United States · Common Core State Standards
9th Grade Geography
This course explores the intersection of physical systems and human activity across various scales. Students analyze spatial data and cultural landscapes to understand how environment, politics, and economics shape the modern world.
The Geographer’s Toolkit
An introduction to spatial thinking, map interpretation, and the use of Geospatial Technologies to analyze the world.
Students examine how different map projections distort reality and influence our perception of global importance.
An exploration of how GPS, Remote Sensing, and Geographic Information Systems solve real world problems.
Physical Systems and Climate
Investigation into the tectonic, atmospheric, and biological processes that create Earth's diverse physical landscapes.
Analysis of internal forces that shape the crust and the resulting hazards for human populations.
Study of the factors that create climate patterns and how these patterns dictate life on Earth.
Population and Migration
Examination of demographic trends, population growth, and the movement of people across borders.
Students use the Demographic Transition Model to analyze birth rates, death rates, and development.
Analysis of the reasons why people move and the impacts of migration on both source and destination countries.
Cultural Patterns and Processes
Exploring how language, religion, and ethnicity diffuse across space and create unique cultural identities.
Investigating how belief systems and communication styles distribute across the globe and define regions.
Analyzing the tension between the spread of global popular culture and the preservation of indigenous traditions.
Political Geography and Conflict
A study of how Earth's surface is partitioned into political units and the challenges of borders.
Exploring the evolution of states, nations, and the challenges of stateless nations.
Analyzing why borders are created and how organizations like the UN and EU influence sovereignty.
Human Environment Interaction
Focusing on how humans modify the environment and the resulting sustainability challenges.
Evaluating the distribution of natural resources and the move toward renewable energy.
Case studies on large scale human modifications such as dams, deforestation, and desertification.