7th Grade Geography and World Cultures
7th Grade Geography and World Cultures
Course Overview
This is the second part of a two-year program entitled Geography and World Cultures. This program provides opportunities for students to develop geography skills and deepen their understanding of world cultures in relation to their own. Students also learn about geographic and cultural issues, as well as about the cultural heritage and history of the various regions of study. Students are encouraged to gain an understanding and appreciation of other cultures, and to use geographic skills to solve problems.
MSDE State Standards for Social Studies Links to an external site.
Table of State Social Studies Standards
| Discipline | Standard |
|---|---|
| Standard 1.0 Civics | Students will understand the historical development and current status of the fundamental concepts and processes of authority, power, and influence, with particular emphasis on the democratic skills and attitudes necessary to become responsible citizens. |
| Standard 2.0 Peoples of the Nations and World | Students will understand the diversity and commonality, human interdependence, and global cooperation of the people of Maryland, the United States, and the World through both a multicultural and historic perspective. |
| Standard 3.0 Geography | Students will use geographic concepts and processes to examine the role of culture, technology, and the environment in the location and distribution of human activities and spatial connections throughout time. |
| Standard 4.0 Economics | Students will develop economic reasoning to understand the historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers participating in local communities, the nation, and the world. |
| Standard 5.0 History | Students will examine specific ideas, beliefs, and themes; organize patterns and events; and analyze how individuals and societies have changed over time in Maryland, the United States, and around the world. |
| Standard 6.0 Skills and Processes | Students shall use reading, writing, and thinking processes and skills to gain knowledge and understanding of political, historical, and current events using disciplinary and inquiry literacies. |
Unit I: European Geography and Ancient History
Unit Overview
Unit I has a twofold purpose. First, students will apply geographic skills learned in the 6th grade to explain how geography, specifically the geography of Europe, played a role in the development of western civilizations. They also examine the role of geography in the cultural diffusion of these ancient societies. Second, students will review and broaden their skills as historians to explain the rise, development, and decline of ancient Greece, Rome, and the Byzantine Empire.
Content Standards
The Geography of Europe
- GWC 7.1.1: Identify Europe’s relative location in the world and describe the characteristics that make it a region.
- GWC 7.1.2: Describe the major geographic and climatic features of Europe and Russia.
Historiography and Classical Greece
- GWC 7.1.3: Interpret, organize, and evaluate primary and secondary sources of information.
- GWC 7.1.4: Identify the author’s position on a historical event and evaluate the author’s purpose for creating the document.
- GWC 7.1.5: Use context/background information to draw more meaning from the document.
- GWC 7.1.6: Identify and evaluate the author’s claims about an event.
- GWC 7.1.7: Corroborate the claims using other pieces of evidence.
- GWC 7.1.8: Use geographic tools to describe the location of Ancient Greece.
- GWC 7.1.9: Explain the location of Ancient Greece based on its human and physical characteristics.
- GWC 7.1.10: Give reasons for the rise of Ancient Greece and cite examples of its major achievements and contributions to the world.
- GWC 7.1.11: Compare and contrast the social and political structures of Athens and Sparta.
- GWC 7.1.12: Explain the decline of Ancient Greece.
- GWC 7.1.13: (GT) Prioritize and justify the reasons for the decline of Ancient Greece.
- GWC 7.1.14: Describe the impact of Alexander of Macedonia’s conquests and the subsequent spread of Hellenistic culture.
Roman and Byzantine Civilizations
- GWC 7.1.15: Use geographic tools to describe the location of Ancient Rome.
- GWC 7.1.16: Explain the location of Ancient Rome based on its human and physical characteristics.
- GWC 7.1.17: Give reasons for the rise of Ancient Rome and cite examples of its major achievement and contributions to the world.
- GWC 7.1.18: (GT) Describe the political and social institutions of the Roman Republic and analyze why Rome was transformed from republic to empire.
- GWC 7.1.19: Explain the decline of Roman Empire and its impact on the creation of the Byzantine Empire.
