M/J Geography: Europe and The Americas & Career Planning   (#2103042)

General Notes

M/J Geography - The social studies curriculum for this course consists of the following content area strands: World History, American History, Geography, and Economics. The primary content for this course pertains to the usage of geographic concepts, tools, and skills to draw conclusions about historical physical and human patterns in the regions of Europe and the Americas. Content should include, but not be limited to the understanding of the impact of historical cultural and ethnic perspectives, societal roles and customs, law and politics, religion, and physical geography on the development of these regions. Students will be exposed to the multiple dynamics of geography including economics and world history. Students will study methods of historical inquiry and primary and secondary historical documents.

Mathematics Benchmark Guidance - Social Studies instruction should include opportunities for students to interpret and create representations of historical events and concepts using mathematical tables, charts, and graphs.

Career and Education Planning - Per section 1003.4156, Florida Statutes, the Career and Education Planning course must result in a completed personalized academic and career plan for the student; must emphasize the importance of entrepreneurship skills; must emphasize technology or the application of technology in career fields; and, beginning in the 2014-2015 academic year, must provide information from the Department of Economic Opportunity's economic security report as described in section 445.07, Florida Statutes. For additional information on the Middle School Career and Education Planning course, go to https://www.fldoe.org/workforce/ced/.

1.0 Describe the influences that societal, economic, and technological changes have on employment trends and future training.
2.0 Develop skills to locate, evaluate, and interpret career information.
3.0 Identify and demonstrate processes for making short and long term goals.
4.0 Demonstrate employability skills such as working in a group, problem-solving and organizational skills, and the importance of entrepreneurship.
5.0 Understand the relationship between educational achievement and career choices/postsecondary options.
6.0 Identify a career cluster and related pathways through an interest assessment that match career and education goals.
7.0 Develop a career and education plan that includes short and long-term goals, high school program of study, and postsecondary/career goals.
8.0 Demonstrate knowledge of technology and its application in career fields/clusters.

Special Notes:

This course is one of the courses of a three year sequence in the Connections, Challenges, and Choices program. M/J Geography; Asia, Oceania and Africa (2123030) and M/J Florida: Challenges and Choices (2103050) complete the sequence.

Additional content that may be contained in the NAEP Grade 8 Geography assessment includes:

• regional patterns of function
• geographic factors contributing to conflict and cooperation in a variety of settings

The NAEP frameworks for Geography may be accessed at http://www.nagb.org/content/nagb/assets/documents/publications/frameworks/gframework2010.pdf

Instructional Practices

Teaching from well-written, grade-level instructional materials enhances students' content area knowledge and also strengthens their ability to comprehend longer, complex reading passages on any topic for any reason. Using the following instructional practices also helps student learning:

1. Reading assignments from longer text passages as well as shorter ones when text is extremely complex.

2. Making close reading and rereading of texts central to lessons.

3. Asking high-level, text-specific questions and requiring high-level, complex tasks and assignments.

4. Requiring students to support answers with evidence from the text.

5. Providing extensive text-based research and writing opportunities (claims and evidence).