Common Curriculum Map
Discipline: Liberal Arts
Course: World Studies – Social Studies
August/September:
Standards:
14.B.4 Compare the political systems of the United States to other nations.
14.B.5 Analyze similarities and differences among world political systems (e.g., democracy, socialism,
communism).
14.E.5 Analyze relationships and tensions among members of the international community.
15.A.4a Explain how national economies vary in the extent that government and private markets help
allocate goods, services and resources.
16.B.5b (W) Describe how tensions in the modern world are affected by different political ideologies
including democracy and totalitarianism.
16.C.5b (W) Describe how historical trends in population, urbanization, economic development and
technological advancements have caused change in world economic systems.
16.E.5a (W) Analyze how technological and scientific developments have affected human productivity,
human comfort and the environment.
17.A.4a Use mental maps of physical features to answer complex geographic questions (e.g., how
physical features have deterred or enabled migration).
17.A.5 Demonstrate how maps, other geographic instruments and technologies are used to solve spatial
problems (e.g., land use, ecological concerns).
17.B.4a Explain the dynamic interactions within and among the Earth’s physical systems including
variation, productivity and constructive and destructive processes17.B.5 Analyze international issues
and problems using ecosystems and physical geography concepts.
17.B.4b Analyze trends in world demographics as they relate to physical systems.
17.C.4a Explain the ability of modern technology to alter geographic features and the impacts of these
modifications on human activities.
17.C.4b Analyze growth trends in selected urban areas as they relate to geographic factors.
17.C.4c Explain how places with various population distributions function as centers of economic activity
(e.g., rural, suburban, urban).
17.C.5c Describe geographic factors that affect cooperation and conflict among societies.
18.A.4 Analyze the influence of cultural factors including customs, traditions, language, media, art and
architecture in developing pluralistic societies.
18.C.4b Analyze major contemporary cultural exchanges as influenced by worldwide communications.
Essential Questions:
1. What are the different types of maps and how do you know what symbols on maps represent?
2. How does orographic precipitation work?
3. What are the five themes of geography?
Content:
1. Hemispheres
2. Orographic Precipitation
3. 5 Themes of Geography
4. Different types of maps
5. Crust
6. Core
7. Different types of geography (human, physical)
8. Mountain
9. Glacier
10. Weathering
11. Erosion
12. Hydrologic Cycle
13. Tectonic Plates
14. Plate Boundaries
15. Tsunami
16. Sediment
17. Delta
18. Climate
19. Greenhouse Effect
20. Convection
21. Hurricane
22. Ecosystem
23. Savanna
24. Society
25. Acculturation
26. State
27. Nation
28. Metropolitan Area
29. Diffusion
30. Urbanization
31. Land Use
32. Central Business District
33. Culture
Skills:
1. Students will be able to derive information by looking at a map.
2. Students will be able to model the Hydrologic Cycle.
3. Create a map.
4. Draw Orographic Precipitation
5. Describe culture.
6. Identify the different themes of geography.
7. Compare human and physical geography.
8. Define basic geographic terms.
Assessment:
1. Define United States Culture
2. Create Your Own Map
3. Analyzing Geography through Pictures
4. Ch. 1 & 2 Quiz
5. What is Climate
6. Introduction to Geography Test
October:
Standards:
14.B.4 Compare the political systems of the United States to other nations.
14.B.5 Analyze similarities and differences among world political systems (e.g., democracy, socialism,
communism).
14.E.5 Analyze relationships and tensions among members of the international community.
15.A.4c Analyze the impact of inflation on an individual and the economy as a whole.
15.A.4d Explain the effects of unemployment on the economy.
15.C.4a Analyze the impact of political actions and natural phenomena (e.g., wars, legislation, natural
disaster) on producers and production decisions.
15.C.5c Explain how government intervention with market prices can cause shortages or surpluses of a
good or service (e.g., minimum wage policies, rent freezes, farm subsidies).
15.E.4a Explain why government may intervene in a market economy.