- GWC 7.1.20: (GT) Prioritize and justify the reasons for the fall of the Roman Empire, and its impact on the creation of the Byzantine Empire.
- GWC 7.1.21: Examine how the Byzantine Empire became the preserver of Greco-Roman culture.
Unit II: EUROPEAN GEOGRAPHY, MODERN HISTORY, AND CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
Unit Overview
Unit II explains how Feudalism was established in Europe and how this dominant economic and political system rose and fell. Next, the student will learn how nation building impacted the European region. The final focus will be on contemporary issues including the influence of geography, political and economic systems, and those factors that unify and/or divide the people of the European region.
Content Standards
The Middle Ages
- GWC 7.2.1: Explain the factors that led to the development of Feudalism.
- GWC 7.2.2: (GT) Describe feudal lordship and explain how feudal relationships provided a foundation of political order in parts of Europe.
- GWC 7.2.3: Describe the political, social, and economic aspects of life in Medieval Europe.
- GWC 7.2.4: Describe the influences of Slavic, Viking, and Byzantine cultures on the development of Russian society.
- GWC 7.2.5: Explain how the Crusades impacted the expansion of Christian Europe.
European Geography
- GWC 7.2.6: Identify selected countries and major cities of the region.
- GWC 7.2.7: Identify and describe the major regions of modern Europe.
- GWC 7.2.8: (GT) Predict settlement patterns of major cities based on available resources including natural physical features.
- GWC 7.2.9: Examine the geographical influence on settlement and population patterns of modern European nations
- GWC 7.2.10: Explain how location, climate, and natural resources influences trade and economic development of modern European nations.
Contemporary Issues of Europe
- GWC 7.2.11: Use current data to compare the standard of living of selected countries in modern Europe.
- GWC 7.2.12: Analyze the characteristics and structures of various political and economic systems in modern Europe.
- GWC 7.2.13: Describe why the European Union was formed and examine its successes and failures.
- GWC 7.2.14: Examine contemporary issues such as immigration, ethnic strife, religious conflicts, economic concerns, etc. on modern European society.
Unit III: Latin America
Unit Overview
Unit III focuses on how geography shaped the history, culture, and current issues of the Latin American region. Beginning with the ancient civilizations, students will learn how indigenous populations developed thriving empires. Next, they study how trade and communication between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres altered the history of Latin America, including European domination of and withdrawal from the region. The final focus is on contemporary issues including how and why people modify the natural environment, political and economic systems, and those factors that unify and/or divide the people of the Latin American region.
Content Standards
The Geography of Latin America
- GWC 7.3.1: Identify the relative location of Latin America in the world and describe the characteristics that make it a region.
- GWC 7.3.2: Describe the major geographic and climatic features of Latin America.
- GWC 7.3.3: Identify selected countries and major cities of the region.
- GWC 7.3.4: Identify and describe the major regions of modern Latin American.
- GWC 7.3.5: Examine the geographical influence on settlement and population patterns of modern Latin American nations.
- GWC 7.3.6: Explain how location, climate, and natural resources influence trade and economic development of modern Latin American nations.
- GWC 7.3.7: (GT) Evaluate the environmental, political, economic, and social effects of modernization on the rainforest biome.
The History of Latin American
- GWC 7.3.8: Examine the emergence, growth, achievements, and decline of the Mayan, Aztec, and Inca Empires.
- GWC 7.3.9: Analyze the causes and consequences of the Age of Exploration.
- GWC 7.3.10: Examine the causes and effects of the Columbian Exchange on the Eastern and Western Hemispheres.
- GWC 7.3.11: Analyze how both forced and unforced immigration led to diverse populations in Latin American countries.
- GWC 7.3.12: Describe the effect of colonialism on Latin American countries and the process for independence.
- GWC 7.3.13: (GT) Compare the independence process and its aftermath between the United States and the countries of Latin America.
Contemporary Latin America
- GWC 7.3.14: Explain why the nations of Latin America have had difficulty building stable governments.
