Major Concepts/Content: The world regions/cultures course is designed to study other cultures so students can understand the global community in which they live. Students develop skills necessary to analyze change and continue the study of cultures and geography begun in the sixth and seventh grades. An overview of physical geographic concepts and skills is basic to this course. Its emphasis is on the cultures of the Southwest Asia (Middle East), Africa, South Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. The host nation culture is studied and used as a basis of comparison. 

Major Instructional Activities: Instructional activities will be provided relative to the content of the world cultures and regions course. Students will locate major cultures in specific geographic areas, compare the development of different societies, and use geographic skills to explore physical and cultural diversity of regions. 

Major Evaluative Techniques: Evaluation will be comprised of tests in vocabulary concept identification, comparison of cultures, and research and location skills. 

Essential Objectives: Upon completion of the world regions/cultures course, students should be able to:

• Define culture as the way people learn to act and behave.
• Identify common elements of culture.
• Locate major cultures in specific geographic areas.
• Describe ways people interact with the environment.
• Compare the development of different societies.
• Compare institutions in various societies.
• Explore cultural diversity and similarity.
• Relate geographic features to societal progress.
• Locate geographic features of a region.
• Identify major regions, countries, and cities.

Last Revised: July 20, 2005