The National Geography Standards

Eighteen Standards That the

Geographically Informed Person

Knows and Understands

The National Geography Standards

The National Geography Standards were published in 1994 to guide geographic education in the United States. The eighteen standards shed light on what the geographically informed person should know and understand. The hope is that every student in America would become a geographically informed person through implementation of these standards in the classroom.

The World in Spatial Terms

1. How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information.

2. How to use mental maps to organize information about people, places, and environments.

3. How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface.

Indicators

1. Learn how to make maps, globes, graphs, etc.2. Describe characteristics, functions, and applications of maps, globes, and other images.3. Identify advantages and disadvantages of maps and other images.4. Identify locations of places, as well as physical and human features.5. Use mental maps to answer geographic questions.6. Analyze the spatial organization of people and places on Earth.

Places and Regions

4. The physical and human characteristics of places.

5. That people create regions to interpret Earth's complexity.

6. How culture and experience influence people's perception of places and regions.

Indicators

1. Describe physical characteristics of a place.2. Describe human characteristics of a place.3. Compare characteristics of communities or regions.4. Describe the effects of human processes in shaping landscapes.5. Understand the concept of regions.6. Explain how places and regions serve as cultural symbols.

Physical Systems7. The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth's surface.

8. The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface.

Indicators

1. Know how physical processes shape the physical environment.2. Understand Earth-Sun relationships.3. Predict consequences of physical processes on the Earth.4. Describe the components of Ecosystems.5. Describe how Ecosystems work.

Human Systems9. The characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on Earth's surface.

10. The characteristics, distributions, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.

11. The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface.

12. The process, patterns, and functions of human settlement.

13. How forces of cooperation and conflict among people influence the division and control of Earth's surface.

Indicators

1. Analyze population patterns2. Describe patterns of migration and explain effects it may have on places.3. Define economic activities4. Understand geographic causes for world trade5. Identify conflict within and between countries

Environment and Society14. How human actions modify the physical environment.

15. How physical systems affect human systems.

16. The changes that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.

Indicators

1. Explain characteristics of physical environments2. Describe the effects of natural hazards on human systems3. Describe resource distribution and utilization4. Evaluate different viewpoints regarding resource use.

The Uses of Geography17. How to apply geography to interpret the past.

18. To apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future.

Indicators

1. Describe how geographic contexts have influence events in the past2. Describe what the future organization of the Earth might be.3. Describe how spatial organization changes over time4. Analyze geographic issues

The National Geography Standards

Go Here:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/standards/

For individual standards and lesson plans.

Canadian Geography Standards…for grades K-12