16.A.4a Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
16.B.4a (W) Identify political ideas that began during the Renaissance and the Enlightenment and that
persist today (e.g., church/state relationships).
16.B.5a (W) Analyze worldwide consequences of isolated political events, including the events triggering
the Napoleonic Wars and World Wars I and II.
16.B.5b (W) Describe how tensions in the modern world are affected by different political ideologies
including democracy and totalitarianism.
16.C.4d (W) Describe how the maturing economies of Western Europe and Japan led to colonialism and
imperialism.
16.D.4 (W) Identify significant events and developments since 1500 that altered world social history in
ways that persist today including colonization, Protestant Reformation, industrialization, the rise of
technology and human rights movements.
17.A.4a Use mental maps of physical features to answer complex geographic questions (e.g., how
physical features have deterred or enabled migration).
17.A.4b Use maps and other geographic instruments and technologies to analyze spatial patterns and
distributions on earth.
17.B.5 Analyze international issues and problems using ecosystems and physical geography concepts.
17.C.4b Analyze growth trends in selected urban areas as they relate to geographic factors.
18.C.4a Analyze major cultural exchanges of the past (e.g., Colombian exchange, the Silk Road, the
Crusades).
Essential Questions:
1. What are the major landforms and resources of Europe?
2. What are some of the different cultures in Europe and what led to such a diverse population?
3. Why is there a history of violence in Europe?
4. What is the EU and what does its future look like?
Content:
1. Conflict in the Balkans
2. Ethnic Cleansing
3. European Environment Agency
4. European Union
5. Wars throughout European History
6. Birthplace of Democracy
7. Renaissance
8. Reformation
9. Western Europe
10. Eastern Europe
11. Northern Europe
12. The Mediterranean
13. Bubonic Plague
14. Northern European Plain
15. Role of Mountains in Europe
16. "Land of the Midnight Sun"
17. Sirocco
18. Pyrenees
19. Alps
20. Rivers of Europe
21. Balkan Peninsula
22. Iberian Peninsula
23. Scandinavian Peninsula
24. Italian Peninsula
25. Uplands
26. Venice
27. Acid Rain
28. Black Forest
29. Slobodan Milosevic
30. Dike
Skills:
1. Draw the major landforms and resources of Europe.
2. Compare the ancient Greek city-states of Athens and Sparta
3. Describe the Renaissance
4. Describe the Reformation
5. Prepare a timeline of the different wars throughout Europe.
6. Know the cause and effect relationship between WWI and WWII.
7. Describe the different cultures that are found throughout Europe.
8. Explain why there are so many different ethnicities and cultures in Europe.
9. List the goals of the EU.
Assessment:
1. European Intro.
2. European Country Project/Presentation
3. Ancient Greece
4. The Renaissance
5. Reformation
6. European Map Quiz
7. Sparta
8. WWI Timeline
November:
Standards:
14.B.4 Compare the political systems of the United States to other nations.
14.B.5 Analyze similarities and differences among world political systems (e.g., democracy, socialism,
communism).
14.E.5 Analyze relationships and tensions among members of the international community.
15.A.5a Explain the impact of various determinants of economic growth (e.g., investments in
human/physical capital, research and development, technological change) on the economy.
16.A.4a Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
16.B.4b (W) Identify political ideas from the early modern historical era to the present which have had
worldwide impact (e.g., nationalism/Sun Yat-Sen, non-violence/Ghandi, independence/Kenyatta).
16.D.5 (W) Analyze the relationship between an issue in world social history and the related aspects of
political, economic and environmental history.
16.E.4b (W) Describe how migration has altered the world’s environment since 1450.
17.A.4a Use mental maps of physical features to answer complex geographic questions (e.g., how
physical features have deterred or enabled migration).
17.A.4b Use maps and other geographic instruments and technologies to analyze spatial patterns and
distributions on earth.
17.B.4b Analyze trends in world demographics as they relate to physical systems.
17.C.4b Analyze growth trends in selected urban areas as they relate to geographic factors
18.A.4 Analyze the influence of cultural factors including customs, traditions, language, media, art and
architecture in developing pluralistic societies.
