Geographic Determinism - Analysis

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Essential Question/Aim: How do you analyze using Jared Diamond's term Geographic Determinism?

Opening Move/Do Now: In your notebooks;

1. Define the term Geography.
2. Define the term Environment.
3. Answer whether Geography can also mean Environment, or are the different?

Lesson Overview:

Item	Approx Time
Do Now	3-5 Min
Activity	30 Min
Discussion	10 Min

Historical Context

Geographic Determinism - NYS Regents Conceptual Examples

Word	Concept	Regents Usage
Archipelago	Chain of Islands	Japan has limited natural resources as well as limited farmland. Japan uses imperialism in the late 19th and 20th century to find resources such as coal, oil, rubber, iron, etc to build their empire.
Peninsula	Land Surrounded by Three (3) sides of Water	Italy - Location is ideal for Mediterranean sea trade. Korean Peninsula - Located near China so cultural diffusion occurs. Iberian Peninsula - Located on the Atlantic, so first to sail westward to New World (Americas).
Himalaya Mountains	Between China & India	Limits Cultural Diffusion and Isolates China. Diffusion occurs because of trade as well as spread of Buddhism through Himalayan Plateau and mountain passes to Tibet and China.
Monsoons	Seasonal Winds	Bring Rain during one season, and dry during another. Indian Subcontinent Farming based upon and dependent on the monsoon cycle.
Island	Surrounded by Water	Great Britain difficult to invade (Napoleon, Hitler), causes them to create a strong shipbuilding industry for trade and a strong navy. British Empire is created by a seafaring gunpowder Empire.
Desert	Very Little Water	Sahara Deserts prevents Europe from exploring deeper into Africa. Kingdoms of Mali, Songhai, Ghana trade salt and gold to Middle East through Desert trade routes.
Cold Climate	Extreme Climate	Cold weather prevents Napoleon and Hitler from conquering Russia/Soviet Union.

Classwork & Homework

Lesson Powerpoint: 5 Themes of Geography

Video: Geography Connections

Activity: 5 Themes Worksheet

Homework: Assignments

Special Education Modifications

• Teaching Model: Co-Teaching
• Special Education Teacher will work with All students General Ed and Special Ed.
  • Special Ed Students:
    • Teacher will read-aloud to students when necessary.
    • Teachers will break down assignments into smaller tasks.
    • Teachers will work with students on vocabulary acquisition by breaking down words into prefixes/suffixes and etymology.
    • Teachers will group students according to learning style inventory as a homogeneous group.
    • Teachers will keep students on-task by managing distractions and on-task behavior.
    • Teachers will modify note-taking by modeling notes from PowerPoint to chalkboard/whiteboard.
    • Teachers will differentiate lessons by using; verbal cues for auditory learners, graphic organizers for visual learners, and hands-on cues for tactile learners.