United States · Common Core State Standards
7th Grade World Geography & Cultures
A global survey of physical geography, human cultures, and the forces shaping our world. US 7th Grade Social Studies covering geographic thinking, regional studies of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
Geographic Thinking & Global Patterns
The foundational tools geographers use to analyze the world, including spatial technology and the study of human populations.
Location, place, human-environment interaction, movement, and region: the core framework for geographic analysis.
Exploring how maps are created, the distortions of projections like Mercator and Peters, and how modern GPS/GIS shape our world.
Analyzing birth rates, death rates, and population pyramids to understand how the human family is changing.
Investigating why people leave their homes (push) and why they choose specific destinations (pull).
How ideas, languages, and religions spread across the globe through trade, technology, and conflict.
Europe: Tradition & Integration
A study of Europe's physical diversity, its history of conflict, and the modern effort toward economic and political unity.
The impact of the North European Plain, the Alpine system, and the jagged coastline on European development.
How the presence of coal, iron, and harbors in the UK and Germany sparked a global economic shift.
Examining the economic and political cooperation between 27 nations and the challenges of a shared currency.
The transition from communism to a market economy and the geographic vastness of the Russian Federation.
How European cities balance modern development with the preservation of ancient landmarks.
Europe's leadership in green energy and the challenges of acid rain and North Sea pollution.
The Americas: Land of Extremes
Exploring the physical and human geography of North, Central, and South America.
The world's largest rainforest and the economic pressures leading to its destruction.
How human civilizations like the Inca and modern Peruvians adapted to life in the world's longest mountain range.
The growth of megacities like Mexico City and Sao Paulo and the rise of informal settlements.
The world's longest undefended border and the deep economic ties between the two North American giants.
The economic reliance on tourism and the physical threat of hurricanes and rising sea levels.
The geography, engineering, and geopolitics of one of the world's most important waterways.
Evaluating the struggle for land rights and political representation for indigenous peoples from Canada to Chile.
Sub-Saharan Africa: Diversity & Development
A deep dive into the physical regions, cultural richness, and economic potential of Africa south of the Sahara.
The transition zone between the Sahara and the savanna and the human impact on land degradation.
The Berlin Conference and how colonial borders ignored ethnic and linguistic boundaries.
The most populous nation in Africa, its oil wealth, and its diverse ethnic landscape.
The history of institutionalized racism and the ongoing struggle for economic equality.
The Rift Valley, wildlife conservation, and the growing tech hubs in Kenya and Ethiopia.
The challenge of infectious diseases and the innovative ways African nations are improving healthcare.
Southwest Asia & North Africa
The "Crossroads of the World," focusing on religion, oil, and water scarcity.
The struggle for water in the most arid region on Earth and the technology used to create fresh water.
The geographic origins and spread of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
How the discovery of petroleum transformed the economies and global influence of the Persian Gulf.
The 2011 protests for democracy and the resulting changes and conflicts in the region.
The evolving social, economic, and political status of women in Southwest Asia and North Africa.
Asia: The Global Powerhouse
A study of the world's most populous region, from the Himalayas to the Pacific Rim.
The seasonal winds that bring life-giving rain and destructive floods to India and Bangladesh.
The transition from a rural society to the "World's Factory" and the impact of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Comparing the geography, economy, and government of North and South Korea.
How Japan manages its high population density and its location on the Ring of Fire.
The importance of the Strait of Malacca and the diverse cultures of Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand.
The intersection of ancient traditions like the caste system with India's modern tech economy.
Oceania & The Polar Regions
The unique challenges of the Pacific islands, Australia, and the world's final frontiers.
The isolation of the continent and the impact of invasive species and climate change on the Outback.
Distinguishing between Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia and the threat of rising seas.
The Antarctic Treaty and the importance of the polar regions in global climate research.
The history and modern rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the Māori.
A capstone look at how geographic thinking can solve the world's most pressing environmental and social issues.