Social Studies – Unit 1Concepts of Physical Geography

The Five Themes of GeographyLocation: the position of a place on the Earth’s surface.

(where something is)Place: the characteristics of a location that make it

different or unique. (how or why it is special)Human-Environment Interaction: how people affect their

environment and how the environment affects them. (how the inhabitants interact with their surroundings)

Movement: how and why people, goods, and ideas move from place to place. (how and why things move)

Regions: areas of the Earth’s surface that have common characteristics. (how areas are related to each other)

Climate IWeather- a change in temperature, precipitation, or

wind that takes place over a short period of timeClimate-a usual, predictable pattern of weatherPrevailing winds-major wind systems that follow a

predictable pattern

Climate IIEl Nino-a change in the wind and water patterns of

the Pacific Ocean, which causes changes to the climate in North and South America…causes warm water in the eastern Pacific and heavy rain on the west coast of North and South America.

La Nina-opposite of El Nino

Climate Zones ITropical rain forest-warm, wet all yearTropical savanna-warm all year, dry in winterSteppe-warm or mild, low and unreliable rainfallDesert-warm or mild, very little rainfall

Climate Zones IIMarine-cool summers, mild winters, rainyMediterranean-warm, dry summer, mild, wet

winterHumid subtropical-hot summer, wet winter, rain all

yearHumid continental-hot summer, cold winter, rain all

year

Climate Zones IIISubarctic-short, mild summer, long, cold winter,

little precipitationTundra-short, cool summer, long, cold winter,

precipitation variesIce cap-cold all year, little precipitationHighland-varies depending on elevation and

location

Climate ReviewA-warm, wet all yearB-warm all year, dry in winterC-warm or mild, low and unreliable

rainfallD-warm or mild, very little rainfallE-cool summers, mild winters, rainyF-warm, dry summer, mild, wet winter

Tropical savannaMediterraneanMarineSteppeDesertTropical rain forest

Climate ReviewG-hot summer, wet winter, rain all yearH-hot summer, cold winter, rain all year-

short, mild summer, long, cold winter, little precipitation

J-short, cool summer, long, cold winter, precipitation varies

K-cold all year, little precipitationL-varies depending on elevation and

location

Humid subtropicalHumid continentalSubarcticTundraHighland

EnvironmentAcid Rain-chemicals in the air that combine with

moisture to form rain that is harmful to plants and animals

Deforestation-cutting down all the trees and not replanting them; causes erosion, loss of wildlife

Smog-a combination of smoke, chemicals, and ozone which can lead to health problems

Types of Landforms IArchipelago-a long chain of islandsChannel-waterway that separates two landmasses

that are close to each otherDelta-flat, low-lying land built up from soil carried

by a river

Types of Landforms llIsthmus-a narrow stretch of land connecting two

larger land areasPeninsula-body of land extending into a lake or

ocean; surrounded by water on three sidesStrait-narrow stretch of water joining two bodies of

water

Map Skills IMaps provide geographers with many types of

information about a placeInformation can be collected by using computers,

satellites, photographs, interviews, and surveysThere are many different types of mapsMaps have many different partsSome maps are labeled with lines of latitude. Lines of

latitude circle the globe from east to west and tell how far a place is from the equator

Maps can also be labeled with lines of longitude. Longitude is the distance you travel east or west from an imaginary line to reach a particular place

Cardinal directions-N, E, S, WIntermediate directions-NE, SE, SW, NWCompass rose-Tells direction on a map

Scale-tells distance on a map compared to real lifeTitle-tells what the map is aboutMap key-tells what the symbols and colors meanGrid-divides the map into rows and columns

Map Skills II

The Earth is divided into 24 equal sections (one for each hour of the day). These are called time zones.

There is also a special line that separates one day from another. This is called the international date line.

When you travel to the east you are moving towards a rising sun or away from a setting sun. This means that it looks like it is getting later in the day. Therefore, you must add one hour each time zone that you travel to the east.

When you travel west you are moving away from the rising sun or towards the setting sun. It looks like it is getting earlier in the day. Therefore, when you travel west you subtract one hour each time you cross over into another time zone.

Map Skills III

This is a time zone map of Earth. How many time zones are there? What is the dashed line along the edge of the map? Does it get later when you travel to the east? Do I add hours when I travel to the west?

Lines of latitude-imaginary lines that wrap around the Earth from east to west and divide the Earth into sections north and south of the Equator

Lines of longitude-imaginary line that go up and down connecting the poles and dividing the Earth into sections that are east or west of the Prime Meridian

Map Skills IV

As I mark the lines, tell me the latitude, longitude, and any special things you know about these lines.

Hemispheres-hemi means half and sphere means a 3-dimensional shape like a ball, so a hemisphere is a half of a ball or globe

The Earth can be divided into four hemispheres. The Earth can be divided into and eastern and western half (separated by the Prime Meridian) or into a northern and southern half (separated by the Equator).

The United States is located in the western and the northern hemispheres.

Map Skills V

Can you locate what hemisphere each continent is in?

Physical map-Shows where the mountains, rivers, and lakes are located

Political map-Shows borders or boundariesResource map-Tells what is made or grown in a

particular regionHistorical map-Has dates, shows when events took

place

Map Skills VI

Continents I

There are seven continents (or major land masses) around the world

Continents II

Continents III

Label all of the continents

Oceans of the World I

There are four oceans. The Pacific and Atlantic are sometimes divided into a northern half and a southern half. Some maps may also list the “Southern Ocean.”

