Social Studies - Global Studies

Unit 1

• Use and creation of various kinds of maps
• Identifying physical and human characteristics of a place
• Major world regions
• Physical and cultural characteristics of United States and Canada
• Physical and cultural characteristics of Latin America
• Physical and cultural characteristics of Europe and Russia
• Physical and cultural characteristics of Southwest Asia
• Physical and cultural characteristics of North Africa

Unit 2

• Physical and cultural characteristics of Sub-Saharan Africa
• Physical and cultural characteristics of East Asia and Southeast Asia
• Physical and cultural characteristics of Australia and Oceania
• Distributions of human populations in each world region
• Patterns of migration and settlement in each world region
• How physical geography affects human activity in each world region
• Adaptations of people to their environments in each world region
• Independence and nationalist movements in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia

Unit 3

• 20th century nationalist movements in Southwest Asia and North Africa
• Patterns of industrialization and trade in the Western hemisphere
• Revolutions, independence movements, and social changes during the Cold War
• The spread of capitalism since the end of the Cold War
• Role of Europe in today’s economy
• Influence of oil and resource distributions on economies of regions
• Changes in the economy of contemporary China
• Persistent economic and social disparities in world regions

Unit 4

• Persistent cultural conflicts in world regions
• Varieties of religious beliefs in the contemporary world
• Human rights issues around the world
• Other key global issues
• Influence of social media, TV, and the Internet on social and political movements
• Features of increasing globalization
• Revival and maintenance of traditional cultures in the face of globalization
• Purpose, roles, and work of some key international organizations
• Examples of global interdependence and cooperation
• Patriotism and Citizenship