Geography Foundations: Intro Unit Overview

Welcome to Geography 12! Here is a class blog that we will use throughout the semester to guide our work, help us find class resources, and where we will post additional details.

Sand from the Sahara Desert being blown across the Atlantic to the Amazon Basin

In the past two weeks, we have studied the foundational concepts of Geography. These include:

4 Spheres
5 Themes
"What is where, why there, why care?" - Key Questions of Geography
And some of the natural rules about geography

Everything is interconnected - no natural environment or ecosystems operates in isolation
The natural world functions in cycles - ex. Diatoms/Oxygen

Intro to Geo Skills + Cartography

On Monday, Feb. 14, you will write your first Quest. Here is the Outline for the Quest, as well as an overview of some of the resources we have used.

INTRO UNIT KEY IDEAS

We were introduced to the 4 Key Spheres of the Earth, and how we classify and understand our surroundings and environment. We know the study of the Earth involves studying the natural features, but also the way in which humans interact with their natural environment. This is a mutual relationship where both humans and the natural environment are impacted by each other, in both positive and negative ways.

A. There are 4 key spheres that we will explore in this course: the Biosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere and Hydrosphere.

Extra handout on spheres if you want to know more - first 3 pages of this handout, to ensure that you understand the basics of these concepts. Notice the basics of each sphere, and the interconnections between them.

B. this class handout on Spheres - We also completed a nature walk to see the spheres in action 'in real life'. Here is the powerpoint on Spheres.

C. Themes of Geography notes that are attached. Here is the powerpoint on the different Themes.

Watch this video, to help you understand them a little bit closer. Video - Geography Themes

D. Case Study - Iceland's Volcanic Explosion.

How are human actions and historical events affected by the natural environment?

Laki Volcano from Space Map from 1783 showing explosion

Article - Iceland's Explosion - Notice the connection between the Iceland Explosion and the French Revolution. Interested in this historical-geographical connection? Check out this Article - How the Fall of the Roman Empire was connected to drought, famine and the weather

E. Geo Skills - For the quiz you will have to know the basics of mapping (latitude and longitude + directions). Not sure about this? Here is a helpful video Latitude and Longitude - I know its a kids video, but its pretty clear!

F. The last section is a case study on the Amazon Rainforest. We explored how its connected to the Sahara - the Andes - the Ocean through the transfer of diatoms and the "River in the Sky". We also looked at some of the risks facing the Amazon, including to Indigenous Peoples living there.