trade
      - Tokyo
      - Beijing

Explain the following practical applications of how geography enables students to be informed, active citizens in their communities:
•    Recycling programs
•    Conversion of land from agricultural use
•    Water sources (e.g., dams, reservoirs, wells, pipelines, ocean)
•    Airport expansion
•    Air quality
•    Boundaries (e.g., school zones)
•    Bicycle paths
•    Mass transit
•    City planning and zoning laws
•    Energy use
•    Location and size of public buildings (e.g., schools, recreation centers, hospitals, and libraries)
•    Selection of locations for new stores and businesses

Explain that current events are shaped by the physical and human characteristics of the places and regions where they occur.

Use the following examples to explain how physical and human characteristics influence current events of places and regions:
•    How physical characteristics influence current events:
      - Natural hazards (e.g., flooding, earthquakes, volcanoes, drought)
      - Climate, vegetation
•    How human characteristics influence current events:
      - Population distribution
      - Geographic patterns of ethnic diversity
      - A sense of place (emotional attachment to specific locations)
      - Geographic patterns of trade and interdependence (e.g., oil)
      - Geographic patterns of wealth and poverty (developed and developing nations)

Sample Resources

Below is an annotated list of Internet resources recommended for this organizing topic. Copyright restrictions may exist for the material on some Web sites. Please note and abide by any such restrictions.

“Construction of the Great Wall Begins, 221 B.C.” North Park University. <http://www.ccds.charlotte.nc.us/History/China/save/barrett/barrett.html>. This site contains information on the construction of the Great Wall of China.

“Fuji, Honshu, Japan.” University of North Dakota. <http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/volc_images/img_fuji.html>. This site provides information about and pictures of Mount Fuji.

Lienhard, John H. “Engines of Our Ingenuity #1299: Stability of Pagodas.” University of Houston. <http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi1299.htm>. This Web page explains why pagodas are able to withstand the destructive power of earthquakes.

Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection. University of Texas at Austin. <http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/asia.html>. This site provides a great variety of downloadable maps.

Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning: History and Social Science Released Items for Virginia and United States History. Virginia Department of Education 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/Release2003/History/VA-RIBs_g11wgeo-1.pdf>.

Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning: World Geography Test Blueprint. Virginia Department of Education, 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/2002Blueprint9WG.pdf>. This site provides assessment information for the course in World Geography.

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