Core Curriculum

Geography for Life

Geography is described as the study of the “why of the where.” Geography for Life will explore how to use geography as a tool to better understand the world in which we live. Students will learn to evaluate and question the why and where of spatial perceptions that are read, seen, and heard. The six standards identified below are best understood when using the following geographic themes: location, place, movement, region, and human-environmental interaction. Geography for Life is designed as a semester course, but is recommended to be a year-long course. A semester course will include map skills with physical and human geography essentials, beginning with North America, South America, Europe, and their connections to other world regions. The year-long course continues to use previously learned geography skills connected to the remaining areas of the world.

Core Curriculum

National Standards

Materials And Resources

The following are materials and resources that can be used to support the core curriculum.

Lesson Ideas

Books

  • Notable Trade Books for Young People
    The books that appear in these annotated book lists were evaluated and selected by a Book Review Committee appointed by National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and assembled in cooperation with the Children's Book Council (CBC).

Teacher Resources

  • Utah State Office of Education Recommended Instructional Materials System (RIMS)
    Find instructional materials that have been adopted by the Utah State Office of Education

  • National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
    Founded in 1921, National Council for the Social Studies has grown to be the largest association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. NCSS engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies. With members in all the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 69 foreign countries, NCSS serves as an umbrella organization for elementary, secondary, and college teachers of history, geography, economics, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and law-related education.

Internet

  • National Geography Xpeditions
    Xpeditions is home to the U.S. National Geography Standards—and to thousands of ideas,
    tools, and interactive adventures that bring them to life.

  • Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
    Rare Map Collection--at Hargrett Library

  • European Schools Project Association (ESP)
    The European Schools Project Association (ESP) supports teachers and pupils in participating in the world of Internet-based Computer Supported Collaborative Learning and in using Internet's Information Resources to improve learning and teaching.

  • MarcoPolo
    The Marcopolo program provides quality Internet curriculum for the K-12 teacher and classroom. The free online resources include panel-reviewed links to top sites, professionally developed lesson plans, classroom activities, materials to help with daily classroom planning, and comprehensive search engines.

  • Pioneer - Utah's Online Library
    Pioneer is Utah's Online Library. Access hundreds of full-text publications, the Wilson Biographies, World Book Encyclopedia, and Utah Newspaper archives.

  • Utah Education Network
    The Utah Education Network website provides education tools, activities, lesson plans, curriculum guides and professional development for teachers and educators in the state of Utah. You can also find other UEN resources like KULC channel 9, EDNET, and distance learning resources here.

For further information, contact Tom Sutton, State Social Studies Specialist - 801.538.7708; FAX 801.538.7769
This page last updated July 23, 2008