World History & Geography 2 Curriculum

Family-facing version of the World History & Geography 2 curriculum

Quarterly Overview of World History & Geography 2

The objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. The pacing by quarter and by week provides an example of how the curriculum can be organized throughout the year. Teacher teams may adjust the pacing or order of units to best meet the needs of students.

Units and Details

Unit 1: Affirming Student Identify

Students will:

  • Examines the concept of identity.
  • Develop class norms and goals  for themselves and the class.

Students will consider:

  • How do our identities impact the way we understand the world around us and the experiences of others?
  • In what way have  environmental factors (systems, structures, institutions etc.) shaped our identities and beliefs?
  • How can I, as a student, use an understanding of identity  to inform my work in this class?

Unit 2: Why and How We Study History and the Social Sciences

Students will demonstrate skills for historical thinking, geographical analysis, economic decision making, and responsible citizenship by:

  • Synthesizing evidence from artifacts and primary and secondary sources to obtain information about events and life in world history.
  • Using geographic information to determine patterns and trends in world history.
  • Interpreting charts, graphs, and pictures to determine characteristics of people, places, or events in world history.
  • Evaluating sources for accuracy, credibility, bias, and propaganda.
  • Comparing and contrasting historical, cultural, economic, and political perspectives in world history.
  • Explaining how indirect cause-and-effect relationships impacted people, places, and events in world history.
  • Analyzing multiple connections across time and place.
  • Using a decision-making model to analyze and explain the incentives for and consequences of a specific choice made.
  • Identifying the rights and responsibilities of citizens and ethical use of materials and  intellectual property.
  • Investigating and researching to develop products orally and in writing.

Students will consider:

  • Whose voices are emphasized, marginalized, and silenced in social studies courses?
  • Which perspectives (political, economic, social, cultural, environmental, global, military) are emphasized, marginalized, and silenced in social studies courses?
  • How does shifting between scales of study (macro to micro) impact your thinking and learning and make the past usable?
  • What are the benefits of using inquiry, comparison, and connections to construct my knowledge of the world?
  • How does learning about history impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 3: World Religions and Global Geography

Students will: 

  • Apply social science skills to understand the political, cultural, geographic, and economic conditions in the world about 1500 A.D. (C.E) by:
    • Locating major states and empires.
    • Describing artistic, literary, and intellectual ideas of the Renaissance.
    • Describing the distribution of major religions.
    • Analyzing major trade patterns.
    • Citing major technological and scientific exchanges in the Eastern Hemisphere.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the influence of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism in the contemporary world by:
    • Describing their beliefs, sacred writings, traditions, and customs.
    • Locating the geographic distribution of religions in the contemporary world.

Students will consider:

  • How does geography impact the way we live?
  • What is religion and how does it impact the way we live?
  • How does learning about geography and religion  impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 4: Asia and Sub-Saharan African Empires

Students will: 

  • Apply social science skills to understand the political, cultural, geographic, and economic conditions in Asia from about 1500 A.D. (C.E) to about 1800 A.D. (C.E) by:
    • Locating Asian empires in time and place and identifying major geographic features.
    • Describing the location and development of social and cultural patterns in the Ottoman Empire.
    • Describing the location and development of social and cultural patterns in India, with emphasis on the Mughal Empire and coastal trade.
    • Describing the location and development of social and cultural patterns in China, with emphasis on the Qing (Manchu) dynasty.
    • Describing the location and development of social and cultural patterns in Japan, with emphasis on the Japanese shogunate.
    • Comparing and contrasting the political and economic systems of Asian empires.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the political, cultural, geographic, and economic conditions in sub-Saharan Africa from about 1500 A.D. (C.E.) to about 1800 A.D. (C.E.) by:
    • Locating major societies in Africa in time and place and identifying major geographic features.
    • Comparing and contrasting the development of social and cultural patterns in East Africa and West Africa.
    • Comparing and contrasting the development of social and cultural patterns in Central and Southern Africa.
    • Explaining the development of political and economic systems in African societies.

