Mr. Brough's
World Geography Class
for Freshmen Students (9th Grade)


Disclosure Statement and Course Outline

Mr. Brough's Email: cbrough@graniteschools.org

Course: Geography is the study of the earth's physical features and the distribution of life on its surface. It is primarily concerned with the spatial aspects of where things are located and why they are where they are.

Supplies: Students should bring to class each day a pen or pencil and notebook paper. Students will be given their own textbook--World Geography and Cultures, 2008--that should be taken home and regularly studied. They will also use an in-class set of the above textbook, for open-book classroom assignments and chapter quizzes.
The on-line version of World Geography and Cultures can be accessed at: http://www.glencoe.com/ose/

Classroom Behavior: "Teachers are paid to teach, and students are paid to learn (through parental care and taxpayer support)". Therefore, students should always show appreciation and respect to those who afford them the opportunity to gain an education and should regularly attend school and work hard to excel in all their classes. Obviously, students are expected to be courteous and polite towards their peers, their teachers, and visitors. Verbal or physical abuse will not be tolerated. Failure to comply with the school dress code is the equivalent of breaking any school/class rule and could result in a lower citizenship grade.

Attendance: Regular attendance is very important because more than half of all questions on chapter and/or unit exams will come from classroom presentations and discussions. School citizenship policy will be followed for tardies and absences.

Homework: Textbook chapters should be read and studied at home prior to the first day they are discussed in class. A classroom quiz will be given on most chapters of the book. All homework assignments must be turned in on time to receive full credit.

Grades: Grades are based on a percentage system of possible points earned from homework and reading assignments, computer projects, journals, classroom worksheets, chapter quizzes, map tests, unit exams and oral presentations. Grades are updated on the district website at least once a week (and usually by Saturday evening).

General Teaching Schedule: Monday's and Tuesday's are usually reserved for lectures and discussions. Wednesday's and Thursday's are often reserved for reviewing of relevant articles, text-related classwork, brief supporting videos, critical writing assignments, and group activities and investigation projects. Friday's are often reserved for reading and analysis assignments, and geographic journal entires and notes. Students usually receive at least one day advance notice of forthcoming chapter quizzes, and several days advance notice of forthcoming map tests and unit exams.

Websites:

For Geography Websites related to class topics and materials:
http://www.graniteschools.org/jr/eisenhower/geography_links.html

For information about Mr. Brough:
http://www.broughfamily.org/rcb_info.html

For information about Eisenhower Junior High School:
http://www.graniteschools.org/jr/eisenhower/

For information about Grades and Attendance:
http://gb.granite.k12.ut.us/gb/login.asp?rc=1

Learning Schedule for World Geography, 2008-2009

Term 1: August 25, 2008, through October 30, 2008:
Term 1, Week 1: Chapter 1: Map Skills, Geography Themes & Tools.
Term 1, Week 2: Chapter 2: Earth in Space.
Term 1, Weeks 3-4: Chapter 3: Weather and Climate.
Term 1, Weeks 5-6: Chapter 2: Landforms, Water and Natural Resources.
Term 1, Weeks 7-9: Chapter 4: Populations, Cultures and Religions.

Term 2: November 3, 2008, through January 15, 2009:
Term 2, Week 1: Chapter 4: Human Systems - Economics and Politics.
Term 2, Week 2: Computer Lab - Geographic Research Projects.
Term 2, Weeks 3-4: Chapters 5-7: United States and Canada.
Term 2, Weeks 5-8: Chapters 8-10: Latin America.
Term 2, Week 9: Chapter 11: Europe.

Term 3: January 20, 2009, through March 26, 2009
Term 3, Weeks 1-3: Chapters 12-13: Europe.
Term 3, Weeks 4-5: Chapters 14-16: Russia.
Term 3, Weeks 6-8: Chapters 17-19: Southwest & Central Asia and North Africa.
Term 3, Week 9: Chapters 20-22: Africa - South of the Sahara.

Term 4: March 30, 2009, through June 5, 2009
Term 4, Week 1: Chapters 20-22: Africa - South of the Sahara.
Term 4, Weeks 2-3: Chapters 23-25: South Asia.
Term 4, Weeks 3-4: Chapters 26-28: East Asia.
Term 4, Weeks 5-6: Chapters 29-31: Southeast Asia.
Term 4, Weeks 7-8: Chapters 32-34: Australia, Oceania and Antarctica.
Term 4, Week 9: Final World Map Exam and Year-End Freshmen Activities.


Granite School District
and its schools are not responsible for information obtained through links to
non-school, non-district websites. Please contact Eisenhower's webmaster, Mr. Brough,
or district website staff if you are concerned about a link to a non-school, non-district site.
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