Social Studies: Module 3, Section 5

In geography, we study:

the Earth and the people living on it.

When we primarily focus on the physical characteristics of Earth, we are studying:

physical geography. 

human geography

we focus on the interactions between people and the environment.  

Location

Where is something?can be absolute or relative.will identify locations by using a grid system. Grid systems are sets of horizontal and vertical lines that lay over a map, and provide exact locations with coordinates. They are read in degrees of latitude and degrees of longitude. 

Place

What is the location like?

region

How is this place similar or different from others?

Human & Enviornment Interactions

How do humans change this place? How does this place change humans?

Movement

How do places interact with each other?

absolute location.

Knowing the coordinates of latitude and longitude allows one to know their_____.

renewable & nonrenewable resources

The _______ and _______ available to each region impact its economic development, way of life, and population. Availability of freshwater is crucial to supporting agriculture in areas with fertile soil. Timber, fossil fuels, fishing, farming, and tourism are all industries that are related to what the land has to offer and provide a means to serve a population.

Maps and globes

used in geography as a representation of physical space and location. 

Globes

3-dimensional models of the Earth. They depict oceans, continents, and poles. 

Maps

• 2-dimensional overheads of a region that can show different features.  

identify appropriate maps needed for various situations.

Depending on the function of the map, different information can be gained by reading it. A road map focuses on main transportation, while a topographic map focuses on elevation and the lay of the land. Teach students to______________.

Figure

This is the thing or item that is being mapped.

Ground

The ground is whatever the figure is being compared to. In this sample map, the grayed-out land of Mexico and Canada and the grayed-out oceans represent the ground.

Title

This is the name of the map; usually, in the title, there is some language used to let the audience know what the map is about

Legend

The legend tells us what symbols or colors are used to represent information on the map.

Source/ Credit

This tells us who created the map.

Scale

The scale shows us distance, usually represented by centimeters or inches.

North America

Significant Characteristics

• Includes various biomes such as desert, grassland, tundra, and coral reefs

• The Rocky Mountains parallel with the Cordilleras (the Sierra Nevadas are a part of this)

• Volcanic regions in Central America

• Great Plains

• Canadian Shield

• Caribbean Island clusters with coral reefs

• Canada’s Bay of Fundy is the greatest tidal range in the world

• The Great Lakes are the world's largest area of freshwater

• The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in the world

• Natural resource extraction and tourism are the biggest industries in the region, with sustainable tourism making gains

• Immigration in the region is commonplace

Human-Environmental Interaction

• Humans in North America adapted to their environment in various ways depending on the region.

• Humans created rough irrigation systems to bring water to their crops

• Other humans in North America practiced a nomadic way of life where they chose the best sites for their summer territory and the best sites to weather the winter. 

• Modern humans have created urban centers that have negatively impacted the environment. 

• Oil and gas extraction has created a boom in North America's economy, but the resources are finite, and extraction is harming the environment.

• The increasing temperatures are creating more violent storms in the form of hurricanes, droughts, forest fires, and tornadoes. 

• Humans have created global economic deals with other countries, allowing globalization to grow even more.

• The Rainforest is decreasing in size, and we are losing biodiversity.

South America

Significant Characteristics

• Three physical regions: mountains & highlands, river basins, and coastal plains.

• The Andes Mountain range is the world’s longest.

• The Patagonia Region is a high plateau with glaciers.

• The Brazilian and Guiana highlands are on the eastern side of the continent.

• The Orinoco River basin covers 1700 miles.

• The Amazon River basin is the largest watershed in the world, covering 7 million acres.

• Rainforests are a key feature of the region, along with high biodiversity.

• Dry coastal plains are a feature of the west side of the continent due to cold ocean water mixing with warmer air higher up.

• The Atacama Desert is the driest region in the world, with less than one inch of rain per year.

Human-Environmental Interaction

• Humans in the mountainous regions relied on terraced agriculture. This means they planted on the hillside to suit the plant's preferences for warmer or cooler temperatures and were able to move soil down the slope for more nutrient-dependent plants. 

• Humans in the rainforests and the river basins lived a nomadic life, and some tribes still live this way, using the rich biomes of the region to support themselves.

• The deforestation of the rainforest is a major concern, but is being done to support larger agricultural and ranching concerns to feed a growing population

• Many people are leaving the countryside and flocking to urban areas, with many cities on the continent experiencing rapid growth

• Tourism is growing, which is providing another sector of wealth to the economy, but is also creating a strain on the natural resources.

Europe

Significant Characteristics

• The Iberian, Italian & Balkan peninsulas are the most famous in Europe

• 4 major regions: Western Uplands, Northern European Plain, Central Uplands, and Alpine Mountains

• Western Upland: Hard, prehistoric rock formed by growing and retreating glaciers. Marshlands, lakes & fjords surrounded by rugged cliffs.