Students will consider:

  • How did the reign of past empires/societies influence Asia and Africa today?
  • In what ways did African and Asia societies and cultures impact world history?  
  • What impact does trade have on regional interactions?
  • How does learning about Asia and Sub-Saharan African Empires impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 5: European Renaissance & Reformation

Students will apply social science skills to:

  • Understand the political, cultural, geographic, and economic conditions in the world about 1500 A.D. (C.E.) by:
    • Locating major states and empires.
    • Describing artistic, literary, and intellectual ideas of the Renaissance.
    • Describing the distribution of major religions.
    • Analyzing major trade patterns.
    • Citing major technological and scientific exchanges in the Eastern Hemisphere.
  • Understand the Reformation in terms of its impact on Western civilization by:
    • Explaining the effects of the theological, political, and economic differences that emerged, including the views and actions of Martin Luther, John Calvin, Henry VIII, and Elizabeth I.
    • Describing the impact of religious conflicts, the Inquisition, and the Catholic Reformation on society and government actions.
    • Describing how the Reformation led to changing cultural values, traditions, and philosophies, and assessing the role of the printing press.

Students will consider:

  • What causes social institutions to change over time and how does that change impact people and systems?
  • How do ideas spread, how do they change when spreading, and who benefits (or doesn’t) from those ideas? 
  • To what extent have intellectual ideas impacted society and whose ideas are recognized over others?
  • How does learning about the European Renaissance and Reformation impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 6: European Exploration and Scientific Revolution

Students will apply social science skills to understand the impact of the European Age of Exploration by:

  • Explaining the political and economic goals of European exploration and colonization.
  • Describing the geographic expansion into Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
  • Comparing and contrasting the social and cultural influences of European settlement on Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
  • Analyzing how competition for colonies changed the economic system of Europe.
  • Defining and describing how the Scientific Revolution led to social and technological changes that influenced the European view of the world.

Students will consider:

  • How does science impact humanity and who benefits from that impact?
  • What are some causes and outcomes as well as challenges and opportunities related to human migration?
  • How does learning about European Exploration and the Scientific Revolution impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences,  a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 7: Age of Revolutions

Students will apply social science skills to:

  • Understand the political, cultural, geographic, and economic conditions in Europe and Russia from about 1500 A.D. (C.E) to about 1800 A.D. (C.E) by:
    • Locating European nations and their empires in time and place and identifying major geographic features of Europe.
    • Describing the development of social and cultural patterns in the Hapsburg empire, with emphasis on Charles V.
    • Describing the development of social and cultural patterns in France, with emphasis on the Age of Absolutism, Louis XIV, and the Enlightenment period.
    • Describing the development of social and cultural patterns in Great Britain, with emphasis on the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution and their impacts on democracy.
    • Explaining the causes and effects of the American and French Revolutions.
    • Describing the development of social and cultural patterns in the German states.
    • Describing the development of social and cultural patterns in the Italian states.
    • Describing the development of social and cultural patterns in Russia, with emphasis on Peter the Great.
  • Understand the changes in European nations between 1800 and 1900 by:
    • Explaining the roles of resources, capital, and entrepreneurship in developing an industrial economy.
    • Analyzing the effects of the Industrial Revolution on society and culture, with emphasis on the evolution of the nature of work and the labor force, including its effects on families and the status of women and children.
    • Describing how industrialization affected economic and political systems in Europe, with emphasis on the slave trade and the labor union movement.
    • Assessing the impact of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna on political power in Europe.
    • Explaining the events related to the unification of Italy and the role of Italian nationalism.
    • Explaining the events related to the unification of Germany and the role of Bismarck.
  • Understand global interactions between 1800 to about 1900 by:
    • Locating the United States of America, describing its expansion between 1776 and 1900, and assessing its changing role in the world.
    • Locating Latin America, explaining the causes and effects of the revolutions, with emphasis on the contributions of Toussaint L’Ouverture and Simón Bolívar, and identifying the impact of the American and French Revolutions on Latin America.
    • Describing the political and social challenges faced by Latin American nations, with emphasis on the Monroe Doctrine.
    • Assessing the impact of European colonization and imperialism on Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and Australia.
    • Analyzing the relationship between industrialization, imperialism, and nationalism.

Students will consider:

  • Who benefits from revolutions?
  • In what ways and to what extent do concepts of the European Enlightenment impact society today?
  • How does learning about the Age of Revolutions impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 8: Industrial Revolution and Imperialism

Students will apply social science skills to:

  • Understand the changes in European nations between 1800 and 1900 by:
    • Explaining the roles of resources, capital, and entrepreneurship in developing an industrial economy.
    • Analyzing the effects of the Industrial Revolution on society and culture, with emphasis on the evolution of the nature of work and the labor force, including its effects on families and the status of women and children.
    • Describing how industrialization affected economic and political systems in Europe, with emphasis on the slave trade and the labor union movement.
    • Assessing the impact of Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna on political power in Europe.
    • Explaining the events related to the unification of Italy and the role of Italian nationalism.
    • Explaining the events related to the unification of Germany and the role of Bismarck.
  • Understand global interactions between 1800 to about 1900 by:
    • Locating the United States of America, describing its expansion between 1776 and 1900, and assessing its changing role in the world.
    • Locating Latin America, explaining the causes and effects of the revolutions, with emphasis on the contributions of Toussaint L’Ouverture and Simón Bolívar, and identifying the impact of the American and French Revolutions on Latin America.
    • Describing the political and social challenges faced by Latin American nations, with emphasis on the Monroe Doctrine.
    • Assessing the impact of European colonization and imperialism on Asia, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and Australia.
    • Analyzing the relationship between industrialization, imperialism, and nationalism.

