AP Human Geography Summer Assignment 2016-2017 Welcome to AP Human Geography Whether this is your first experience with an Advanced Placement course or you are a veteran, we all begin class with different backgrounds and experiences. To help familiarize yourself with the basics of geography so that we can start learning about AP Human Geography concepts on the first day of school, complete the following summer packet. Access to the world news and an atlas/computer is essential to completing this 10-part packet. Do NOT wait until the last minute to get it done there is a BIG difference between work done well and learning from it and work just thrown together; work on it throughout the summer. Set deadlines for yourself and follow them (a great skill to have in AP classes). If you have questions, please email me at: kcompton@washoeschools.net. DUE: to be completed by Monday, August 15 th. There will be a quiz on this packet. PART I. Watch the WORLD News regularly Watch and pay attention to WORLD news during the summer or download an app like BBC, CNN, NY Times, The Week Magazine and follow the news on your cell phone/ipad. Become aware of current world events and WHERE these events are happening. This is essential to understanding human geography. A. What are FIVE current world events (not in the US) you learned about this summer? Give the month and day of the event, a brief explanation of what the event was about and what country it occurred in. Current Event #1 Explanation of event COUNTRY the event occurred in #2 #3 #4 #5
PART II. Continents and Oceans. On the map below, label the 7 continents and 5 oceans. Do NOT use abbreviations. Consult an atlas if needed.
PART III. Important Mountain Range and Rivers. A. 5 important mountain ranges in the world are: 1. Alps B. Identify the CONTINENT and COUNTRIES these mountain ranges are located in. C. Research these mountain ranges and IN YOUR OWN WORDS, briefly explain their importance. Their importance could be based on length, historical significance, protection, etc. 2. Andes 3. Great Dividing Range 4. Himalayas 5. Urals D. Five important rivers in the world are: 6. Amazon E. Identify the CONTINENT and COUNTRIES these rivers located in. F. Research these rivers and IN YOUR OWN WORDS, briefly explain their importance. Their importance could be based on length, historical significance, transportation, etc. 7. Ganges 8. Mississippi 9. Nile 10. Yangtze
TITLE: KEY: PART IV. Physical Geography Map A. Locate, label and color the 5 mountain ranges (in brown) and 5 rivers (in blue) from the previous page on the map below. Title the map and create a key explaining what the colors mean.
Part V: What is Latitude and Longitude? Latitude and longitude are imaginary lines which are universally accepted as coordinates for locating specific places on the earth. LATITUDE lines are also called parallels because they are parallel to the equator. The equator is the dividing line which runs around the earth in an east-west direction and is used as the starting point in measuring latitude or distances north and south. Latitude is measured from 0 at the equator to 90 at the North or South Pole. For example, 50 N means the place is located 50 degrees north of the equator. Besides the equator, other important lines of latitude include the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5 N, Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5 S, the Arctic Circle at 66.5N and the Antarctic Circle at 66.5 S. LONGITUDE lines are also called meridians because they are based off of the Prime Meridian. The Prime Meridian and its opposite, the International Date Line are the dividing lines around in the earth in a north-south direction and the Prime Meridian is the starting point in measuring longitude or distances east and west. Longitude is measured using east and west directions starting from 0 at the Prime Meridian to 180 at the International Date Line. For example, 105 E means the place is located 105 degrees east of the Prime Meridian. When giving latitude and longitude coordinates, latitude always goes first. Part VI: Latitude and Longitude Map. On the map below: (consult an atlas if needed) A. Label the following: Equator Prime Meridian Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn B. Highlight the lines of latitude in yellow and the lines of longitude in pink. Arctic Circle C. Color in the tropics (area between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn) green. D. Create a key that explains what the colors on the map represent. Antarctic Circle KEY:
Part VII: Grid Map Locations. Use the figure below to complete questions A-F. Note: When giving latitude and longitude coordinates, latitude always goes first. A. Label the degrees of the missing lines of latitude between 0 and 90 N and S. B. Label the degrees of the missing lines of longitude between 0 and 180 E and W. C. What are the coordinates of point A? D. What are the coordinates of point B? E. Locate a point at 60 S and 150 W. Mark it C. F. Locate a point at 45 N and 90 E. Mark it D. Part VIII: Latitude and Longitude Map 2. Use the map below to complete questions G-O. G. Is Mexico north or south of the equator? H. Name one country located west of 70W. I. What country is located almost entirely between 10S and 20S? J. All of Canada is located north of which parallel? K. What country is located at 5S, 55W? L. What country is located at 35N, 95W? M. Give the degrees of latitude that Chile is located between. N. Where are the approximate coordinates of Uruguay? O. What country is located at 20N, 155W?
Part IX: What is Geography? Research the meaning of geography. In your own words, write a paragraph definition with 4-6 complete sentences of the meaning of geography. Also discuss why learning geography is important. Part X: Countries of the World. Throughout the school year, you will have quizzes every two weeks on the countries of the world to help you learn their names. Get a jump start! Below is a list of websites that have fun geography games to help you learn the countries of the world. Play them again and again to improve your score. o http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/ o http://www.jetpunk.com/quizzes/how-many-countries-can-you-name.php o http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/geography.htm Geography is everywhere you just need to look around. Pay attention to the world around you. Become a windshield geographer as you drive around this summer, take mental notes of the physical and human geography. Question what you see What is there? Why is it there? Is it connected to something else? Be nosy and play detective in stores look at where the products come from. How did they get here? Who made them? Why is it here?