- GWC 7.3.15: Assess the impact of population growth and economic factors on the environment.
- GWC 7.3.16: (GT) Analyze the impact of physical features and climate on the population distribution of Latin America.
- GWC 7.3.17: Use a variety of economic and demographic data to identify and justify the development status of selected Latin American countries and compare them to other nations in the world.
- GWC 7.3.18: Examine contemporary issues in Latin America, such as: competing in a global economy; the war on drugs; political corruption; etc.
Unit IV: The United States and Canada
Unit Overview
Unit IV begins with a brief look at the names and locations of the major indigenous populations in North America to help the learner understand that people were present in the region prior to European exploration and colonization. Next, students will learn about the competing settlement and economic interests of France and England in North America. The effects of geography on each country is then explored, as the student learns about both physical and political boundaries. The final focus is on contemporary issues including how and why people modify the natural environment, political and economic systems, how the United States became a pluralistic society, and those factors that unify and/or divide the people of the North American region. Unit IV also serves as a bridge to the 8th Grade U.S. History curriculum. Students study the exploration of the North American Continent and the establishing of the thirteen British colonies.
Content Standards
Geography of Canada and the United States
- GWC 7.4.1: Identify the relative location of North America in the world and describe the characteristics that make it a region
- GWC 7.4.2: Describe the major geographic and climatic features of Canada and the United States.
- GWC 7.4.3: Identify selected states, provinces, territories, and major cities of the region.
- GWC 7.4.4: Identify and describe the major regions of Canada and the United States.
- GWC 7.4.5: Examine the geographical influence on settlement and population patterns of Canada and the United States.
- GWC 7.4.6: (GT) Predict settlement patterns of major cities based on available resources including natural physical features.
- GWC 7.4.7: Explain how location, climate, and natural resources influence trade and economic development in Canada and the United States.
Comparative History of Canada and the United States
- GWC 7.4.8: Learn the geographic regions of the United States that correspond to Native American cultural bands.
- GWC 7.4.9: Describe the historical and present-day locations, housing, clothing, food, and cultural traditions of specific tribes
- GWC 7.4.10: Explain how settlement patterns in Canada are linked to colonization by England and France and how their rivalry resulted in conflict.
- GWC 7.4.11: Examine how Canada became an independent nation.
- GWC 7.4.12: Compare federal forms of government in Canada and the United States.
Cultural Heritage of Canada and the United States
- GWC 7.4.13: Explain how the history of Canada influenced the cultural elements of modern society.
- GWC 7.4.14: Examine the effects on a nation when it moves from being monolingual to bilingual.
- GWC 7.4.15: Describe how immigration to the United States resulted in a pluralistic society consisting of diverse cultures, customs, and traditions.
- GWC 7.4.16: Examine contemporary issues such as economic concerns like competing in a global economy, the environment, etc. in Canada and the United States.
Interactions in the New World and Colonial North America
Students will evaluate the interaction of European, African, and Native cultures in colonial America by:
- GWC 7.4.17: Describing the varied cultures and geographic distribution of Native populations in North America prior to European arrival.
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GWC 7.4.18: Assessing the range of reactions of Native populations to the colonization of North America.
- The Black Legend, Native Americans and Spaniards: Crash Course US History #1 Links to an external site.
- When is Thanksgiving? Colonizing America: Crash Course US History #3 Links to an external site.
- The Native and the English: Crash Course US History #3 Links to an external site.
- Relationship Between Native People and European Colonists Links to an external site.
- GWC 7.4.19: Analyzing the factors causing European migration to North America.
- GWC 7.4.20: Identifying the causes and impacts of slavery in colonial North America.
Students will analyze how geography and economics influenced the location and development of Colonial North American regions by:
- GWC 7.4.21: Comparing the economic, political, social, religious and ethnic composition of colonial regions of New England, the mid-Atlantic, the Chesapeake, and the South.
- GWC 7.4.22: Evaluating the impact of mercantilism on the political and economic relationship between the North American colonies and Great Britain.
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