Mr. Brough's
World
Geography Class
for Freshmen Students (9th Grade)
Disclosure
Statement and Course Outline
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 Today,
1997--that should be taken home and regularly studied. They
will use an in-class set of the updated textbook--World
Geography Today, 2005--for open-book classroom assignments
and chapter quizzes.
Classroom Behavior: Students are expected
to be courteous and polite towards the teacher, visitors and each other. 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 computed from the following 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.
A
= 93-100%
A- = 90-92%
B+ = 87-89%
B = 83-86%
B- = 80-82%
C+ =
77-79%
C = 73-76%
C- = 70-72%
D+ = 67-69%
D = 63-66%
D- = 60-62%
F
= 0-59%
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
Approximate
Term and Week for Covering Geography Chapters & Topics
Term
1, Week 1: Chapter 1 (in 2005 book): Map Skills, Geography Themes & Tools,
Studying Geography. (1997 book: Pages S1-S17).
Term 1, Week
2: Chapter 2: Earth in Space. (1997 book: Chapter 2).
Term
1, Weeks 3-4: Chapter 3: Weather and Climate. Sub-Unit Exam on Chapters 1-3. (1997
book: Chapter 3).
Term 1, Weeks 5-6: Chapter 4, Landforms,
Water and Natural Resources. (1997 book: Chapters 4-5).
Term
1, Weeks 7-9: Chapter 5: Human Geography - Populations, Cultures, Religions. (1997
book: Chapters 6-9)
Term 2, Week 1: Chapter 6: Human Systems
- Economics and Politics. Sub-Unit Exam on Chapters 4-6. (1997 book: Chapters
6-9).
Term 2, Week 2: Chapter 7: Natural Environments of North
America. (1997 book: Chapter 10).
Term 2, Weeks 2-3: Chapter
8: The United States. (1997 book: Chapters 11-15).
Term 2,
Week 3: Chapter 9: Canada. Unit Exam on Chapters 7-9. (1997 book: Chapter 16).
Term
2, Week 4: Chapter 10: Mexico. (1997 book: Chapters 17-18).
Term
2, Week 5: Chapter 11: Central America and the Caribbean. (1997 book: Chapter
19).
Term 2, Week 6-7: Chapter 12: South America. Unit Exam
on Chapters 10-12. (1997 book: Chapters 20-22).
Term 2, Week
7: Chapter 13: Natural Environments of Europe. (1997 book: Chapter 23).
Term
2, Week 8: Chapter 14: Northern and Western Europe. (1997 book: Chapter 24).
Term
2, Week 9 and Term 3, Week 1: Chapter 15: Central Europe. (1997 book: Chapters
25 and 27).
Term 3, Weeks 2-3: Chapter 16: Southern Europe
and the Balkans. Unit Exam on Chapters 13-16. (1997 book: Chapters 13-16).
Term
3, Weeks 4-5: Chapter 17: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. (Chapters 28-30).
Term
3, Week 5: Computer Lab Research Project.
Term 3, Week 6: Chapter 18: Central
Asia. Unit Exam on Chapters 17-18. (1997 book: Chapter 31).
Term
3, Week 6: Chapter 19: The Persian Gulf and Interior. (1997 book: Chapters 32
and 34).
Term 3, Week 7: Chapter 20: The Eastern Mediterranean.
Unit Exam on Chapters 19-20. (1997 book: Chapter 33).
Term
3, Week 8: Chapter 21: North Africa. (1997 book: Chapters 35-36).
Term
3, Week 9: Chapter 22: West and Central Africa. (1997 book: Chapters 37 and 39).
Term
3, Week 9: Chapter 23: East Africa. (1997 book: Chapter 38).
Term
4, Week 1: Chapter 24: Southern Africa. Unit Exam on Chapters 21-24. (1997 book:
Chapter 40).
Term 4, Week 2: Chapter 25: India. (1997 book:
Chapters 46-47).
Term 4, Week 3: Chapter 26: The Indian Perimeter.
Unit Exam on Chapters 25-26. (1997 book: Chapter 48).
Term
4, Week 4: Chapter 27: China, Mongolia and Taiwan. (1997 book: Chapters 41-42).
Term
4, Week 5: Chapter 28: Japan and the Koreas. (1997 book: Chapter 43).
Term
4, Week 6: Chapter 29: Mainland Southeast Asia. (1997 book: Chapter 44).
Term
4, Week 6: Chapter 30: Island Southeast Asia. Unit Exam on Chapters 27-30. (1997
book: Chapter 45).
Term 4, Week 7: Chapter 31: Australia and
New Zealand. (1997 book: Chapter 49).
Term 4, Week 8: Chapter
32: The Pacific Islands. Unit Exam on Chapters 31-32. (1997 book Chapter 50).
Term
4, Week 9: Year-End Freshmen Activities.
