World Studies Syllabus
Course Objective:
This course will provide students the opportunity to examine, explore, and evaluate social studies concepts such as history, geography, civics and economics through a world regional studies approach.
Course Themes:
Our World Studies course will examine Earth through a thematic approach. We will study themes such as war and conflict, migration and movement, changes and impacts, power and authority, location, region and place, and human environmental interaction. Themes will be introduced through compelling questions and will provide an opportunity to examine and evaluate both historic and current world events.
Course Content and Sequence:
Latin America: (Quarter 1; September-November)** Regions covered: South America, Central America and Mexico
Required text: World Studies Latin America and Foundations of Geography*
Asia: (Quarter 2; November to January)** Regions covered: East and South Asia
Required text: World Studies Asia and the Pacific, World Civilizations and Foundations of Geography*
In class novel "I am Malala" Young Reader's Edition
Oceania/The Pacific: (Quarter 3; January to March)** Regions covered: Australia, Southeast Asia and Pacific island countries
Required text: World Studies Asia and the Pacific and Foundations of Geography*
Sub-Saharan Africa: (Quarter 4; April to June)**Regions covered: African countries below the Sahara Desert
Required text: World Studies Africa and Foundations of Geography*
Course Regional Concepts:
Alternative texts:*
-Introduction to Geography: The Tools and Concepts
-World Geography and You (Book 1)
-World Geography and You (Book 2)
This course will provide students the opportunity to examine, explore, and evaluate social studies concepts such as history, geography, civics and economics through a world regional studies approach.
Course Themes:
Our World Studies course will examine Earth through a thematic approach. We will study themes such as war and conflict, migration and movement, changes and impacts, power and authority, location, region and place, and human environmental interaction. Themes will be introduced through compelling questions and will provide an opportunity to examine and evaluate both historic and current world events.
Course Content and Sequence:
Latin America: (Quarter 1; September-November)** Regions covered: South America, Central America and Mexico
Required text: World Studies Latin America and Foundations of Geography*
Asia: (Quarter 2; November to January)** Regions covered: East and South Asia
Required text: World Studies Asia and the Pacific, World Civilizations and Foundations of Geography*
In class novel "I am Malala" Young Reader's Edition
Oceania/The Pacific: (Quarter 3; January to March)** Regions covered: Australia, Southeast Asia and Pacific island countries
Required text: World Studies Asia and the Pacific and Foundations of Geography*
Sub-Saharan Africa: (Quarter 4; April to June)**Regions covered: African countries below the Sahara Desert
Required text: World Studies Africa and Foundations of Geography*
Course Regional Concepts:
- Introduction to physical and political geography and the five geographic themes
- Reading maps and measuring Earth's surface/understanding hemispheres and continents
- How the earth moves, revolution and rotation
- Weather, climate and vegetation
- How the earth changes, plate tectonics, and natural disasters
- The human earth, population and the development of culture
- Land use and natural resources
- Transportation, communication, and technology
- Economic and political systems
Alternative texts:*
-Introduction to Geography: The Tools and Concepts
-World Geography and You (Book 1)
-World Geography and You (Book 2)