Essential Questions:
1. What are the major landforms and resources of South Asia?
2. What are the two main religions of South Asia and what are the relations between the two?
3. Where is the Ganges River and why is it important?
4. What are the geographical, cultural, and historical characteristics of the different countries in South
Asia?
Content:
1. Archipelago
2. Himalayas
3. Atoll
4. Alluvial plains
5. Subcontinent
6. Monsoons
7. Cyclones
8. Earthquakes
9. Tsunamis
10. Storm surge
11. Ganges River
12. Brahmaputra River
13. Indus River
14. Dams
15. Feni River
16. Islam
17. Buddhism
18. Hinduism
19. Caste System
20. Land reform
21. Raj
22. Mughal Empire
23. Gandhi
24. Ramadan
25. Microcredit
26. Mandals
27. Siddhartha Gautama
28. Sherpa
29. Sinhalese
30. Tamils
31. Partition
32. Sultan
33. Green Revolution
34. Basic necessity
35. Extreme population and the problems that come with it
36. Extreme weather
37. Know why small families haven’t worked.
38. Summer monsoon
39. Winter monsoon
40. India
41. Pakistan
42. Bangladesh
43. Nepal
44. Bhutan
45. Sri Lanka
46. Maldives
47. Kashmir
Skills:
1. Identify the different countries and landforms in South Asia.
2. Describe the characteristics of the different religions in South Asia.
3. Discuss the situation in India with the caste system.
4. Understand the benefits of putting a dam on a river.
5. Create a solution in the conflict between the Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka.
6. Discuss the different causes of the conflict in Kashmir.
Assessment:
1. Russian Map
2. Russian Generalizations
3. Russia's Nuclear Problem
4. Russia Quiz
5. 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami
6. South Asia Intro
7. Inside Islam
8. Bangladesh Cyclone
December/January:
Standards:
14.B.4 Compare the political systems of the United States to other nations.
14.B.5 Analyze similarities and differences among world political systems (e.g., democracy, socialism,
communism).
14.E.5 Analyze relationships and tensions among members of the international community.
15.A.4a Explain how national economies vary in the extent that government and private markets help
allocate goods, services and resources.
15.A.5a Explain the impact of various determinants of economic growth (e.g., investments in
human/physical capital, research and development, technological change) on the economy.
15.A.5b Analyze the impact of economic growth.
15.D.4c Describe the impact of worker productivity (output per worker) on business, the worker and the
consumer.
15.D.5c Explain how technology has affected trade in the areas of transportation, communication, finance
and manufacturing.
16.A.4a Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
16.B.4b (W) Identify political ideas from the early modern historical era to the present which have had
worldwide impact (e.g., nationalism/Sun Yat-Sen, non-violence/Ghandi, independence/Kenyatta).
16.C.4d (W) Describe how the maturing economies of Western Europe and Japan led to colonialism and
imperialism.
16.E.4a (W) Describe how cultural encounters among peoples of the world (e.g., Colombian exchange,
opening of China and Japan to external trade, building of Suez canal) affected the environment, 1500 present.
17.A.4a Use mental maps of physical features to answer complex geographic questions (e.g., how
physical features have deterred or enabled migration).
17.A.4b Use maps and other geographic instruments and technologies to analyze spatial patterns and
distributions on earth.
17.B.4b Analyze trends in world demographics as they relate to physical systems.
17.C.4b Analyze growth trends in selected urban areas as they relate to geographic factors.
17.C.4c Explain how places with various population distributions function as centers of economic activity
(e.g., rural, suburban, urban).
17.D.4 Explain how processes of spatial change have affected human history (e.g., resource development
and use, natural disasters).
18.A.4 Analyze the influence of cultural factors including customs, traditions, language, media, art and
architecture in developing pluralistic societies.
Essential Questions:
1. What are the major landforms and resources of East Asia?
2. What is the Three Gorges Dam and why is it being built? What is the controversy surrounding the
dam?
