Unit 1: Studying the World's Cultural Patterns

• What culture is and why it's important

• Identifying spatial patterns and relationships

• Significance of cultural traits such as language, religion, and more

• Exploration of different types of government and economic systems

Unit 2: United States & Canada (Freedom for All)

• Examination of Native American and immigrant cultural influences 

• How freedom is a core value in this region of the world

• Why rights, responsibilities, and duties are important in a democracy

• How government can affect innovation, research, and the use of technology 

Unit 3: Latin America (A Legacy of Colonialism)

• Cultural influence of Spanish and Portuguese colonization

• Contributions of Indigenous civilizations like the Aztec, Inca, and Mayans

• Prominence of Christianity throughout much of the region

• Historical and economic factors that have shaped the economies and governments of Latin American nations

Unit 4: Europe (We Are Family)

• In-depth examination of various culturally influential and historical time periods, like the Middle Ages and the Renaissance

• Global cultural influence of popular European customs and traditions

• Role of the European Union (EU) and how it promotes cultural awareness

• Language distribution patterns

Unit 5: Russia and the Eurasian Republics (Empire and Ethnicity)

• Analysis of the rise and fall of the Russian Empire, including its cultural impact

• Creation of the Soviet Union, including the role of key figures like Joseph Stalin

• Characteristics of the Soviet-era communist government and state-run command economy

• Examination of how nations in this region have embarked on a path toward a more democratic or a more authoritarian type of government after the collapse of the Soviet Union

Unit 6: Southwest Asia and North Africa (A Crossroads of Diffusion)

• Overview of the physical geography of the region and how it's played a major societal role in the region

• Origins of the major world religions founded in the region (Judiasm, Christianity, and Islam)

• How religious beliefs, practices, customs, and traditions shape daily life and cultural identity

• Region has a diverse mix of limited and unlimited forms of government

Unit 7: Sub-Saharan Africa (Facing Challenges)

• How climate is a major influence on human settlement and population patterns

• Profound effects of the African Diaspora and culture and society

• Enduring legacy of European colonization causing much of the region to become economically dependent on exporting raw goods

• Why the region has struggled with political instability, including rampant corruption, military coups, and the effects of apartheid

Unit 8: South Asia (Unity and Division)

• How tectonic plates created the Indian subcontinent

• Human adaptation to environmental challenges like tsunamis, typhoons, and monsoon seasons

• Cultural, political, and economic legacy of British colonial influence, including the Partition of India

• Origins and key beliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, and their role in shaping daily life

Unit 9: East and Southeast Asia (Tradition in a Modernizing World)

• Examination of numerous historical influences, including the ancient Chinese and Mongol empires, Japanese imperialism, and European colonization

• How cultural traits reflect cultural beliefs and values throughout the region

• Why the region has a unique variety of limited and unlimited forms of government

• Overview of the spectrum of economies in the region from strict command economies to open free market economies

Unit 10: The Pacific Realm (Adapting Down Under)

• Significance of major landforms like the Great Barrier Reef

• Causes and effects of climate change on the region, such as rising sea levels and more frequent droughts

• Case studies of human adaptation to the evolving physical environment

• Analysis of Polynesian wayfarers and how they navigated such great distances across the Pacific

• Importance of various customs and traditions, including body art and tattooing, clothing, and dances, such as the Haka

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