GEOGRAPHY STANDARDS:

NATIONAL STANDARDS

PENNSYLVANIA STANDARDS

PDFs: National Standards and PA Academic Standards Checklist

National Standards

Eighteen Standards from Geography for Life

The geographically informed person knows and understands…

The World in Spatial Terms

1 How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process and report information from a spatial perspective.
2 How to use mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments in a spatial context.
3 How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places and environments on Earth's surface.

Places and regions

4 The physical and human characteristics of places.
5 That people create regions to interpret Earth's complexity.
6 How culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions.

Physical Systems

7 The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth's surface.
8 The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface.

Human Systems

9 The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface.
10 The characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.
11 The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface.
12 The processes, patterns, and functions of human settlement.
13 How the forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface.

Environment and Society

14 How human actions modify the physical environment.
15 How physical systems affect human systems.
16 The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.

The Uses of Geography

17 How to apply geography to interpret the past.
18 How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

Source: Geography for Life : National Geography Standards 1994 (Washington , D.C. ; National Geographic Research and Exploration, 1994)

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Pennsylvania Academic Standards Checklist

5. Civics and Government

5.1 Principles and Documents of Government

A. What government is
B. Rule of Law
C. Principles and Ideals

5.2 Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship

A. Rights of Citizenship
B. Responsibilities of Citizenship
C. Civil Participation

5.3 How Government Works

A. Separation of Powers
B. Elections
C. Forms of Government

5.4 How International Relationships Function

A. Diplomacy
B. International Organization
C. Political Units

6. Economics

7. Geography

7.1 Basic Geographic Literacy

A. Geographical representations
B. Locations of Places and Regions
C. Connections among Regions

7.2 The Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

A. Components of Earth's Physical Systems
B. Physical Processes Affecting Places and Regions
C. Interrelationships Among Physical Systems

7.3 The Human Characteristics of Places and Regions

A. Population, Culture and Settlement
B. Economic Activity
C. Political Activity

7.4 The interactions Between People and Places

contributions of individuals and groups.
B Primary documents, artifacts and historic sites
C Continuity and change influence history
D Conflict and Cooperation among social groups and organizations

8.4 World History

A. Political and cultural contributions of individuals and groups
B. Primary documents, artifacts and historic sites
C. Continuity and change influence history
D. Conflict and Cooperation among social groups and organizations

9. Arts and Humanities

9.1 Production, Performance and Exhibition of Dance, Music, Theater and Visual Arts

A. Elements and Principles in each Art Form

6.1 Economic systems

A. Economic theories
B. Economic Indicators
C. Fluctuations in Economic Activity

6.2 Markets and Functions of Governments

A. Consumers and Producers
B. Role of Money
C. Supply and Demand

6.3 Scarcity and Choice

A. Economic Resources
B. Costs and Benefits
C. Opportunity Cost

6.4 Economic Interdependence

A. Specialization
B. Why people Trade
C. Patterns of Economic Activities

6.5 Work and Earnings

A. Profits and Losses
B. Income and Wealth
C. Risk and Rewards

A. Dependence on Physical Systems
B. Modifications to Accommodate Envirnoments

8. History

8.1 Historical Analysis and Skills Development

A. Chronological thinking
B. Historical sources
C. Fundamentals of historical interpretation
D. Historical research

8.2 Pennsylvania History

8.3 United States History
A. Political and cultural

B. Demonstrations of Dance, Music, Theater and Visual Arts
C. Vocabulary within each Art form
D. Styles in Production, performance and exhibition
E. Safety Issues in the Arts
F. Community Performances and Exhibitions
G. Traditional Technologies
H. Contemporary Technologies

9.2 Historical and Cultural Contexts

A. Identification Chronologically and Geographically
B. Analysis from Historical and Cultural Perspectives
C. Vocabulary for Historical and Cultural Contexts
D. Relationships in Style and Genre
E. Differences and Traditions

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