Oceans of the World II

Oceans of the World III

Label all of the oceans

Social Studies – Unit 1Cultural Geography

Cultures ICulture-the way of life of a group of people who share similar beliefs and customsLanguage, religion, art, food, and music are all characteristics that people may share Ethnic groups-a group that shares a language, history, religion, and some physical traits.Some countries have many ethnic groups while others have just one predominant ethnic groupSometimes people believe that their culture or ethnic group is superior to all others. This is called ethnocentrism.Could ethnocentrism cause problems?

Cultures IICivilizations-a highly developed cultureCultural diffusion-the process of spreading ideas, languages, or customs from one culture to anotherOver time all cultures experience change. Sometimes invention, innovation, or technological changes lead to a cultural change. Sometimes cultures change due to influence from other cultures.Can you think of some examples of how cultures can be affected by technology or by cultural diffusion?

LanguageThere are over 7,000 languages that are spoken on the planet. However, eight languages are spoken by more than half the people of the world. The most commonly spoken languages are: Chinese, Spanish, English, Hindi, Arabic, Portuguese, Bengali, and Russian.Sharing a language is one of the strongest unifying forces for a culture.Languages have different variations called dialects. A dialect is a local form of the language that may include distinct pronunciation or vocabulary

ReligionAnother important cultural element is religion. Although there are hundreds of religions, there are five major religions that are practiced around the world.The five major religions that are practiced around the world are: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and JudaismBuddhists are found primarily in Asia, Hindus are found in India, Jews are found in Israel and large cities throughout the world, Muslims (Islam) are found in the Middle East, North Africa, and southern Asia, and Christians are found in Europe and the Americas.

Government IPeople need rules in order to live together without conflict. Governments help fulfill this need. Governments can be limited or unlimited. A limited government restricts the power of its’ leaders. A democracy, where the citizens make many of the decisions is a form of limited government.An unlimited government has a leader who is “all-powerful” and makes all of the decisions. In a dictatorship the leader rules by force and makes all of the decisions.Another form of unlimited government is an oligarchy. A monarchy (government that is led by a king or queen who inherits power) is one type of oligarchy

Government II

Governments distribute their powers in three basic ways.

Unitary systems have very strong central governments and weak states, provinces, or cities.

Confederations have very weak central governments and stronger states or provinces.

Federal governments try to balance power equally between a central government and the states or provinces.

Cultural RegionsA cultural region is an area that includes different countries that share similar cultural traits.

Population IThe Earth’s population has been growing rapidly for the past two hundred years. This affects everything from food production to use of natural resources.Population growth is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate. These are both usually measured in the number per thousand.

What are some reasons that the population might be growing?What could cause the population to drop?

Population II

Which areas are growing most rapidly? Why?Which areas are growing more slowly? Why?

Population IIIPopulation density-the average number of people living in a square mile/square kilometer.What factors affect population density?

Population Movement IThroughout history millions of people have moved from

one place to another. People continue to move today (sometimes as individuals and sometimes in large groups).

People who move to another country are called immigrants.

People that leave their old country behind and known as emigrants.

People who move within a country are called internal migrants.

Refugees are people who move to escape war or persecution

Resources INatural resources-materials from the Earth that

people use to meet their needsRenewable resources-natural resources that cannot

be used up or can be replacedNonrenewable resources-resources than cannot be

replacedWhat are some examples of natural resources?What are some renewable resources?What are some nonrenewable resources?

Economics and Trade ITo help make decisions countries develop economic

systems. An economic system is a method used to answer three questions: What do we produce? How do we produce it? Who do we sell it to?

There are four main types of economic systems: traditional, command, market, and mixed.

Economics and Trade IITraditional-Individuals decide what to produce and how

to produce it; based on customs and habits; technology is limited; people usually do what their parents did

Command-the government makes all of the economic decisions; it decides what is made, who it is sold to, what type of job you have

Market-Individuals and businesses make decisions based on the market (supply and demand); consumers have choices; prices are based on supply and demand

Mixed-any combination of the three other types

Economics and Trade IIIGross domestic product (GDP)-a way to measure the

economy of a country; the total dollar value of all goods and services produced in a single year

Export-selling items to other countries Imports-buying items from other countriesTariffs-a tax on goods that are importedQuota-a limit on ho many items can be imported from a

certain nationFree trade-removing all trade barriers between nations

(i.e. NAFTA)Why do nations impose a tariff or quota on goods?What would be the effect of a tariff or quota?

Economics and Trade IVGrowing trade among countries has resulted in

globalization of the world’s economies.Globalization is the linking together of the world’s

nations through trade.Globalization has caused the world’s economies to

become more interdependent. Interdependent means that countries rely on each other for ideas, goods, services, resources, and markets.

Globalization has both positive and negative consequences.

Economics and Trade VCountries are classified as developed, developing (also

called third-world), and newly industrialized.Developed countries (like the U.S., Australia, and

England) rely on technology, have a mix of service, manufacturing, and agricultural jobs, and have educated workers that make generally high incomes

Developing countries (like Haiti) have mostly agricultural jobs. Workers are poorly educated and make low wages.

In newly industrialized countries (like Brazil, Mexico, and India) the economies are transitioning from developing to developed.