1. Geography Introduction
Ms. Sharpe - Grade 8

2. What Is Geography?
Geography is a science that deals with Earth's surface.
People who study geography are called geographers.
Geographers are interested in Earth's physical features, such as mountains, deserts, rivers, and oceans.
They are also interested in the ways that people affect and are affected by the natural world. This is our focus for grade 8!

3. Why Do We Study Geography?
ACTIVITY: Think - Pair - Share
Why do you think it is important for youth to study Geography?
Why should people/society care about geography topics?
What jobs or careers can you think of that relate to geography?

4. What Will We Study? Trends and patterns in human settlement
The relationship between Earth’s physical features and human settlement patterns
How the Earth’s physical environment and issues of sustainability may affect future settlement
Think about features of sustainable communities in the future
The factors that contribute to quality of life all over the world
The factors that contribute to global inequality
Issues related to global development
Types of economic systems
How to use the inquiry process to explore, investigate, process information, and communicate our discoveries!

5. Big Ideas!
We need to develop sustainable communities that function within the limits of our physical environment.
Human settlement can cause social, environmental, and economic problems.
Human settlement patterns are affected by the natural environment and also affect the natural environment.
Quality of life and economic development around the world are influenced by various factors.
Issues related to inequalities in global development and quality of life can have social, environmental, political, and/or economic implications.
We can use measurable indicators to help us understand spatial patterns of wealth and development around the world.

6. The Inquiry Process
Exploring -> Investigating -> Processing -> Creating

7. Inquiry process

8. What Is Inquiry, Anyways?
“Effective inquiry is more than just asking questions. Inquiry-based learning is a complex process where students formulate questions, investigate to find answers, build new understandings, meanings and knowledge, and then communicate their learning to others.”
Driven by students’ curiosity and sense of wonder!
A dynamic process used to answer a question, develop a solution or to support a position or point of view
Engages students in multiple and diverse methods of building knowledge
Involves on-going, embedded assessment of thinking and learning
Develops skills that go beyond memorizing basic concepts and facts

9. Inquiry Questions!
Instructions: Read the “Big Ideas” statements with your group members that you are sitting with.
1) With your group, use the thought bubble provided for you to write a summary description of what you think we will cover in grade 8 geography this year.
2) Come up with as many inquiry questions as you can think of on a piece of scrap paper that are inspired by the “Big Ideas” stated.
3) Choose ONE of your favourite, most unique, most sophisticated question, and record it on the speech bubble provided for you.

10. 7 Billion - National Geographic