Course
Syllabus
SoSt.
450
Welcome to United States Regional Geography.
I hope that you are as excited to learn in this class as I am in teaching
it. I believe that all of you will
have a good time in this class and that you will learn a lot.
We will cover many different aspects in this class and when it is all
said and done you will have a complete understanding on the five different
regions of the United States.
Like I already mentioned this class will cover the five different regions of the United States. We will take in depth looks at the five regions and cover the five themes of Geography, which are Location, Place, The Environment, Movement and Regions. We will take each region and brake it down. We will take a look at the different physical features of the region and how that affects the people and what is produced there.
We will take at all the different transportation means in each region. For example shipping in the Midwest, how goods are transported to the Great Lakes to be shipped. We will do some map work on the different roads in the Metropolitan cities of a state. This way you will have a complete understanding of how goods are transported from region to region.
We will also look at the environment of the regions and how people coupe with their different climates. How the people overcome their environment and use it to their advantage for growing crops and producing other goods. What accommodation people make to live in their environments will also be covered.
My goal is that when this class all of you will walk out of here with knowledge that you can take with you and use for the rest of your life. You will walk out of here true geographers. So buckle up because it is going to be a fun ride.
Learning Outcomes
1. Students will be able to locate and label the 50 states and their capitals.
2. Students will identify the 5 different regions of the United States.
3. Students will be able to locate the different physical features of the United States.
4. Students will be able to label transportation routes that people use to move from one region to another.
5. Students will be able to identify how goods are moved from region to region in the United States.
6. Students will identify what goods are produced in their respective regions.
7. Students will have the knowledge to understand how people of different regions relate to their environments in the United States.
Evaluation/Grading
Schemes
1. Tests and Quizzes. 40%
Forty percent of the student’s grade will be on their tests and quizzes. The students will be given a test after a completion of a region. The students will also have a couple of quizzes during the coverage of a region so the teacher can see if they are struggling on any area.
2. Worksheets and Map work. 25%
The students will be asked to do map work of the different regions. The students will also be doing map work on the different physical features and transportation routes in a city. The worksheets will be given as a form of a study guide. The information that is on the worksheets will be covered on the tests.
3. Projects. 25%
The students will be asked to do a project on each region. The projects will range from a presentation on a state to group work on a whole region.
4. Participation and Attendance. 10%
Ten percent of the student’s grade will come from class participation during discussion and answering questions. The students will also be graded on their attendance to class.
Course
Outline 36 Weeks
I. States and Capitals – 1 week
a. 50 states and Capitals
II. Northeast Region – 7 weeks
a. Physical features
b. Major cities
c. Transportation routes
d. Climate
e. Project – presentation on state
III. Southeast – 7 weeks
a. Physical features
b. Major cities
c. Transportation routes
d. Climate
e. Project – map project
IV. Midwest – 7 weeks
a. Physical features
b. Major cities
c. Transportation routes
d. Climate
e. Project – group work on region
V. Southwest – 7 weeks
a. Physical features
b. Major cities
c. Transportation routes
d. Climate
e. Project – historical aspect of the region
VI. Northwest – 7 weeks
a. Physical features
b. Major cities
c. Transportation routes
d. Climate
e. Project – production of goods
Appendix
National Council for the Social
Studies
1. People, Places, and Environments
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environment.
2. Production, Places, and Consumption
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people organize for the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
Preparatory Content Standards In Learning Area
Area Seven: People and Cultures
Middle-level Content Standards
Geography and Culture
A student shall demonstrate understanding of how regions of the world are defined in terms of location, resources, people and culture, and physical features; and how global systems are interconnected by:
1. identifying current or historical issues or conflicts that involve a particular region;
2. using mental maps to show location or region
3. describing the physical and cultural characteristics;
4. describing the economic development; and
5. describing how the issue or conflict is influenced by location and physical and cultural geography.