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United States and Canada
Standard(s) of Learning
| WG.4 |
The student will locate and analyze physical, economic, and cultural characteristics of world regions: . . . United States and Canada, . . . |
WG.12 |
The student will apply geography to interpret the past, understand the present, and plan for the future by |
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a) |
using geographic knowledge, skills, and perspectives to analyze problems and make decisions; |
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b) |
relating current events to the physical and human characteristics of places and regions. |
Content
Describe how physical, economic, and cultural characteristics influence regional development. Use the regional information provided below.
Economic characteristics
• Highly developed infrastructures
• Highly diversified economies
• Center of world financial markets (New York Stock Exchange)
Cultural characteristics
• Multicultural societies
• Increasingly diverse populations
• Highly urbanized
• Highly mobile populations
• World’s longest unfortified border between the United States and Canada
• Democratic forms of government
• Cultural landscape
• U.S. Capitol building
• Golden Gate Bridge
• Independence Hall
• St. Louis Gateway Arch
• Bilingual signs
Explain the following practical applications of how geography enables students to be informed, active citizens in their communities:
• Recycling programs
• Conversion of land from agricultural use
• Water sources (e.g., dams, reservoirs, wells, pipelines, ocean)
• Airport expansion
• Air quality
• Boundaries (e.g., school zones)
• Bicycle paths
• Mass transit
• City planning and zoning laws
• Energy use
• Location and size of public buildings (e.g., schools, recreation centers, hospitals, and libraries)
• Selection of locations for new stores and businesses
Sample Resources
Below is an annotated list of Internet resources recommended for this organizing topic. Copyright restrictions may exist for the material on some Web sites. Please note and abide by any such restrictions.
The Great Buildings Collection. <http://www.greatbuildings.com/>
This gateway to architecture around the world and across history documents a thousand buildings and hundreds of leading architects.
Maps of the United States. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of Interior. <http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod/>. This site provides access to information about geographic maps of the United States.
Exploration and Settlement maps in the National Atlas of the United States of America. <http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/histus.html#exploration.html>
Places OnLine, sponsored by the Association of American Geographers
<http://www.placesonline.org/> This site is a portal to the world’s very best place-based web sites.
Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning: History and Social Science Released Items for Virginia and United States History. Virginia Department of Education 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/Release2003/History/VA-RIBs_g11wgeo-1.pdf>.
Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning: World Geography Test Blueprint. Virginia Department of Education, 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/2002Blueprint9WG.pdf>. This site provides assessment information for the course in World Geography.
The World Factbook - U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/>. This site contains searchable information on all countries.
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