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Major Concept (Unit/Theme) Unit 12: Global Culture
Week
Textbook Coverage:
Chapter/Section
Chapter Essential Questions
Chapter Concept/Skill
Academic Language- Basic
Academic Language- Complex
Instructional Strategies
Chapter/Section Assignments
globalization
subculture
Geography Theme Park Project {theme_park_project.doc}
Sub Culture Project {Sub Culture Project.docx}
Unit Assignments
Assessment(s)
Cultural Connecting Project
Resources
Traditional Culture Case Study
Contemporary Culture Case Study

Global Cultures, Issues and Geography
Course Description: Global Cultures, Issues and Geography offers a curriculum that enables students to explore how geographic features, human relationships, political and social structures, economics, science and technology, and the arts have developed and influenced life in countries around the world. Along the way, students are given rigorous instruction on how to read maps, charts, graphs, and how to create them. The course also emphasizes the perspectives of minority groups while allowing students from all backgrounds to better understand and appreciate how race, culture and ethnicity, and identity contribute to their experiences. Major topics in the course include identity, immigration, assimilation and distinctiveness, power and oppression, struggles for rights, regionalism, current events, culture and the media, and the formation of new cultures.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Students will describe the nature of geography and the differences between physical and cultural geography through the study of western and non-western regions. Students will develop geographic literacy by understanding the six essential elements of geography including:
1. The World in Spatial Terms: Students will learn how to interpret maps and synthesize the content of maps in order to make conclusions about a region based on map study.
2. Places and Regions: Students will learn the concepts of geographic regions by discussing how humans interpret and understand their place in the world. They will discuss the difference between physical regions, perceived regions, formal regions, functional regions, and other forms of place.
3. Physical Systems: Students will develop a geographic literacy about major world landforms and will also study how those landforms contribute to history, culture, and regions.
4. Human Systems: Students will explore elements of cultural geography including comparative religions, arts, literature, philosophy and other forms of human expression that encompass cultural identity. Students will examine their own cultural identity as well as non-western cultural beliefs and practices.
5. The Environment and Society: Through the study of both physical and cultural geography and examining the history of a region, students will interpret how the presence of humans on the planet affects the physical geography. They will examine how the human footprint changes the physical world in which we live, but also how the physical world in which we live can dictate our cultural practices.
6. The Uses of Geography: Students will examine how geographers make use of geographic information to make predictions about the future and to interpret our world. In other words, student will learn why this information is important in understanding our world and what it means to be a human living in that world.
The course is arranged around these six essential elements, with students gaining an understanding of complex cultures (their history, geography, politics, literature, art, drama, music, dance, law, religion, philosophy, architecture, technology, science, education, sports, social structure, and economy) and the relationship between these various aspects of a nation’s cultural life. They will study the myths, legends and beliefs of various peoples as a means to interpret cultural values and will recognize how literature and art reflects peoples' inner lives, while developing a multicultural perspective that respects the dignity and worth of all people.
GENERAL GOALS/PURPOSES:
Context of the Course- The theme of this course is "What does it mean to be human?" It explores the human condition across both Western and Non-Western cultures. In order to understand their own background and culture more thoroughly, students need to compare who they are through an international cultural lens. We find it critically important to encourage our youth to become knowledgeable global citizens.
Global Cultures, Issues and Geography will focus on several areas:
Teaching the National Geographical Standards: which was established in 1994 and includes, but not limited to, using maps and other geographical representations, analyzing the special organizations of people, places, and environments in a special context, physical processes that shape the patterns of the earth surface, and the physical and human characteristics of places.
Teaching the concepts of Geography: which include climates, cooperation and conflict, cultures, economic activities and systems, government and citizenship, migration, patterns of settlement, physical characteristics and processes, and natural resources to name a few.
Teaching social science skills: analyzing graphic data and images, identifying main ideas and summarizing, drawing inferences and conclusions, distinguishing fact and opinion, comparing and contrasting, analyzing primary sources, researching and presentation skills.
Teaching the Humanities: the arts of literature, painting, music, sculpture, architecture, performing arts, and the discipline of philosophy. While the sciences explore the physical world, the social sciences make discoveries about the behavior and activities of people in various groups. The arts and humanities narrows that focus, probing the inner question: “What does it mean to be human?” This course will stretch student’s imaginations, increase their understanding of non-western cultures, enrich their experience, expand their written and research skills, and increase their distinctively human potential. Study of the literature, arts, health, and social sciences will cover cultural diversity, ways of life, human interests, and values

Be used to fulfill another “A-F” graduation requirement, nor can they be used to fulfill the American Government and/or Economics “g” graduation requirement. The course will be designated as an elective/ "g" criteria
(Cabinet directive) Focus on the cultural contributions of a singular nationality.
Proposed Ideas
In order for a course to be designated an Ethnic Studies course it must fulfill One of the following categories.
Category A

