SOCIAL SCIENCE 101-02             SPATIAL CONCEPTS               FALL 2003

 

CLASS TIME AND LOCATION:  MWF 12-12:50 PM, Butte 113.

INSTRUCTOR:  Dr. Guy King, Butte 517, gking@csuchico.edu, 898-4858.

OFFICE HOURS: MWF 11 AM-12 Noon, TR 9:30-10:30 AM, or by appointment.

 

Course Description

 

Welcome to Social Science 101.  This class introduces the fundamental concepts of geography for use in the K-12 classroom learning environment.  Social Science 101 covers the five themes of geography:  Location on the Earth, Place, Human-Environmental Interaction, Movement, and Region. Location on the Earth includes understanding maps, time zones, coordinate systems, map projections, and geographic information systems (GIS).  The geographical theme of Place consists of landscape perception, physical and cultural geography, economic geography, and urban and rural landscapes. Human-Environmental Interaction involves the use and conservation of nature resources.  Movement studies human migration, diffusion of ideas, trade and transportation, and communication.  The theme of Region looks at the classification of geographical areas on the earth's surface.

 

Course Goals and Objectives

 

1.  To study the basic concepts of geography.

2.  To learn how to teach geography in the K-12 classroom environment.

3.  To learn how to work with the basic tools and techniques of geography including maps and atlases.

 

Class Assignments

 

Textbook Readings: Each week students will read assigned chapters from the course textbooks.

Class Activities:  Students will complete five activities each involving a theme of geography.

Midterm Exams:  These cover material from lectures, text readings, and activities.

Final Exam:  The final exam is a comprehensive evaluation of student learning of all material presented in this class.

 

Grading

Five Activities                                      100 Points (20 Points Each)
Two Midterm Exams                         200 Points  (100 Points Each)
Final Exam                                         100 Points

 

Required Text

Edward Bergman and William H. Renwick, Introduction to Geography: People, Places, and Environment, Updated 2nd Edition. Prentice Hall: New Jersey (Available from the Chico State Associated Students Bookstore).

 

 

 

COURSE SCHEDULE

 

WEEK                         TOPIC (TEXT READING)                 

 

Aug      25                    Basic Concepts of Geography (Chapter 1)

 

2                      Location on the Earth (Chapter 1)

 

            8                      Maps, Remote Sensing, and GIS (Chapter 1)

 

            15                    The Earth’s Atmosphere (Chapter 2)

 

            17                    EXAM 1

 

            22                    World Climates (Chapter 2)

 

            29                    The Earth’s Lithosphere (Chapter 3)

 

Oct      6                      Global Geomorphology (Chapter 3)

 

            13                    The Earth’s Biosphere (Chapter 4)

 

            20                    World Biomes (Chapter 4)

 

            27                    World Geodemography (Chapter 5)

 

            29                    EXAM 2

 

Nov      3                      Human Geography (Chapters 6 & 7)

 

            10                    World Agriculture (Chapter 8)

 

            17                    Global Natural Resources (Chapter 9)

 

            24                    Fall Break

 

Dec     1                      Global Geography (Chapters 10, 11 & 12)

 

            8                      Globalization (Chapter 13)

 

            17                    FINAL EXAM (Wednesday, 12-1:50 PM, Butte 113)