| WG.4 |
The student will locate and analyze physical, economic, and cultural characteristics of world regions: . . . United States and Canada . . . |
| 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. |
Describe how physical, economic, and cultural characteristics influence regional development. Use the regional information provided below.
Physical characteristics
• Abundant natural resources
• Continental Divide
• Rivers
- Mississippi
- St. Lawrence
- Colorado
- Columbia
- Rio Grande
• Other water features
- Gulf of Mexico
- Great Lakes
- Arctic Ocean
- Pacific Ocean
- Atlantic Ocean
- Hudson Bay
• Land forms
- Aleutian Islands
- Hawaiian archipelago
- Appalachian Mountains
- Pacific Coastal Ranges
- Basin and Range
- Rocky Mountains
- Great Plains
- Interior lowlands
- Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains
- Canadian Shield
- Grand Canyon
• Varied climate regions, ranging from tundra in Alaska to tropical wet in Hawaii
Economic characteristics
• Major exporters of technology, consumer goods, information systems, and foodstuffs
• Highly developed infrastructures
• Highly diversified economies
• Rich supply of mineral, energy, and forest resources
• North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
• Multinational corporations
• Center of world financial markets (New York Stock Exchange)
• Sustained economic growth
• Widening gap between rich and poor
• Export of U.S. culture via the global marketplace (e.g., McDonald’s, Coca Cola, music, blue jeans)
Cultural characteristics
• Colonized by the Europeans
• Multicultural societies
• Increasingly diverse populations
• High literacy rates
• High standard of living
• Highly urbanized
• Canada’s struggle to maintain a national identity
• Highly mobile populations
• World’s longest unfortified border between the United States and Canada
• Democratic forms of government
• Arts that reflect the cultural heritage of multicultural societies
• North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
• Cities as centers of culture and trade
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Ottawa
- Quebec
- Vancouver, British Columbia
- Washington, D.C.
- Chicago
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- Houston
• Cultural landscape
- U.S. Capitol building
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Independence Hall
- St. Louis Gateway Arch
- Wheat fields
- Skyscrapers, shopping malls
- Bilingual signs
- Influence of the automobile (e.g., gas stations, motels, interstate highways, drive-up services)
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)
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.
Maps of the United States. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of Interior. <http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/>. This site provides access to information about geographic maps of the United States, including how to purchase them.
NYSE: New York Stock Exchange. <http://www.nyse.com/>. This is the homepage of the New York Stock Exchange.
Outline Maps — Education Place. Houghton Mifflin, 2002. <http://www.eduplace.com/ss/ssmaps/>. This site permits visitors to print a variety of maps related to this organizing topic.
Subject Access: World Geography, Languages, and Regional Information. Discovery Channel School. <http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/world/geog.html>. This site provides links to many Web sites on geography.
United States of America Geography. Kidport Reference Library. <http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/UsaGeography/UsaGeography.htm>. This site provides access to information on the geography of the United States.
The World Factbook 2002. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. <https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html>. This site contains searchable information on all countries.
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.
|
