Oklahoma Academic Standard 5. The student will compare common physical and human characteristics of regions which create identity or uniqueness and influence people’s perceptions of the Western Hemisphere.  

Objectives:

6.5.1  Define the concept of region and identify the major political, physical, cultural, and economic regions. 

6.5.2 Explain how cultural diffusion, both voluntary and forced, impacts societies of a region.

6.5.3  Describe patterns of global economic interdependence and trade, including the concepts of  balance of trade and supply and demand; compare measures of economic growth including Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Product (GNP).

6.5.4  Analyze global interdependence which explains the outsourcing of technological and manufacturing jobs to developing regions. 

In a Nutshell

A region is defined as a group of places which share physical or human features. Geographers study the Earth and its people by classifying regions based on a variety of characteristics, such as predominant languages, government systems, biomes, climates, etc. This objective requires students to examine how global interdependence refers to the mutual dependence between countries who economically rely on each other. Few countries, if any, can thrive without the import and export of goods or services, particularly energy resources. Students should develop an understanding that international trade has resulted in more efficient production of goods, wider access to goods, and higher standards of living.

Teacher Action 

Student Action 

• Provide opportunities for students to analyze spatial patterns of characteristics of major physical, cultural, and economic regions of North and South America. 

• Assist students in developing an understanding of the benefits of a market system in local, national, and global settings by comparing economic indicators of nations with different economic systems.

• Provide opportunities for students to analyze, interpret, and compare economic data reflecting economic growth. 

• Integrate the use of visual information (e.g. maps, charts, graphs) with textual information from primary and secondary sources related to economic factors of development.

•  Explain how trade impacts a region's standard of living and leads to economic interdependence.  

• Acquire, determine the meaning, and appropriately use academic vocabulary and phrases used in social studies contexts.  

Key Concepts 

Misconceptions 

• types of regions, such as physical (relative location, climate, vegetation, natural resources), cultural (language, religion, ethnicity, historical connections), economic (type of economic systems, economic activities), and political (types of government, alliances)

• principle of supply and demand, role of consumers and producers in market economies 

• outsourcing of jobs, maquiladoras, unemployment, closure of domestic industries, multinational corporations, 

• economic interdependence, globalization, trade alliances and agreements

• exports, imports, tariffs, balance of trade, global competition, foreign markets, price of goods

• standard of living, gross domestic product versus gross national product

• Some students may possess negative attitudes regarding multinational corporations and their connection to unemployment or closure of domestic industries without examining the potential for economic benefits of outsourcing on a nation's economy and competitiveness.

Instructional Resources