• Northern European Plain: Southern UK to East Russia (most of lower continental Europe), lower elevations, rivers, and rich soil for agriculture. Rhine, Weser, Danube, and Vistula rivers in the region

• Central Uplands: Central Europe, heavily wooded, Black Forest, Taunus Forest.

• Alpine Mountains, Italy, Balkan peninsula, Northern France and Spain, The Alps, The Pyrenees, Dinaric Alps, and the Carpathian Mountains. These mountains were formed by volcanic activity and experience rich soil and lower temperatures

Human-Environmental Interaction

• Polders are where seawater is drained and pumped away from land. 40% of Holland is land created using polders.

• Venice and Florence use the waterways for transportation rather than draining it away.

• Deforestation and wildlife in Europe are in danger of extinction. 

• Climate change has also impacted this region, and Europe is taking great strides to reduce its carbon footprint. Iceland is leading the way by using hydro and geothermal energy for all its heating and electricity.

Middle East & North Africa

Significant Characteristics

• Numerous Deserts: Sahara, Arabian Nubian, and Sinai deserts

• Fertile river valleys like the Nile River Valley, Jordan River Valley, and Euphrates River Valley (known as part of the fertile crescent)

• Mediterranean climate in Turkey and parts of North Africa

Human-Environmental Interaction

• Desalination Plants in the Arabian Peninsula turn saltwater into potable drinking water.

• Qanats are underground tunnels that extract groundwater and move it downhill to be used as irrigation for crops.

• The area is rich in oil, and many OPEC nations take economic advantage of the resource.

• The Nile River has been damned at numerous points which causes water issues further downstream.

Central & West Africa

Significant Characteristics

• Southern part of the Sahara Desert

• Niger River

• Cameroon Highlands

• The southern part of the Nile River longest in the world

• Sahel, a fertile delta

• The Congo rainforest & jungle

• Congo River Basin

• Lake Chad

Human-Environmental Interaction

• The Sahel is shrinking due to deforestation, drought, and intensive agriculture.

• Deforestation is impacting flora and fauna, particularly chimpanzees and gorillas. 

• Nigeria is a top oil producer, but the riches are concentrated among those who own the rights. This industry has created major environmental harm in the area due to numerous spills that have not been cleaned up.

• Desertification and Erosion are happening in the Sahara due to over-farming and deforestation.

East & Southern Africa

Significant Characteristics

• Great Rift Valley: features volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, and earthquakes

• Serengeti Plain

• Highlands of Ethiopia

• Lake Victoria

• Mt. Kilimanjaro: the second-highest mountain in the world

• High Plateau in Southern Africa

• Great Escarpment: high, jagged mountains in the south

• Island nation of Madagascar

• Kalahari Desert

• Zambezi River & lush Veld: grasslands

Human-Environmental Interaction

• The Great Rift Valley is where archaeologists discovered the oldest hominids, including Lucy, a 3.2 million-year-old Australopithecus and one of our oldest ancestors.

• Many pre-human and homo sapiens lived in this region, developing the use of fire, stone tool technology (volcanic glass), and hunting techniques.

• Tourism is now benefiting some wildlife in the region as national parks and conservation bring in money.

• Deforestation and wildlife grazing continue to threaten the region, which increases instances of drought.

• Mining has increased since the 19th century, polluting rivers.

South Asia

Significant Characteristics

• Indo-Gangetic Plain: combined delta of the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus river valleys.

• Hindu Kush, Karakoram, and Himalaya mountain ranges

• Deccan Plateaus: an arid region at higher elevation

• Western & Eastern Ghats: smaller mountains that sandwich the Bay of Bengal

• Javadi Hills: higher, forested foothills

• The Maldives Islands are an archipelago

Human-Environmental Interaction

• A heavily populated area, ⅙ humans on the earth are from South Asia.

• The Ganges and other rivers are heavily polluted, creating dangerous diseases.

• Seasonal floods from the monsoon provide irrigation for agriculture, but have become increasingly more powerful, destroying villages and towns.

• Bangladesh created the Feni Dam (earthen dam) using technology from the Netherlands. This prevented erosion in the region.

Northeast Asia

Significant Characteristics

• The Altay Mountains in Mongolia created a physical barrier

• Mongolian Plateau grasslands and rolling plains

• Gobi Desert

• Yangtze River: the longest river in China

• Three Gorges Dam

• Mekong River

Human-Environmental Interaction

• Three Gorges Dam is the world's largest hydroelectric power station.

• Air pollution continues to be an issue in the region, with the world's worst AQI Air Quality Index in China.

• Intense agriculture is supported by the rich tropical climate.

