Modules
Module 2: Physical Environment and the Americas
Shelley E. Rose
Key Questions
- How do physical geographers study the planet and environment?
- What are the major debates that concern physical geographers in the 21st century?
- What are key characteristics of the human and physical geography of the Americas?
- What is political geography and how does it apply to Ohio and the United States?
Class 1: Planet Earth & Plate Tectonics
Reading: Adam Dastrup, Physical Geography and Natural Disasters, “Planet Earth” sections 3.1-3.8
Class 2: Change over Time- Physical Geography
Reading: Adam Dastrup, Physical Geography and Natural Disasters, “Weathering,” Sections 5.1-5.8, “Atmospheric Structure” Sections 8.1-8.2.
Lab 1
Complete the exercises at “Digital Geography,” Human Geography Lab Manual, Open Geography Education
Lab 2
Complete the exercises on the Geography of Ohio.
Quiz Materials
Class 3: Local Geography
Reading: https://pressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu/csugelab/chapter/oh-overview/
Activity
This activity explores the political geography of the United States through the lens of elections and voting.
- Visit https://www.vote.org/
- Navigate the steps to confirm your voter registration or investigate the steps for voter registration for a resident of Cleveland.
Answer the following questions:
- Who is eligible to vote in the United States?
- What geographic factors affect elections and the process of voting?
- What geographic challenges do voters face?
- What subdiscipline(s) of geography study elections and voting?
- Follow this link to the US Congressional Districts Layer in Google Earth. Read through the layer information. When are the congressional districts updated?
- Navigate to Cleveland and find the congressional district for 2121 Euclid Avenue (Cleveland State University).
Class 4: Global Climates & Change
Reading: Adam Dastrup, Physical Geography and Natural Disasters, “Global Climates and Change,” Sections 10.1-10.8
Additional Resources on Global Climates & Change (optional reading)
Indian Ocean in World History (https://www.indianoceanhistory.org/) and The Human History of El Niño (https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/ElNino/page3.php)
Lab 3
Complete the exercises at “An Eye on Central America,” World Regional Geography Lab Manual, Open Geography Education and “South America” (all sections 6.0-6.2)
Quiz Materials
