Standard 5:

Concepts of Geography

Students understand and apply concepts of geography.

7th Grade SST Targeted Benchmarks
Standard 5: Geography

SST-07.5.01 Identify current countries and principal physical features (e.g., ecosystems, mountain ranges, bodies of water) of the world.

In addition to Score 3.0, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications regarding more complex material that go beyond end of instruction expectations.

The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.

The student:

• identifies all required locations using a word bank.

The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes but exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content) as the student:

• identifies most of the required locations.

7th Grade SST Targeted Benchmarks
Standard 5: Geography

SST-07.5.02 Use geographic tools {e.g., Geographic Information Systems (GIS), maps, graphs, charts} to interpret the past (e.g., cooperation/conflict, migrations of people, goods, and ideas), understand the present (e.g., demographic changes, resource distribution, weather cycles), and plan for the future (e.g., geopolitical changes).

The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.

The student:

• looks at situations and explain what theme fits with that situation and why. (e.g. the mall, newspaper stories, etc.).

The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes but exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content) as the student:

• lists and defines the 5 Themes of Geography.

7th Grade SST Targeted Benchmarks
Standard 5: Geography

SST-07.5.03 Explain how physical processes (e.g., wind and water erosion, climatic changes, plate tectonics) create, maintain, and modify Earth’s physical features and environments.

In addition to Score 3.0, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications regarding more complex material that go beyond end of instruction expectations.

Hypothesize what type of changes you would need to make to your environment if you were dropped in an uncharted area (e.g. Tundra, rain forest, desert).

“The Standard.” The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.

• explains how humans change their environment.
• explains how the environment affects and changes the way people live.
• describes a positive environmental change.
• describes a negative environmental change.

• Find examples of human environment interaction in given images.

• When given an environmental change, decide whether it is a positive or negative change and support your answer.  

The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes but exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content) as the student:

• recognizes or recalls specific terminology, such as:

  • population, conservation, human environment interaction, deforestation, canal

• When given a term, pick the correct definition. 

7th Grade SST Targeted Benchmarks
Standard 5: Geography

SST-07.5.04 Explain how and why maps and regions change (e.g., physical, political, and perceptual changes).

7th Grade SST Targeted Benchmarks
Standard 5: Geography

SST-07.5.05 Explain how human modifications affect the physical environment (e.g., damming of rivers, pollution, urbanization).

7th Grade SST Targeted Benchmarks
Standard 5: Geography

SST-07.5.06 Explain how physical systems affect human systems (e.g., Where do people live and why?).

In addition to Score 3.0, the student demonstrates in-depth inferences and applications regarding more complex material that go beyond end of instruction expectations.

Describe what makes the United States a desirable place for Latin Americans to emigrate to.

“The Standard.” The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding any of the information and processes that were end of instruction expectations.

The student:

• describes regions by giving their characteristics.
• determines the reasons for movement.
• describes an area using its human or physical features.

• When given a reason for moving, decide if it is push, pull or both.
• Identify human and physical features of an area. 

The student demonstrates no major errors or omissions regarding the simpler details and processes but exhibits major errors or omissions regarding the more complex ideas and processes (Score 3.0 content) as the student:

• recognizes or recalls specific terminology, such as:
  • place, movement, immigration, migration, urbanization, push-pull, immigrants
• performs basic processes, such as:
  • list and define the three types of movement.

• When given a term, match to its definition.

• List and describe the three types of movement.

7th Grade SST Targeted Benchmarks
Standard 5: Geography

SST-07.5.07 Explain changes (e.g., the value placed on land, water, wind energy, and fossil fuels) that occur in the meaning, use, distribution, and importance of resources.