Resources: Textbook, Brainpop Video, workbook, various worksheets, projects
Unit 1 –EUROPE Geographic Understandings: Locate selected features and countries of Europe on a world or regional map; discuss major environmental issues in Europe, compare how the location, climate, and natural resources affect where people live and how they trade; describe cultural characteristics of Europe, such as religion, language, and literacy rates. Government/Civics Understandings: Compare and contrast various forms of government; explain the structure of certain modern European governments; describe the purpose of the European Union and the relationship between member nations. Economic Understandings: Compare the basic types of economic systems found in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia; compare and contrast different types of trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas, and embargos; explain why international trade requires a system for exchanging currencies between nations; describe factors that influence economic growth and examine their presence or absence in Europe. Historical Understandings: Identify the causes of European exploration and colonization; explain the impact of European empire building on the outbreak of WWI; explain the impact of WWII in terms of the Holocaust, the origins of the Cold War, and the rise of Superpowers; explain how the collapse of the Soviet Union led to the end of the Cold War and German reunification, and conflict and change in Europe to the 21st century.