The text for Honors Geography class is World Geography: Building a Global Perspective   by Baerwald & Fraser, 2009.  Published by Pearson Prentice Hall. It meets the National Geography Standards, as well as the Minnesota Academic Standards in Social Studies. This is a classroom set of 37 books donated by Denny Walsh, June 2010.

Chapters 1-34 are covered in the course. Including the following units:

• Introduction to World Cultures and Geography
• The Untied States and Canada
• Latin America
• Europe, Russia and the Independent Republics
• North Africa and Southwest Asia
• Southern Asia
• East Asia, Australia, Oceania and Antarctica

Each unit/chapter contains Skills for Life, Critical Thinking, Map Skills, Connections with … (many topics), Vocabulary & Etymology, Do-It-Yourself Skills, Global Connections, How the Earth Works, People & Geography, Regional Databases, Geography & Literature, and Change Over Time. Students will read the chapter sections and will take section notes.   After reading students will do one of several assessments. These assessments may include Guided Readings (with one of the 20 core social studies skills), time lines, position papers, research and oral reports.  Accompanying chapter/sections, students will see videos, DVDs, power points, have class discussions & work on numerous map studies.  There will also be projects or unit tests.  In the spring, there is a comprehensive final project.

Critical issues will be incorporated into our class on a weekly basis.  Current Event reports will not start until students are instructed later this fall. Students are not to start these until instructed.

The following items supplement, enrich and allow in-depth study of World Geography.  These may or may not be utilized in the course depending on time allotment:

Parade of States – a formal project

ABC’s of Culture

Disappearing Rainforest

Geographers Apprentice (up to 7 of these)

European Vacation– a formal project

The Great Potato Famine – Power point presentation

Three Gorges Dam- Power point presentation

How Much do you know about Africa

Hot Topics in Africa– a formal project

Mask of Me

Ways to Wear a Kanga

Caste System in India – Demonstration game

Japanese Art: Origami

Australian Slang

The Best Country Ever!  - a formal project & comprehensive final

To find geography information ~ please see the geography web site. Go to;  http://www.invergrove.k12.mn.us/8th_grade.html   and  click on Geography or Team Bio’s.