Materials

• Unlabeled outline maps of the world
• Overhead with cultural and political divisions listed

Instructional Activities

1. Review information from the previous session.
   
   
2. Explain that just as the United States is divided into states, counties, cities, and districts, the world is similarly divided into various spatial divisions. Ask students to recall some of the regional divisions already studied. After students have listed several, display an overhead of the types of regional divisions already studied.
   
   
3. Display the following list on the board or overhead one at a time. Instruct students to annotate unlabeled outline maps to reflect these various divisions as they are explained in class. NOTE: This may take more than one session.
   • Countries
   • Alliances — economic and political
     - North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
     - European Union (EU)
     - Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
     - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
     - Commonwealth of Nations
     - United Nations
     - Red Cross/Red Crescent
     - Organization of American States (OAS)
     - League of Arab States
     - Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
     - African Union
   
   
4. Explain to students that these divisions are the result of the following:
   • Differences in culture, language, religion
   • Retention of historical boundaries
   • Imperial conquest and control
   • Economic similarities and differences
   
   
5. Discuss each of these reasons providing examples of each from history or current events.