3. What are the three main religions in China?
4. What is an Economic Tiger and what countries fall under that category?
5. What are the geographical, cultural, and historical characteristics of the different countries in East Asia?
Content:
1. Huang He (Yellow) River
2. Chang Jiang (Yangtze) River
3. Xi Jiang (West) River
4. Yalu Jiang River
5. Kunlun Mountains
6. Qinling Shandi Mountains
7. Gobi Desert
8. Typhoon
9. Taklimakan Desert
10. Landfill
11. Weather and Climate in East Asia
12. Dynasty
13. Boxer Rebellion
14. Confucianism
15. Taoism
16. Buddhism
17. Economic Tiger
18. Pacific Rim
19. Seoul
20. Pyongyang
21. Samurai
22. Shogun
23. Three Kingdoms
24. Mao Zedong
25. Mongolian Empire
26. Genghis Kahn
27. Tsunami
28. Global Economy
29. Ring of Fire
30. UNICEF
31. Jakota Triangle
32. Great Kanto Earthquake
33. Sweatshops
34. World Bank
35. Recession
36. Three Gorges Dam
37. Issues in East Asia Today
Skills:
1. Create a map of South Asia with the different countries and influential landforms on it.
2. Make a connection between the population density of China and the geography of China.
3. Compare the government characteristics of North and South Korea.
4. Discuss the causes behind the tensions between Taiwan and China.
5. Create a timeline of the different dynasties in China.
6. Understand the characteristics of the different religions in East Asia.
7. Identify the causes of the Boxer Rebellion.
8. Describe why some East Asian countries' economies are growing rapidly.
Assessment:
1. Sri Lankan Conflict: Sinhalese vs. Tamils
2. Primary Source Analysis: Kashmir
3. South Asia Test
4. East Asia Intro
5. East Asian Climate
6. Three Gorges Dam Analysis
7. China Presentation
8. Japan: The aftermath of Hiroshima
January/February:
Standards:
14.B.4 Compare the political systems of the United States to other nations.
14.B.5 Analyze similarities and differences among world political systems (e.g., democracy, socialism,
communism).
14.E.5 Analyze relationships and tensions among members of the international community.
15.A.4a Explain how national economies vary in the extent that government and private markets help
allocate goods, services and resources.
15.A.4d Explain the effects of unemployment on the economy.
15.A.5a Explain the impact of various determinants of economic growth (e.g., investments in
human/physical capital, research and development, technological change) on the economy.
15.A.5b Analyze the impact of economic growth.
15.D.4c Describe the impact of worker productivity (output per worker) on business, the worker and the
consumer.
15.D.5c Explain how technology has affected trade in the areas of transportation, communication, finance
and manufacturing.
16.A.4a Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
16.B.5b (W) Describe how tensions in the modern world are affected by different political ideologies
including democracy and totalitarianism.
16.C.5b (W) Describe how historical trends in population, urbanization, economic development and
technological advancements have caused change in world economic systems.
16.D.5 (W) Analyze the relationship between an issue in world social history and the related aspects of
political, economic and environmental history.
16.E.4b (W) Describe how migration has altered the world’s environment since 1450.
16.E.5a (W) Analyze how technological and scientific developments have affected human productivity,
human comfort and the environment.
17.A.4a Use mental maps of physical features to answer complex geographic questions (e.g., how
physical features have deterred or enabled migration).
17.A.5 Demonstrate how maps, other geographic instruments and technologies are used to solve spatial
problems (e.g., land use, ecological concerns).
17.C.4b Analyze growth trends in selected urban areas as they relate to geographic factors.
17.C.4c Explain how places with various population distributions function as centers of economic activity
(e.g., rural, suburban, urban).
Essential Questions:
1. What are the major landforms and resources of Latin America?
2. What is the controversy behind the issue of illegal Mexican immigration into the United States and
what are the different stances on the issue?
3. How has political instability played a role the economic woes of Latin America?
4. What are the geographical, cultural, and historical characteristics of the different countries in Latin
America?