• Acid Rain from pollution from power plants

• Marine pollution: Overfishing is creating a shortage of seafood and forcing fishing operations to travel further away. 

South East Asia & the Pacific (Oceania)

Significant Characteristics

• The region is made up of islands.

• Continental Islands were islands that used to be attached to a continent. Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea. Mountain ranges and volcanic plateaus are common on continental islands.

• Outback: large desert and inland plain

• Glaciers in New Zealand are due to high altitudes and cool moisture-bearing winds.

• Papua New Guinea's highland rainforest

• High Islands: volcanic islands that were created by magma boiling up from a rift in the sea floor and creating a large land mass over time.

• Ring of Fire: a string of volcanic islands that sit on a divergent plate boundary.

• Low Islands: also coral islands, which are made by the skeletons of small marine animals. 

Human-Environmental Interaction

• Wayfaring: a Polynesian sailing technique that allowed humans to island-hop and navigate with extreme accuracy all around the South Pacific.

• Nuclear Testing: The U.S. exploded several radioactive bombs in the Bikini Islands that vaporized entire islands and made thousands of islanders ill. Official cleanup began in 1988, but the area is still full of radioactive material and is not safe for human habitation.

Northeast

• The Atlantic Ocean borders this region to the east and the Great Lakes to the west.

• Canada is the northern border, with the Southeastern states being the southern border. 

• The Northeast region is divided into the New England and Mid-Atlantic states. 

• Notable cities in the region are New York City, Boston, and Washington, D.C. 

• Additional physical features include the northern Appalachian Mountains and multiple water features.

• Including the ocean, water features include the St. Lawrence, Hudson, Delaware, and Susquehanna rivers, including Hudson Bay. 

• The region's climate is characterized by extreme winters (nor’easters, blizzards), milder autumns and springs, and warmer, humid summers.

Southeast

• The Southeast is bordered to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and includes a part of the Gulf of Mexico.

• It is bordered to the north by the Northeast and Midwest states, and is bordered by the Southwestern states to the west. 

• The climate in the Southeast is more varied than in the Northeast, mostly due to the tropical characteristics of Florida and the southern part of the lower states, but also because of the Appalachian Mountains in the north. 

• Temperatures increase the further south you go, and in the northern states, they can have cold winters with snowfall. 

• Florida and the areas that border the ocean and the Gulf of Mexico have milder winters, and their year is usually divided by the rainy/monsoon season and the dry season. 

• In general, the region can be classified as a humid subtropical region.

Midwest

• The Midwest is bordered to the east by the Northeastern and Southeastern states, Canada to the north, the Western states to the West, and the Southeastern states to the south. 

• The Midwest has numerous physical characteristics, from the Great Plains to lakes, but is most well known as the agricultural center of the U.S. 

• The climate of the Midwest can best be described as a humid continental climate, meaning the temperature varies between the winter and summer months. 

• Winters can bring lots of moisture in the form of snow, and summers are hot and humid. 

West

• The West is bordered to the north by Canada, to the west by the Pacific Ocean, to the east by the Midwest states, and to the south by the Southwest states and Mexico. 

• The region can largely be classified as mountainous, with some portions being a part of the Great Plains. 

• Most of America’s national parks are in the West, and the climate can be classified as semi-arid, which is surprising because the mountainous regions can get lots of snowpack during the winter months. 

• The exception is the Pacific Northwest, which is classified as temperate oceanic, where the temperatures are cooler and it experiences high levels of rainfall. 

• The West is known for the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevadas, and the Cascade Range. 

• Major rivers of the West include the Colorado River, Big Thompson, Platte, Snake, Green, Sacramento, and the Columbia Rivers. 

• The Continental Divide is in the West, which signifies the highest points in the U.S. 

  • On the east side of the divide, all rivers will flow eastward, and on the west side of the divide, all rivers will flow to the west. 

• One current issue in the West is chronic droughts and water shortages. This is a good way to weave in current events with geography. 

Southwest

The southwest has Mexico to the south, the Western states to the north, the Pacific to the west, and the Southeastern states to the east.  The climate of the Southwest is classified as arid to semi-arid and includes hot temperatures, low humidity, and higher frequency of deserts, and sparse mountainous environments.  Major physical features include the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan deserts, as well as the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, and the Colorado River.  Texas is a part of the Southwest;  what makes Texas unique is that the eastern part of the state contains one of the few sub-regions of high humidity and is classified as humid subtropical. The rest of the state experiences a semi-arid climate with high, dry plains.  You will notice that many maps of the Southwest leave Texas out, but most of the state shares a similar climate to the rest of the Southwestern states.

Interdependence

Definition

Human societies and the environment are interdependent, meaning they rely on each other for survival and development.