Category B
The course must be an in depth examination of the unique ethnic and cultural contributions of a specific geographic cultural region outside of North America/Europe. The course may examine the culture within the context of their original geographic region or its contribution within United States history. These regions include: Central and South America, Russia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Australia/Oceania. A course that focuses on the cultural contributions of North American First Peoples can also be considered the fulfillment of this category. The class may organize the examination of this culture within a specific curricular framework to include but not limited to: anthropology, culinary arts, fashion design, geography, literature, sociology, visual and performing arts. Additionally, within the course, there must be an examination of the unique cultural contributions of at least four different cultural subgroups within that geographical region.
Master Scheduling Recommendations
If an individual year-long survey class is the only option for students, it is recommended that students try complete their Ethnic Studies requirement prior to their Senior year, in order to remain eligible for graduation. Students who wait until their senior year risk not graduating if they fail one of the two required semesters.
Several Ethnic Studies elective courses should be created. by modifying existing elective classes to allow for master schedule flexibility, student choice and the strengthening of elective options.

The course must be an in depth examination of the unique ethnic and cultural contributions of a specific geographic cultural region outside of North America/Europe. The course may examine the culture within the context of their original geographic region or its contribution within United States history. These regions include: Central and South America, Russia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Australia/Oceania. A course that focuses on the cultural contributions of North American First Peoples can also be considered the fulfillment of this category. The class may organize the examination of this culture within a specific curricular framework to include but not limited to: anthropology, culinary arts, fashion design, geography, literature, sociology, visual and performing arts. Additionally, within the course, there must be an examination of the unique cultural contributions of at least four different cultural subgroups within that geographical region.
Master Scheduling Recommendations
that students try complete their
Several Ethnic Studies elective courses should be created. by modifying existing elective classes to allow for master schedule flexibility, student choice and the strengthening of elective options.

Working Draft Proposal
WJUSD Ethnic Studies Requirement
within the “g”elective/“g” WJUSD graduation
WJUSD Ethnic Studies Course Criteria
Non-negotiable Criteria
All Ethnic Studies designated courses must:
ten credits eitherin courses designated as a single year long stand alone class, or paired with another Ethnic Studies designated class.Studies.
Give students the opportunity to read, analyze and explain non-fiction and/or fiction sources that represents a variety of cultures within the course framework.
context of a variety cultures within the course frameworkframework.
Give students the course frameworkframework.
Give students contributions of othersothers.
Give students opportunities to learn, compare and contrast contemporary issues of a variety cultures within the course framework.
Give students opportunities 21st century skillsskills.
All Ethnic Studies designated courses cannot:
Be used to fulfill another “A-F” graduation requirement, nor can they be used to fulfill the American Government and/or Economics “g” graduation requirement. The course will be designated as an elective/ "g" criteria
a singular nationality, i.e. French, English, Australian, Chinese, Mexican, It must incorporate the cultural contributions of at least 4 cultural subgroups within a geographical region. For example:
African - Nigerian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Zulu,
East Asian- Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Mongolian,
Latin America- Mexican, Guatemalan, Nicaraguan, Colombian, Cuban, .
North American - American, Canadian, Inuit, Cherokee, Navajo
South Asian- Indian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Afghan.
Southeast Asian - Vietnamese, Cambodian, Indonesian, Filipino ,
The Middle East (North Africa, Southwest Asia and Central Asia) Egyptian, Israeli, Syrian, Turkish,nationality.
In order for a course to be designated an Ethnic Studies course it must fulfill One of the following categories.
Category A
be a year-long survey class
Category B
an in depth, year-longdepth examination of geographical region.
Category C
The course will have an in depth, semester length examination of the unique ethnic and cultural contributions of a specific geographic cultural region outside of North America/Europe. The course may examine the culture within the context of their original geographic region or its contribution within United States history. These regions include: Central and South America, Russia, Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, East Asia and Australia/Oceania. A course that focuses on the cultural contributions of North American First Peoples can also be considered the fulfillment of this category. The class may organize the study of this culture within a specific curricular framework to include but not limited to: anthropology, culinary arts, fashion design, geography, literature, sociology, visual and performing arts. Additionally, within the course, there must be an examination of the unique cultural contributions of at least four different cultural subgroups within that geographical region. The course must be paired with another semester length course that has also been classified as Ethnic Studies.
Master Scheduling Recommendations
If an individual year-long survey class is the only option for students, it is recommended that students complete their Ethnic Studies requirement prior to their Senior year, in order to remain eligible for graduation. Students who wait until their senior year risk not graduating if they fail one of the two required semesters.