Social Studies Curriculum

Area Studies Electives

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Adopted January 1999

Area Studies Core Course Elements

In the Guidelines for Geographic Education and Geography for Life:  The National Geography Standards and the Alaska state geography standards, certain core elements are evident and important for inclusion in any area studies course.  These elements include the geographic themes which are location, place, movement, regions, and human/environment relationships and related ideas that can be phrased as questions and core standards for each of the area studies courses.

Upon completion of the area studies graduation requirement, students will be able to respond successfully to the following questions (the core standard is provided in parenthesis):

1. Where is the area located and why is its location important both regionally and globally? (Students will be able to use maps and globes to illustrate their point-of view and understand the nature and importance of specific and relative location).

2. Within what major regions is the area is located and what is their importance (Students will identify major hemispheric, continental, cultural, political, and other relevant regions that the area falls within).

3. Why is this region important? (Students will demonstrate knowledge of the relevance of the region to today's world, Alaska, and/or themselves).

4. What features or characteristics make this place important or unique?  (Students will identify significant physical [landforms, weather & climate, ecosystems, water features, natural resources, etc.] and cultural [historical, demographic, economic, social, political, etc.] characteristics of the region and be able to explain their importance).

5. In what primary ways do humans interact with the natural environment in this area ?  (Students will identify and describe primary ways in which humans culturally adapt to, utilize, and alter the natural environment).

6. What major regional differences occur within the area?  (Students will describe the nature and importance of regions and sub-regions within the area studied).

7. What are the major movements that connect this area to others in the world?  (Students will identify major physical and cultural connections between this area and others.  Examples include:  weather, rivers, ocean currents, etc.;  migration; import/exports; ideas and information, etc.).

8. What issues or problems are of greatest importance to this area today and are projected for the future?  (Students will identify problems or issues and project future conditions, alternatives, and solutions).

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