Example

Ancient societies like the Mesopotamians, Egyptians, and Mayans depended on the environment for fertile land, water, and a climate suitable for crop cultivation.

Adaptations

Definition

Human societies often adapt to their environment by developing specific practices, technologies, and cultural traditions.

Example

Indigenous groups of the Inuit people in the Arctic region adapted to the harsh environment by developing specialized clothing, shelter (igloos), hunting techniques, and transportation methods (dogsleds) to survive in extreme cold and with limited resources.

Environmental Impacts

Definition

Human societies can significantly impact the environment through their actions and resource consumption, leading to positive and negative consequences.

Example

The impact of industrialization on the environment during the 19th and 20th centuries. Including the effects of increased pollution, deforestation, and depletion of natural resources resulting from the rapid growth of factories and urban areas.

Environmental Stewardship

Definition

Responsible and sustainable practices that promote the well-being of both human societies and the environment.

Example

Initiatives focused on sustainability, such as recycling programs, renewable energy adoption, and conservation projects.

Connecting Local and Global Perspectives

Definition

The study of interactions between the environment and human societies allows for understanding local, regional, and global connections.

Example

The impact of climate change on different regions worldwide.

Geographical Context

Societues are formed with the geographical features and natural resources that are both beneficil and challenging for their inhabitants

Process of spatial Exchange

The way people are spread out and reasons for migration

Science and Technology

Both science and technology have implications on society in regards to innovation to sustain a population (think agricultural advancements in farming’s impact on society as an early example).

Migration of Populations

refers to the permanent movement of people to a new location.

push factor

why migrants leave an area, such as natural disasters, political or religious reasons, or loss of opportunity

pull factor

why an area attracts migrants to relocate permanently, such as new economic opportunities, religious or political reasons, or family. Pull factors may include a complex combination of factors to improve the quality of life.

Human Adaptation

Humans adapt to the physical and cultural environment when moving to a new location. Certain modifications are made, such as irrigation and crop planting, construction of residential and commercial buildings, development of transportation systems, and social customs.  

Physical Impacts

As people make or cause these alterations to the physical environment, they may also attempt to heal the destruction these adaptations often create by redeveloping the altered environment. Governmental regulations often attempt to address these issues, including wildlife regulations, areas under protective acts, and pollutants emitted. As humans live in a place, they impact it negatively and positively.  

Societal Impacts

Throughout time, humans have migrated to new areas. New customs and practices are established due to cultural diffusion, but also due to the physical geography. Physical needs are met in different ways depending on the environment. This concept is studied extensively when anthropologists dive deep into societies and customs

Communities

provide a structure that meets needs such as: 

• Shelter and safety

• Religious freedom

• Law

• Education

• Acquiring material items (wants)

• Government

expose your students to these ideals and what it means to be a good citizen. Recognizing our national and state symbols, celebrating holidays, and learning and following rules and laws to provide order and protection for the community's people are part of a vertically aligned “community-focused”  curriculum strand. 

Social Stratification

Status and stratification happen in society when people are categorized into groups based on race, sex, or socioeconomic status. It is described in terms such as upper class, middle class, and lower class. In society, expectations about roles in work and daily life continue to persist. Unequal treatment can occur when people are grouped based on perceived differences and are not given the same opportunities or respect.

Social Institutions

things put in place, purposely or naturally, that develop behavior patterns and meet social needs.

1. Educaitonal

2. economic

3. family

4. religion

5. Government

Using family as a primary example gives students a concrete representation of this. Students can compare and contrast their families (use sensitivity with this as some students may or may not feel comfortable sharing). 

While teaching students about Native American groups, explorers, and settlers, American families from the revolutionary era and beyond expose students to family members' roles, family sizes, extended family members, and how families work together for survival and basic needs. 

Geography

refers to the study of land and its features. This includes a deep understanding of the people living in an area and how they use the land and resources.  It is a multidisciplinary study, including sciences, math, and anthropology.sheds light on the past through historical contexts, such as changes to geography over time, impacts on historical events and periods, and how humans and the civilizations of a region evolved throughout history.

As you teach social studies to your students, incorporate a geographical perspective to the events you are studying, whether or not it is exploration, colonization, westward expansion, or war. The area's geography plays a significant role in the different causes and effects of historical events. provides a lens to understand the present.studies include the Earth’s shift, climate changes, natural resources, water availability, and populations. how humans interact with an area and allows plans for best practices to be put in place for using the natural resources of an area. The global challenges faced can be better understood and addressed with a well-rounded knowledge

Geopolitics

refers to regional and international relationships, geographical location, trade, and the natural resources available, which are the heart of relationships between nations.

By dissecting both the past and present times through a geographical perspective, one can plan for the future of a specific area. Using geography for future planning by studying shifts and patterns within an area to predict the availability and use of resources in the future.