UNIT #3:
Geography of Europe
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OVERVIEW
Physical Geography of Europe is the first mini-unit taught in the “Geography of Europe” unit. This topic covers European climate zones, coastal erosion, mountain ranges, major seas and rivers.
TOPICS COVERED
- Climate Zones
- European Plate
- Iceland’s Mid-Atlantic Rift
- Fjords and Glaciers
- Northern European Plains
- Peninsulas of Europe
- Coastal Erosion
- Lowlands, Dikes and Polders
- Uplands
- Western Highlands
- Mountain Ranges: Carpathians, Alps, Iral, Caucasus, Pyrenees and Cantabrians
- Mediterranean Sea
- Seas in the Mediterranean Sea: Ionian, Adriatic and Aegean
- Northern Seas: Norwegian, North, Barents, Baltic
- Capitals on European Rivers
- Navigable Rivers: Rhine and Danube Rivers
LEARNING TARGETS
- Students can identify the 5 climate zones in Europe: Marine West Coast, Steppe, Arctic, Humid Continental, Mediterranean.
- Students can explain how European Plates and Iceland’s Mid-Atlantic Rift contribute to shaping Iceland’s physical geography.
- Students can define and identify the following terms: Fjord and Glacier.
- Students can explain how Europe’s Northern Plains are significant for agriculture. .
- Students can explain why Europe is known as the “Peninsula of Peninsulas.”
- Students can explain how coastal erosion impacts Europe’s infrastructure.
- Students can define the following terms: Dike and Polder, and explain how they are examples of Human Interaction with the Environment.
- Students can compare and contrast the Central Uplands and the Western Highlands.
- Students can locate and identify the significance of the following Mountain Ranges: Carpathian, Alps, Ural, Caucases, Pyrenees and the Cantabrians.
- Students can locate the following Seas in the Mediterranean Sea: Balearic, Ligurian, Tyrrhenian, Ionian, Adriatic and Aegean.
OVERVIEW
Politics and Economics of Europe is the second mini-unit or topic taught in the “Geography of Europe” unit. This topic covers: political boundaries, historic events, the ancient worlds of Rome, Greece and Byzantium, how World Wars affected the European map, the European Union, Brexit, financial centers, market and command economies, trade and government.
TOPICS COVERED
- Transcontinental countries: Europe and Asia
- Historic Events: the Black Death, the Renaissance, Protestant Reformation, Industrial Revolution
- Ancient World: Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
- Democracy in Athens
- The Acropolis
- Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle
- Spread of Christianity
- How World War I changed the European Map
- GIF: Europe’s changing map
- The difference between Great Britain and the United Kingdom
- European Union: goals, is the EU successful, the debt crisis
- Examining Brexit
- The financial centers of Europe: London, Zurich, and Frankfurt
- Mixed Economies: The Swedish Model
- Europe’s major exports
- Examining per capita income
- Countries in the Spotlight: Germany and Romania
- Europe’s Microstates
- Democracy in Eastern Europe
- Examining Europe’s Democracy
LEARNING TARGETS
- Students can identify the relative location of Europe.
- Students can define the term Transcontinental and identify Europe’s four transcontinental countries.
- Students will be able to outline events of historic significance in Europe, particularly: the Black Death, the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation and the Industrial Revolution.
- Students can compare and contrast three ancient Empires: Greece, Rome and Byzantium.
- Students can describe elements of early democracy in Ancient Greece and Rome
- Students can compare and contrast the ancient philosophers: Socrates, Plato and Aristotle.
- Students can explain how the Great Schism affected Religion in Europe.
- Students can explain how World War I changed political boundaries in Eastern and Central Europe.
- Students can explain the differences between Great Britain and the United Kingdom.
- Students can define the European Union and identify the E.U.’s major goals.
- Students can evaluate how successful the E.U.’s is in achieving its goals by analyzing: Per Capita Income, Debt, and Brexit.
- Students can define Brexit and explain the benefits and drawbacks of the United Kingdom leaving the E.U.
- Students can define and identify the major financial centers in Europe.
- Students can define the following terms: Mixed Economy, Market Economy, and Command Economy.
- Students can list Europe’s major exports.
- Students can analyze how per capita income differs in each European region.
- Students can compare and contrast Germany and Romania in terms of: Government, Economy and Society.
- Students can define Microstates and identify Europe’s six microstates.
- Students can evaluate the level of political stability in Europe by examining: Judicial independence, media integrity, political parties, and clean elections.
OVERVIEW
Culture and Society of Europe is the third mini-unit or topic taught in the “Geography of Europe” unit. This topic covers: cultural regions in Europe, the education system in France, tourist destinations, religion in Europe, Basques, Sami and Romani people, languages of Europe, comparison of Slovenia and Russia and Universal Healthcare in Europe.
TOPICS COVERED
- Regions of Europe
- Cultural regions of Europe
- Mediterranean
- Scandinavia
- Alpine
- Baltic
- The education system in France
- Trendsetters: Scandinavian design, Italian fashion, German automotive
- Tourist destinations by region:
- Northern Europe: Iceland
- Central Europe: Belgium
- Southern Europe: The Azores, Portugal
- Eastern Europe: Czech Republic
- Exploring religion in Europe: Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam
- Exploring ethnic groups: Basque, Sami, Romani
- Languages of Europe
- Countries in the Spotlight: Slovenia and Russia
- Population pyramid analysis
- Examining healthcare in Europe
LEARNING TARGETS
- Students can identify seven geographic regions in Europe.
- Students can identify and compare and contrast four cultural regions in Europe: Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Alpine and Baltic.
- Students can explain France’s educational system and evaluate its effectiveness.
- Students will be able to describe the following cultural trend-setters: Scandinavia, Italy and Germany
- Students can compare and contrast the following tourist destinations: Iceland, Belgium, Azores, and the Czech Republic.
- Students will be able to outline the three major religions in Europe: Catholicism, Protestantism and Islam.
- Students can explain how religious affiliation in Europe has changed over time.
- Students can describe the following cultural groups: Basques, Sami and Romani.
- Students can explain the significance of language in Europe.
- Students can compare and contrast Slovenia and Russia.
- Students can define Universal Healthcare and explain how Universal Healthcare affects: Physician density, infant mortality and life expectancy.
- Students can analyze the social and economic trade off of Universal Healthcare.
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