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GEOGRAPHY, ECONOMICS AND GOVERNMENT |
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GEOGRAPHY, ECONOMICS AND GOVERNMENT |
| course objectives | global geography | economic issues | comparative government |
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This is a three-part elective course called Geography, Economic Issues, and Government. Focusing on the three most important elements of modern international relations, the first trimester will concentrate on familiarizing students with the lands and cultures which share the world with us; the second trimester will give students a basic understanding of both micro and macroeconomics; while the third trimester will introduce students to parliamentary procedure and the diverse methods societies have found to organize, govern and settle disputes. The students will then integrate what they have learned by assuming roles as representatives of the different member-states of the United Nations; taking part in attempting to resolve modern global issues and international conflicts at the Pine Crest Model United Nations (PCMUN) held every year at the Institute for Civic Involvement.
This course was originally based on a paper by Mr. Crawford titled "Using Technology to Integrate MultiCulturalism into the Social Studies Curriculum" which was presented at the 1997 Economics for Leaders Conference held in Seattle, Washington, and sponsored by the Foundation for Teaching Economics.
Textbook: Global Geography. Revised.
Finkelstein, Flanagan and Langer. AMSCO School Publications, 1994.
Geography--the study of the Earth and all that lives on it--will introduce students to not only to the world’s physical variety, but also to its many peoples and their myriad styles of living. It is essential for today’s “global citizens” to gain a better understanding of ourselves and our civilization through knowledge of the physical and cultural environments that cover the earth’s surface. Students in this course will discover that Geography deals with the distribution of people, resources, plants, animals, and industry around the globe, as well as with the diverse methods by which people in different areas have made use of the conditions and resources of those areas in developing a way of life. All of this information will be necessary when we search the globe for master criminals in CARMEN SANDIEGO, or take on the role of settlers in a new environment in the ADAPT simulation
GO TO GLOBAL GEOGRAPHY CALENDER
Textbook: What is Economics?. Fourth Edition.
James Eggert. Bristlecone Books, 1996.
This trimester will serve as a general introduction to Micro and Macroeconomics. Microeconomics concentrates on the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision-makers--both consumers and producers--within the larger economic system. Students will explore the nature and functions of product markets, factor markets, and of the role of government in promoting greater efficiency and equity in the economy. Macroeconomics refers to the examination of the economic system as a whole, and will include the study of national income and price determination, as well as issues of national economic performance, economic growth and international trade. We will put the economic knowledge and skills learned in this trimester to work in the GAZILLIONAIRE and SIMCITY 2000 simulations, attempting to balance efficient production and resource use for the maximum satisfaction of our unlimited wants.
GO TO ECONOMIC ISSUES CALENDER
Textbook: Today's Isms. Tenth Edition.
William Ebenstein. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1994.
In this trimester, students will be studying the political systems of approximately four major nations which exemplify the politics, policies, and problems of Democratic, Authoritarian, Communist, and Free Market governments. Knowledge of foreign political systems allows us to compare the ways in which governments face similar problems, and the manner in which they respond to the needs and demands of their citizens. From the examination of these countries we should be better able to understand our own system, and become more aware of the interelationship between considerations of domestic politics and international attitudes. At the end of this trimester we will recreate a global community in the CIVILIZATION simulation, and debate current geographic, political, and economic issues as delegates to the annual PINE CREST MODEL UNITED NATIONS.
GO TO COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT CALENDER
