Geography studies the Earth's surface, habitats, locations, and spaces, as well as their relationships.
It aims to address why things are the way they are and where they are. Furthermore, the current academic subject of geography is based on ancient practice and focuses on the features of locations, particularly their natural environs and persons and their interactions.
But have you ever wondered why high schools in the United States make students learn geography from such an early age?
In this article, we will be discussing high school geography, high school geography activities, and several other things related to the subject. So, let's get started!
The History Of Geography
Its distinct identity was initially formed and called by the Greeks around 2,000 years ago when geo and graphein combined to denote "earth description" or "earth writing."
Moreover, what was recognized as geography had been developed before that time, in the Arabian Peninsula or elsewhere.
On the other hand, Ptolemy, writer of Guide to Geography (2nd century CE), described geography as "a portrayal in images of the entire recognized as globe combined with the occurrences which are encompassed therein."
Hence, it conveys what several people still consider geography's core: an explanation of the entire planet using maps.
Furthermore, "geography" generally refers to a region's topography—its drainage and relief patterns, dominant vegetative cover.
Moreover, it also included the weather and climate patterns—along with human reactions to that atmosphere, such as industrial, land, agricultural uses, and urbanization and settlement patterns.
5 Reasons To Teach Geography
Do you know geography is referred to as the 'global subject'? Many students can learn how to analyze, explain, and seek reasons why the world we see is the way it is in geography classes.
In addition, it stimulates kids to think about possible futures.
Moreover, geography enables students to focus more critically on complex and unsolved topics such as global warming, worldwide population shifts, food, and nutrition security and create substantial dwellings.
Geography is unique because it investigates both the human and the physical worlds. As a result, many students explore real-world geography challenges and take on decision-making responsibilities.
They collect data, assess prejudices and preferences, debate value positions, and formulate and disseminate findings — in other words; they do geographical research.
To know more, we have listed down five reasons to teach geography in high school:
1. Create Spatial Awareness
Geography studies improve spatial awareness. Moreover, it is critical to developing map sense and map reading abilities, yet these exercises are almost entirely absent from today's school curriculum.
If you questioned your students, would they point north? Without the aid of technology, would they find the position of the continents and seas on a map?
Would your kids be able to find their way home or to another state if they didn't have a GPS?
We enable the growth of spatial awareness through learning geography abilities, but we also build a bridge to comprehending the usefulness of major spatial geographic devices like GPS.
Furthermore, how will we enhance such technologies if new students don't know how the world works?
2. Develop Non-Fiction Reading Skills
Geography helps students improve their nonfiction reading ability. Furthermore, it employs complicated visualizations like maps, photographs, tables, and diagrams that should be understood based on the goal.
Many geography students must use top-level thinking abilities to examine and synthesize material.
Because nonfiction text elements are integrated across all subject areas, studying geography spontaneously builds a working understanding of reading and analyzing them.
Lastly, learning geography increases vocabulary and basic information about our nation and the globe. In short, geography is an excellent resource for developing nonfiction reading abilities.
3. Create Awareness Of Place
The study of geography fosters a sense of place. Yet, as the founding fathers recognized, understanding geography instills an individuality of the American location.
It will make you ask:
- Should everyone be aware of which states border their own?
- Where could I locate the 9/11 Memorials?
- What are the major cities such as Boston, Miami, Chicago, New York, and Seattle?
- What are the identities of the nations that surround us?
- What is the significance of Washington?
Most significantly, knowing geography gives context to historical and current social, economic, or political events.
Knowing about this helps us to become better critical thinkers. This is because geography affects almost every area of our life!
4. Create Global Community
Geography education prepares students to be global citizens. Geographers have a greater understanding of our world's interconnection and how we are linked through human-environment, place, location, and mobility interactions.
Consider this. As we better know geography's central themes, students can also understand ethnic differences and why individuals behave in their lives.
Students must comprehend this knowledge to function in today's global society.
5. Broad Choice Of Future Career
You'll have a plethora of job options due to the transferable experience and academic knowledge you'll obtain by studying geography in high school.
Suppose you wish to pursue a job closely linked to your degree. In that case, you may work as a town planner, environmental manager, high-school teacher, or cartographer, to mention a few possibilities.
You might also consider being a meteorologist, landscape architect, astronomer, or foreign assistance worker.
Moreover, you might consider employment in the government sector, or for a charitable organization, and in areas such as:
- Real estate
- Engineering
- Military
- International development
- Business
High School Geography Activities
As a geography teacher, there will be times when you do not understand which fun activities you should conduct in the classroom to make students participate more while learning the subject.
Without any doubt, geography can be a bit boring for students; however, it is the top-most priority of the teacher to keep them engaged.
So, if you are wondering which fun activities you can conduct in your classroom, we have a list for you:
- Find birthday coordinates
- Neighborhood map
- Learn from map
- Make a map
- Mark latitude and longitude
- Make an earth pendant
- Make a flag
- Make a mag of an imaginary island
- Make a treasure hunt
- Follow a tropical storm's path
If you have any more unique and fun ideas to keep your students active during the class, do not hesitate and trust your gut.
3 Resources To Teach Geography In High School
One of the most challenging tasks that new (and even seasoned) teachers have is keeping up with the vast range of resources and materials available for instructors to utilize in their classes.
How would you ensure that your class content is relevant and appropriate if you do not know what resources are accessible?
How can you be sure that you are preparing your students for the coming years? How can you properly teach children how to incorporate technology?
So, if you are looking for some high-tech resources to utilize in your geography classroom, use the following:
Google Maps
This is a true game-changer for instructors. There is so much that could be achieved with Google Maps. However, so few teachers make use of the fantastic opportunities.
You may:
- Create tours
- Estimate distances
- Check routes
- Compare various types of maps
The benefits are numerous. So do yourself a courtesy and visit the educational page for motivation and see how it can be accomplished.
GeogSpace
This one is more Australian-focused, but it is still worth considering even if you are not in Australia. Moreover, this application is specially designed for teachers.
There is a variety of material regarding fieldwork, geography, ICT teaching, and several instances of instructors sharing best practices.
This book is a must-read if you are new to teaching geography since it will inspire you to make the sessions more fascinating and enjoyable.
Google Lit Trips
Indeed, successful geography instruction sometimes necessitates a holistic learning approach - although there is a lot of great stuff about how Google Lit Trips blends literature along with geography.
Moreover, if you have ever read a novel and wished to plot out the heroes' journey, you will adore Google Lit Trips.
As a result, students may follow the characters' lead in the books, looking at the surroundings and locations they visited, from The Grapes of Wrath to The Odyssey and many more (helpfully divided into appropriate portions).
Geography Books For High School
If you are wondering that you should be only using one geography book for high school students, then, unfortunately, you are wrong!
Several renowned geography books can enhance your students' knowledge and help them learn new facts about the world.
Following are some of the most aspiring geography books which you can add to the curriculum:
- World Regional Geography
- World Geography
- Geography Of The World
- Prisoners Of Geography
- Where On Earth? Atlas: The World As You've Never Seen It Before
- The World Today: Concepts And Regions In Geography
- History Of The World Map By Map
Learn Geography With Superprof
Geography is one of the most important subjects to teach at high school as its overall knowledge regarding the world and its activities.
However, it can be difficult for several students to understand the complex subject in the classroom. So, what should they do?
The one and the most beneficial solution is to hire a geography tutor. Another question that may pop up in your mind is that from where?
Well, register yourself on Superprof and hire the best geography tutors in the United States.
Whether you live in New York or any other city in the States, Superprof has several geography tutors who can help you master the world's geography.
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