World Geography 8
Syllabus
Mr. Scott
Room 2413
(651) 325-2550
harold.scott@spps.org
Course Description
This course is designed to help students understand how events or actions of people are influenced by physical and cultural geography. The five themes of geography location, place region, movement, human-environment interaction will be explored. Students will explore the many facets, uniqueness, commonality and cultural practices of people and nations around the world which will give them a more global perspective.
Course Objectives
Students will demonstrate how the regions of the world are defined using the five themes of geography and how global systems are interconnected by;
a. identifying current or historical issues or conflicts that involve a particular region.
b. Using mental maps to show location or region.
c. Describing the physical and cultural characteristics of the area studied.
d. Describing the economic development and religious practices of the area studied and describing how the issue or conflict is influenced by location, physical and cultural geography.
Parallel Curriculum Units
The Major Concepts studied this year are Systems, Conflict, Perspective and Culture. These four themes will reoccur throughout the year. PCM is the gifted and talented model adopted by Capitol Hill and relates to the parallels of core, connections, identity and practice.
Materials Needed
Textbook (World Geography…Building a Global Perspective)
Book Cover (everyone must have one)
Planner (It is very important to bring the planner to class daily to record assignments and due dates)
Kleenex (everyone needs to bring one box to class)
Two spiral notebooks (one for current events and one for reflective journal). Two notebooks needed per semester.
Blue/Black pen
Pencil/eraser
Two pocket folders
Colored pencils, markers or crayons
Loose leaf paper
Assignments/Expectations
All students are expected to complete ALL assignments and homework and turn them in by the date due. Sufficient time is given for assignments. Students are also expected to participate in class discussions, offer his/her perspective and give oral presentations in front of class when necessary.
**A bonus for hard work is what I call a "chill day" where students can take a break from coursework for the day and relax. Chill days are EARNED and will only be granted if earned**
FYI…You will not be able to respond to any questions in this course by saying "I don’t know or I don’t care" so please refrain from using either of those phrases in class.
Tests and Quizzes
Assessments will be multi-dimensional, creative and interdisciplinary. Tests and quizzes will be given regularly with sufficient notice. There will never be a surprise or pop quiz (I don’t believe in them).
Major Projects
1. Heritage project
2. Economics Project (spring)
3. Arab/Israeli Conflict
4. The Power of Isms and Stereotypes
Grading Procedures
Assignments will be graded on a point/percentage scale.
Late Work Policy
The breakdown for late work is as follows;
a. one day late 20% off
b. two days late 40% off
c. three days late 60% off
d. More than 3 days late = automatic zero (unless arrangements have been made with Mr. Scott) and a call/conference will be made with parents.
Since ample time will be given to complete assignments, the above policy is strictly enforced. Extensions possible for excused absences. Completing work on time is part of your responsibility as a student. If you’re having any trouble, please talk to me right away. I am more flexible when I’m aware that there is some type of problem or issue which keeps you from turning your work in on time.
Behavior Expectations
All students are expected to follow all school rules and my classroom rules. I expect for all students to behave and conduct themselves as young men and women because that is how I will treat them. Students not following the rules or being blatantly disrespectful will face some type of discipline action. Parents will be contacted if issues with respect or productivity become an issue.
Current Events Journal Expectations
You are expected to make the assigned number of current events entries in your journal each week. The number required will be posted on my planner board and the number may vary from week to week. You can use any form of media (television (include station, date and time), radio (include station, date and time), newspaper, magazines, the internet, etc) to get your information. My suggestion is you use a variety to give you exposure and experience working with each type of media. Choose stories that are of interest to you. However, doing any one specific type of current eventis not acceptable for example; it is not acceptable to do all of your current event entries on sports only or all celebrity news.. It is always a good idea to search the news from around the world (especially when we are studying a particular area or region) so that you have a broader understanding of what’s happening around the world. This assignment will be very enlightening.
When working this assignment, keep the following in mind before you respond;
a. summarize the story (two or three sentences).
b. Tell who, what, where, when, why and how of the story.
c. Tell why you found the story interesting (why did you choose it).
d. How does the story relate to you? To the world (global perspective).
Current events are to be written in your journal but you can also present a current event to the class for credit. Information shared in front of class MUST state letters A-D verbally (think of yourself as a reporter sharing information). If any part of the information is missing, you will not get credit. You can share up to 3 currents events each week per week but you have to keep track of the current events you present by writing the name of the story, date, where you got the information and presented in class in your journal.
Map Expectations
Please include (label) the following on the maps we will complete for the different countries and areas we will be studying;
a. Major cities (pg. numbers from the book will be given for you to use as a guide).
b. Waterways within and surrounding the country (lakes, rivers, oceans, seas, bays, etc).
c. Landforms (mountains, jungles, deserts, rain forests, etc).
d. Industries (oil/petroleum, agriculture, precious metals, banking, big business etc).
e. Total population (as stated in the chapter or pages 702-713).
f. Ethnic makeup (what type of people live there).
g. Language(s) spoken
h. Religion(s) practiced
i. A key with symbols for each of the above (you can be creative and create your own or use the symbols from the book). A key inMANDATORY.
j. Your name (I need to know who to give credit to).
**Map information needed is provided in your textbook**
Reflective Journal
All students will respond to the same reflective journal question which I will have written on the board or on an overhead by writing down their honest thoughts and feelings about the topic. Topics range from current events in the news, school and community related events, current teenage topics of interest, etc. A class discussion will follow each reflection and ALL students are expected to participate. Students should have responded to the journal question in their journal and it is the student’s responsibility to keep up with his/her journal for the entire year. Entries written anywhere other than the journal will need to be copied into the student’s journal.