Content:
1. Push and Pull Factors
2. Pampas
3. Llanos
4. Cerrado
5. Amazon Rain Forest
6. Amazon River
7. Tourism
8. Andes Mountains
9. Slash-and-Burn
10. Terraced Farming
11. Infrastructure
12. NAFTA
13. Debt-for-Nature Swap
14. Biodiversity
15. Oligarchy
16. Caudillo
17. Deforestation/(Why preserve the rain forest?)
18. Energy Resources (Hydroelectric Power, Oil, Etc.)
19. Global Warming (Carbon Dioxide/Greenhouse Effect)
20. Income Gap in Latin America
21. Caribbean Culture
22. Central American Culture
23. South American Culture
24. Caribbean Economics
25. Central American Economics
26. South American Economics
Skills:
1. Define and discuss the effects of deforestation.
2. Create a map of Latin America with the different countries and influential landforms on it.
3. Create a timeline of significant historical events in Latin America.
4. Describe the different cultures of Latin America people.
5. Compare the similarities and differences of different Latin American countries.
6. Define and discuss the effects of Urbanization.
Assessment:
1. Latin American Map
2. Aztec/Inca History
3. Mexican Immigration
4. Migrant Life
5. Spanish Speaking South America
6. Political Turmoil in Argentina
7. Cocaine's Presence in Latin America
8. Central American Culture
9. Latin American Presentations
March:
Standards:
14.B.4 Compare the political systems of the United States to other nations.
14.B.5 Analyze similarities and differences among world political systems (e.g., democracy, socialism,
communism).
14.E.5 Analyze relationships and tensions among members of the international community.
15.A.4a Explain how national economies vary in the extent that government and private markets help
allocate goods, services and resources.
15.A.4d Explain the effects of unemployment on the economy.
15.A.5a Explain the impact of various determinants of economic growth (e.g., investments in
human/physical capital, research and development, technological change) on the economy.
15.D.5c Explain how technology has affected trade in the areas of transportation, communication, finance
and manufacturing.
16.A.4a Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
16.C.4d (W) Describe how the maturing economies of Western Europe and Japan led to colonialism and
imperialism.
16.C.5b (W) Describe how historical trends in population, urbanization, economic development and
technological advancements have caused change in world economic systems.
16.D.4 (W) Identify significant events and developments since 1500 that altered world social history in
ways that persist today including colonization, Protestant Reformation, industrialization, the rise of
technology and human rights movements.
16.D.5 (W) Analyze the relationship between an issue in world social history and the related aspects of
political, economic and environmental history.
16.E.5a (W) Analyze how technological and scientific developments have affected human productivity,
human comfort and the environment.
17.A.4a Use mental maps of physical features to answer complex geographic questions (e.g., how
physical features have deterred or enabled migration).
17.A.4b Use maps and other geographic instruments and technologies to analyze spatial patterns and
distributions on earth.
17.B.5 Analyze international issues and problems using ecosystems and physical geography concepts.
17.C.4a Explain the ability of modern technology to alter geographic features and the impacts of these
modifications on human activities.
17.C.4c Explain how places with various population distributions function as centers of economic activity
(e.g., rural, suburban, urban).
17.C.5c Describe geographic factors that affect cooperation and conflict among societies.
18.A.4 Analyze the influence of cultural factors including customs, traditions, language, media, art and
architecture in developing pluralistic societies
Essential Questions:
1. What is the wealth distribution gap like in Latin America and why is it like this?
2. How is Urbanization affecting Latin American economies?
3. What are the major landforms and resources of Africa?
4. What are the geographical, cultural, and historical characteristics of the different countries in Africa?
Content:
1. Jamaica
2. Brazil
3. Mexico
4. Regions of Latin America
5. Regions of the Caribbean
6. Sarengeti
7. Sahel
8. Sahara
9. Canopy
10. Aswan High Dam
11. Rift Valleys
12. Desertification
13. Nile River
14. Escarpment
15. Mount Kilimanjaro
16. Niger Delta
17. Nelson Mandela
18. Ashanti
19. Stateless Society
20. Apartheid
21. Pandemic
22. Berlin Conference
23. Religion of Africa
24. Rai
25. Cape Town
26. Fang
Skills:
1. Discuss how changes in political systems have been going on in Latin America
2. Create a timeline of significant historical events in Africa.
3. Define and discuss the effects of colonialism.
4. Create a map of Africa with the different countries and influential landforms on it.
5. Discuss the causes behind the tensions between the rebels and the government in Sudan.
6. Compare the differences between North and South Africa.
Assessment:
1. Latin American Income Gap
2. Latin America Country Profile
3. Latin American Test
4. Map of Africa
5. Landforms & Resources Crossword
6. Sierra Leone & Diamonds
7. Daily Questions
8. African Regions
April:
Standards:
14.B.4 Compare the political systems of the United States to other nations.
14.B.5 Analyze similarities and differences among world political systems (e.g., democracy, socialism,
communism).
14.E.5 Analyze relationships and tensions among members of the international community.
15.A.4d Explain the effects of unemployment on the economy.
15.A.5a Explain the impact of various determinants of economic growth (e.g., investments in
human/physical capital, research and development, technological change) on the economy.
15.D.5c Explain how technology has affected trade in the areas of transportation, communication, finance
and manufacturing.
16.A.4a Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
16.B.4b (W) Identify political ideas from the early modern historical era to the present which have had
worldwide impact (e.g., nationalism/Sun Yat-Sen, non-violence/Ghandi, independence/Kenyatta).
16.B.5b (W) Describe how tensions in the modern world are affected by different political ideologies
including democracy and totalitarianism.
16.C.4d (W) Describe how the maturing economies of Western Europe and Japan led to colonialism and
imperialism.
16.C.5b (W) Describe how historical trends in population, urbanization, economic development and
technological advancements have caused change in world economic systems.
16.D.4 (W) Identify significant events and developments since 1500 that altered world social history in
ways that persist today including colonization, Protestant Reformation, industrialization, the rise of
technology and human rights movements.
16.D.5 (W) Analyze the relationship between an issue in world social history and the related aspects of
political, economic and environmental history.
16.E.4a (W) Describe how cultural encounters among peoples of the world (e.g., Colombian exchange,
opening of China and Japan to external trade, building of Suez canal) affected the environment, 1500 present.
16.E.5a (W) Analyze how technological and scientific developments have affected human productivity,
human comfort and the environment.
17.A.4a Use mental maps of physical features to answer complex geographic questions (e.g., how
physical features have deterred or enabled migration).
17.B.4b Analyze trends in world demographics as they relate to physical systems.
17.B.5 Analyze international issues and problems using ecosystems and physical geography concepts.
17.C.5c Describe geographic factors that affect cooperation and conflict among societies.
18.A.4 Analyze the influence of cultural factors including customs, traditions, language, media, art and
architecture in developing pluralistic societies.
18.C.4b Analyze major contemporary cultural exchanges as influenced by worldwide communications.
Essential Questions:
1. What are the reasons behind the genocides in Rwanda and Sudan and what were the responses to them?
2. How has colonialism affected Africa's resources, trade, and poverty?
3. What is apartheid and what are the causes behind it?
4. What is the health care system like In Africa and what are the reasons behind the AIDS situation in
Africa?
Content:
1. AIDS
2. Aksum
3. Bantu
4. Ghana
5. Uganda
6. Commodity
7. One Commodity Country
8. Cholera
9. Diversify
10. Tuberculosis
11. Brain Drain
12. Malaria
13. Colonialism
14. UNAIDS
15. Sierra Leone
16. Darfur
17. Poverty
18. Debt
19. Trade
20. Golan Heights
21. Mesopotamia
22. Tigris River
23. Euphrates River
24. Dead Sea
25. Persian Gulf
26. Jordan River
Skills:
1. List the causes of violence throughout the African continent.
2. Describe the health care system in Africa.
3. Create an evaluation of the resources and their uses in Africa.
4. Discuss the variety of ethnicities in Africa and their current state.
5. Define and discuss the effects of apartheid.
6. Create a timeline of significant historical events in the Mid-East.
Assessment:
1. Genocide in the Sudan
2. King Leopold & the Congo
3. Apartheid in South Africa
4. Hotel Rwanda
5. Effects of Colonialism
6. AIDS in Africa
7. Africa Test
8. Map of the Mid-East
May/June:
Standards:
14.B.4 Compare the political systems of the United States to other nations.
