Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Human Geography is a year-long course designed to meet or exceed the experience of an introductory
one-semester human geography college course. The course is structured according to the course outline
found in the AP Human Geography Course Description published by the College Board with the
expectation that students will choose to take the corresponding AP exam.
Course Objectives
! To introduce students to the systematic study of patterns and processes which have shaped human
understanding, use, and alteration of the Earths surface.
! To learn about and employ the methods of geographers, especially including observation, mapmaking,
data gathering and reporting, and technical writing.
! To employ spatial concepts, geographic vocabulary, and landscape interpretation to a variety of
locations and situations around the globe and in local areas.
! To develop a geographic perspective with which to view the landscape and understand current events.
Course Texts and Resources
* Primary Text: de Blij, H. J., and Alexander B. Murphy. Human Geography: Culture, Society, and Space.
10th ed. New York: John Wiley, 2012.
* The Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century series. Video: Annenberg/CPB Project, 1996.
* Kaplan AP Human Geography Study Guide (recommended optional purchase)
* Barrons AP Human Geography Flash Cards (recommended optional purchase)
Websites that are especially helpful for this course include
o U.S. Census Bureau www.census.gov/
o Digital Atlas of the United States http://130.166.124.2/USpage1.html
o www.nationalatlas.gov/
o Population Reference Bureau www.prb.org
o www.about.geography.com
o www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart
Course Organization
! There are seven units of study in this course, broken down into 14 chapters of our textbook. At the
beginning of each chapter, students receive a calendar that indicates the lecture topics and activities for
each day, the reading assignments, the assessment date, and other information about the unit.
! Additionally, at the beginning of each chapter, students are given a KBAT (Know and Be Able To)
document that lists the vocabulary, concepts, and learning goals for that chapter. Students use this guide to
monitor their learning as well as structure their review for assessments. These KBATs are glued into their
class composition books and will be used not only for individual assessment review, but also to aid in
review for the AP exam.
AP Human Geography, 2014-15
Mr. Perkins, Pacheco High School
mperkins@losbanosusd.k12.ca.us
mrperkinsclass.weebly.com
! Lecture notes, study information, and links to websites provided in class are also made available for
download on the course website.
! Each unit will include both activitiesrequiring research and application of knowledge related to the
unit and two to three FRQsFree Response Questions designed to give students practice in both
applying and communicating concepts in that unit. Application of concepts will include landscape
analysis, the use of a variety of maps and data sets, and the application of geographical models.
! Chapter assessments will feature a combination of multiple-choice and FRQ items designed to
simulate the experience of the actual AP exam.
! The mid-term exam will be a mock exam consisting of 75 multiple-choice questions and three FRQs
covering the rst four units of study. This exam will be held in the school library to approximate the
conditions students will face when taking the actual AP exam. The nal exam will be a mock exam
consisting of 75 multiple-choice questions and three FRQs. The exam will be held in the school library
and will be timed to best approximate conditions students should expect to experience when taking the
AP exam.! Study sessions and an additional mock exam will be held during the second semester to
provide additional practice for students.
Teaching Strategies
This class is structured around four main activities: 1) discussion of key terms and concepts, 2)
examination of case studies, 3) practice of key geographical skills, and 4) practice
communicating course content through FRQs (Free Response Questions).
Student Evaluation
Each unit of study includes grades for notes, in-class activities, case studies writing practice, and
an assessment. All activities, as well as assessment feedback, are kept organized in a composition
book that is routinely examined by the teacher. All assessments are modeled after the AP exam
and will have both multiple-choice questions and a writing component. Following each
assessment, the teacher will review both the content and the results before moving to the next
unit.
Homework
Unless otherwise specied, assignments are due at the beginning of class the day after they are
assigned. Students should expect to spend thirty minutes to an hour on homework each night, as
well as approximately two additional hours each week in order to meet the rigorous demands of
this rewarding course of study.
AP Human Geography, 2014-15
Mr. Perkins, Pacheco High School
mperkins@losbanosusd.k12.ca.us
mrperkinsclass.weebly.com
Teaching Strategies: This class is structured around four main activities: 1) discussion of key terms
and concepts, 2) examination of case studies, 3) practice of key geographical skills, and 4) practice
communicating course content through FRQs (Free Response Questions).
A typical day begins with an opening activity which may be a lm clip, a geo-location activity,
discussion of the previous days content or homework, or a preview of new information.
The heart of the lesson may be a case study (video, magazine or newspaper article), a
discussion/elaboration of the information under study, or an in-depth mapping activity. These
mapping activities are at different scales: world, regional, national, and, when possible, state or
local.
Two to three times a week students are asked to examine a map, chart, or photograph and
respond to it using concepts such as scale, region, location and place, or association and
interconnection.
Students will frequently use photographs from their textbook, the Internet, and supplemental
books to illustrate and analyze the components of various sorts of landscapes, locally, nationally,
and internationally.
Regardless of the type of activity, there is always some written component: guided note-taking,
journal response, and frequently a map for annotation.
Student Evaluation: Each unit of study includes grades for notes, in-class activities, case studies
writing practice, and an assessment. All activities, as well as assessment feedback, are kept organized in
a composition book that is routinely examined by the teacher. All assessments are modeled after the AP
exam and will have both multiple-choice questions and a writing component. Following each
assessment, the teacher will review both the content and the results before moving to the next unit.
Homework: Unless otherwise specied, assignments are due at the beginning of class the day after they
are assigned. Students should expect to spend thirty minutes to an hour on homework each night, as
well as approximately two additional hours each week in order to meet the rigorous demands of this
rewarding course of study.
Grading:
Grading Categories and Breakdown Grading Categories and Breakdown Grading Scale Grading Scale
Exams (M/C, FRQ) 30% 100-90% A
Quizzes (Weekly Reading,
Current Events, etc)
30% 89-80% B
Homework, Notebook, Practice
FRQ & Projects
30% 79-70% C
Participation 5% 69-60% D
Summer Assignment 5% 59% and below F
Expectations: Students are expected to know and to abide by the policies set forth in the Student
Handbook. This includes not only school rules, but the dress code and attendance policies as well.
Course Planner
! Study sessions and an additional mock exam will be held during the second semester to provide additional
practice for students.
Course Planner:
Topic Objectives/Activities
Resources
Timeline
1. Geography: Its
Nature and
Perspectives
de Blij: Chapter 1
Introduction to Human
Geography
2 weeks
AP Human Geography, 2014-15
Mr. Perkins, Pacheco High School
mperkins@losbanosusd.k12.ca.us
mrperkinsclass.weebly.com
1. Population
de Blij Chapter 2:
Poulation
de Blij Chapter 3:
Migration
de Blij, Chapter 6
Language
de Blij, Chapter 7
Religion
8 weeks
AP Human Geography, 2014-15
Mr. Perkins, Pacheco High School
mperkins@losbanosusd.k12.ca.us
mrperkinsclass.weebly.com
1. Political Organization
of Space
de Blij CHapter 5:
Identity: Race, Ethnicity,
Gender, and Sexuality
de Blij, Chapter 8
Political Geography