Teaching Scale in AP Human Geography

[Matt Valdez]

Hi All-just got word of this chat site, looks to have great collaborative potential.

 

I will be teaching AP Human Geography for the first time next year and was thinking of incorporating Google Earth to teach scale. Does anyone have any innovative ideas or activities on how to incorporate this.

I was also looking to get my hands on some free GIS software...any suggestions?

 

Thanks Matt

[Molly Myers]

Hi Matt. 

I, too, am teaching AP Geography for the first time. I look forward to learning you and others in this group. 

 

Have you already submitted your syllabus to College Board? We just made the switch to geography so I still have to do that. 

 

Molly

[Matt Valdez]

Hi Molly,

I am working on the syllabus now, but feel that it is very superficial and texty at this time (essential questions and concepts from the text) boring. I will be using the 10th edition Rubenstein text to teach 9th graders and really want to make it useful this time around, but thats a struggle as you start a new class, you have all these ideas, but the practicality of scope, sequence and timing is difficult to gage when starting.  

 

Matt

 

[Kay Conners]

I teach World Geography in 8th grade. I know it is usually taught in HS, but would like to contribute to this group as you are my people! :) Here are some links to begin:

http://www.aag.org/

http://www.ncge.org/

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/

Not on my computer now, will post some other resources as I get to them. 

 

Look forward to learning and sharing with all of you! 

 

Kay

[Allison Hunt]

Have you looked at the Special Focus: Scale materials from the CollegeBoard?  If not, here is the link- http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap-sf-human...

 

I recommend http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/explorer/index.html for GIS viewing. You also might want to check out http://grass.fbk.eu/

 

As far as Google Earth, I don't use it directly to teach scale, but use it for things like students mapping their activity space and such.

 

Here are some tips compiled by current teachers for those new to APHG- https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgBJypKWm_1adE...

 

and lastly, this is a resource list compiled by readers at this year's APHG exam reading- https://spreadsheets0.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?authkey=CL_yh4MN&a...

 

Allison