中学校の世界地理へようこそ - 楽しんでください!**第 2 学期

Come by weekly to learn Middle School Geography of the World, Semester 2. This class will open minds to the way various people live and how they solve problems, as well as where they live around the world. Beginning in the Fall, Semester 1 is offered in a separate class listing, meeting goals for middle school geography.  Semester 2, this listing, is available for enrollment on Outschool, scheduled to begin at the end of Semester 1. The topic for each weekly class is listed below, with more detail in the section "Syllabus".  Students can join at any time and fully participate in class, as long as there is an open spot.  There is no prerequisite for Semester 2. The curriculum follows a spiraling study plan, where key skill and vocabulary concepts introduced, then reviewed periodically.

NOTE:   See reviews of this class in the 'ongoing' or Enrichment/Club OS format, an older OS format, titled: " Welcome to Middle School Geography of the World - Have Fun With That! "  Beginning in Fall of 2024, the class is converted to the new OS format for "Full Course".  This allows parents to pay for the semester 'up front' at the time of enrollment, which automatically offers a discount.  Or, parents may pay on a week to week basis, join the class at any time and pause participation as their schedule may require.

Students at this level don't just master specific locations when studying Geography.  They dig deeper to figure out deeper meaning.  This is the fun part of learning. It helps us reflect on why we are learning and how we can use this learning to enrich our own life experience. In addition to building skills to determine  meaning, students have fun  mastering 'geography trivia' which we definitely will dive into.  The way people live and their various perspectives is interesting to our middle schoolers.  Actually, that is probably interesting to most of us!  So, we will look into social systems people use, including political, economic and cultural features.  Often our Outschool students come to us from all around North American and as far away as Australia, bringing first hand knowledge of  World Geography to share. 

Our class is organized to introduce ideas, discuss and share reactions. We will have some fun with geography jokes and games designed to apply new ideas in a comfortable, non-stress space.  Our brain researchers tell us that students are better able to process information if they are comfortable. Humor can help open that higher level thinking that we find most rewarding.  Each unit wraps up with a rousing Kahoot game quiz.  A handout is provided for this review game.

The syllabus for our upcoming classes in Semester 2 is shown below, totalling 18 classes. Our focus topics for each week are listed below, including both Semester 1 and Semester 2.  In Semester 1, we begin with maps, then look at the continents and regions throughout the year, as follows:  Europe, Russia and its neighbors, Middle East, South Asia, East and SE Asia.  In Semester 2, the Syllabus includes:  Australia, Africa, South America, North America.  For more detail on each topic, search Outschool for for classes offered by Miss Mollie -  Outschool Classes titled:  Middle School Geography of the World Part 1 through 10.   

Semester 1 Syllabus (See class lising at https://outschool.com/search?q=world+geography+have+fun+with+that&refuid=IShr82YK )
Week 1 Mapping Skills 1
Week 2 Mapping Skills 2
Week 3  Mapping Skills 3
Week 4 Mapping Skills 4 & Kahoot 
Week 5 Europe 1
Week 6 Euroope - focus UK - 2
Week 7 Europe - focus Germany - 3
Week 8 Europe - focus student choice      
     & Kahoot - 4
Week 9 Russia & Neighbors 1
Week 10 Russia & Neighbors 2
Week 11 Russia & Neighbors 3
Week 12 Russia & Neighbors 4 -Current Event Student Choice & Kahoot
Week 13 Middle East 1
Week 14 Middle East 2
Week 15 Middle East 3
Week 16 Middle East 4
Week  17 South Asia 1
Week 18 South Asia 2
Week 19 South Asia 3
Week 20 South Asia 4
End Semester 1

Semester 2:  See Syllabus in this class posting for Units and Lessons 

Classes offer regular homework assignments for students interested in practicing and extending their learning.  Some examples include map practice, research projects, art projects.    Homework may include writing assignments where students establish a claim and defend it with evidence from sources.  I believe in providing opportunities to share and discuss assignments. I also provide written feedback, emphasizing strengths and opportunities for improvement. At the end of each 4 class unit parents are provided with a progress report that tallies attendance and completed projects.