14.B.5 Analyze similarities and differences among world political systems (e.g., democracy, socialism,
communism).
14.E.5 Analyze relationships and tensions among members of the international community.
15.A.5a Explain the impact of various determinants of economic growth (e.g., investments in
human/physical capital, research and development, technological change) on the economy.
15.C.4a Analyze the impact of political actions and natural phenomena (e.g., wars, legislation, natural
disaster) on producers and production decisions.
15.C.5c Explain how government intervention with market prices can cause shortages or surpluses of a
good or service (e.g., minimum wage policies, rent freezes, farm subsidies).
16.A.4a Analyze and report historical events to determine cause-and-effect relationships.
16.B.5b (W) Describe how tensions in the modern world are affected by different political ideologies
including democracy and totalitarianism.
16.C.5b (W) Describe how historical trends in population, urbanization, economic development and
technological advancements have caused change in world economic systems.
16.D.4 (W) Identify significant events and developments since 1500 that altered world social history in
ways that persist today including colonization, Protestant Reformation, industrialization, the rise of
technology and human rights movements.
16.D.5 (W) Analyze the relationship between an issue in world social history and the related aspects of
political, economic and environmental history.
16.E.4a (W) Describe how cultural encounters among peoples of the world (e.g., Colombian exchange,
opening of China and Japan to external trade, building of Suez canal) affected the environment, 1500 present.
17.A.4a Use mental maps of physical features to answer complex geographic questions (e.g., how
physical features have deterred or enabled migration).
17.C.4a Explain the ability of modern technology to alter geographic features and the impacts of these
modifications on human activities.
17.C.5c Describe geographic factors that affect cooperation and conflict among societies.
18.A.4 Analyze the influence of cultural factors including customs, traditions, language, media, art and
architecture in developing pluralistic societies.
18.C.4b Analyze major contemporary cultural exchanges as influenced by worldwide communications.
Essential Questions:
1. What are the major landforms and resources of the Mid-East?
2. What are the geographical, cultural, and historical characteristics of the different countries in Mid-East?
3. How has the physical geography of the Mid-East affected the violence the region has experienced?
4. What role does religion play in the Mid-East and what is the history and controversy surrounding
Israel?
5. What role does water and oil play in the Mid-East?
Content:
1. Wadis
2. Taurus Mountains
3. Zagros Mountains
4. Desert Life
5. Rub al-Khali
6. Different forms of water preservation
7. Stages of oil processing
8. Know the different regions of the Mid-East
9. Know the climate of the Mid-East
10. Five Pillars of Islam
11. Different kinds of Islam
12. Taliban
13. Theocratic
14. Mecca
15. OPEC
16. Importance of Jerusalem
17. Holy Sites, West Bank, Gaza Strip
18. Stateless Nation
19. Population Relocation
20. Political Refugees
21. Infrastructure
22. Oil Wealth
23. Timeline of Israel
24. Religious Conflict
Skills:
1. Describe the different cultures that are found throughout the Mid-East.
2. Discuss the causes behind the tensions between Muslims and Jews.
3. Create a map of the Mid-East with the different countries and influential landforms on it.
4. Discuss the history and modern day state of Israel.
5. Compare the importance and abundance of water and oil in the Mid-East.
Assessment:
1. Oil Reserves in the Mid-East
2. Arabian Peninsula
3. Eastern Mediterranean Climate
4. Landforms and Resources Quiz
5. Religion and its Impact
6. Iran and Iraq
7. Conflict in Israel
8. Mid-East Test
9. Final Review