Students will consider:

  • How has industrialization impacted individuals, groups, nations, regions, and the world - who has benefited and who hasn’t?
  • How has imperialism impacted individuals, groups, nations, regions, and the world - who has benefited and who hasn’t?
  • How does learning about The Industrial Revolution and Imperialism impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 9: World War I and Interwar Period

Students will apply social science skills to understand World War I and its worldwide impact by:

  • Explaining economic and political causes and identifying major leaders of the war, with emphasis on Woodrow Wilson and Kaiser Wilhelm II.
  • Describing the location of major battles and the role of new technologies.
  • Analyzing and explaining the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and the actions of the League of Nations, with emphasis on the mandate system.
  • Citing causes and consequences of the Russian Revolution.
  • Explaining the causes and assessing the impact of worldwide depression in the 1930s.
  • Examining the rise of totalitarianism.

Students will consider:

  • How did World War I change the world?
  • How effective are treaties and alliances in preventing global conflicts? 
  • What actions can governments take to pull their nations’ citizens  out of economic hardships? Who benefits?
  • How does learning about World War I and the Interwar Period impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 10: World War II

Students will apply social science skills to understand World War II and its worldwide impact by:

  • Explaining the major causes of the war.
  • Describing the leaders of the war, with emphasis on Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, George C. Marshall, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Hideki Tojo, and Hirohito.
  • Describing the major events, including major battles and the role of new technologies.
  • Examining the Holocaust and other examples of genocide in the twentieth century.
  • Examining the effects of the war, with emphasis on the terms of the peace, the war crimes trials, the division of Europe, plans to rebuild Germany and Japan, and the creation of international cooperative organizations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).

Students will consider:

  • How did World War II change the world?
  • What types of power were used during World War II, who used it, and what were the results of that power use?
  • Whose voices are heard, marginalized, and silenced in your learning about World War II?
  • What was the Holocaust and how is genocide and state sponsored hate addressed today?
  • How does learning about World War 2 impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences,  a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 11: Cold War

Students will apply social science skills to understand the conflicts during the second half of the twentieth century by:

  • Explaining the causes of the Cold War, including the competition between the American and Soviet economic and political systems and the causes of the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
  • Describing the major leaders and events of the Cold War, including the location of major conflicts.
  • Describing conflicts and revolutionary movements in Asia and their major leaders, including Mao Tse-tung (Zedong), Chiang Kai-shek, Deng Xiaoping, and Ho Chi Minh.
  • Examining the political and economic shifts that led to the end of the Cold War, with emphasis on Margaret Thatcher, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Ronald Reagan.

Students will consider:

  • How impactful are international organizations, nations, and revolutionary groups regarding securing human rights? 
  • What are the limitations and advantages of using binary (2 sided) models to understand international relations and global issues? 
  • What circumstances encourage political, economic, and/or social revolution? 
  • How does learning about the Cold War impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 12: Independence and Post-Colonialism

Students will apply social science skills to understand the political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of independence movements and development efforts by:

  • Describing the struggles for self-rule, including Gandhi’s leadership in India and the development of India’s democracy.
  • Describing Africa’s independence movements, including Jomo Kenyatta’s leadership of Kenya and Nelson Mandela’s role in South Africa.
  • Describing the end of the mandate system and the creation of states in the Middle East, including the roles of Golda Meir and Gamal Abdel Nasser.

Students will consider:

  • What is worth fighting for?
  • What are the benefits and consequences of questioning/challenging authority?
  • How does learning about Independence and Post-Colonialism impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Unit 13: Globalization and the 21st Century

Students will:

  • Apply social science skill to understand the global changes during the early twenty-first century by:
    • Identifying contemporary political issues, with emphasis on migrations of refugees and others, ethnic/religious conflicts, and the impact of technology, including the role of social media and chemical and biological technologies.
    • Assessing the link between economic and political freedom.
    • Describing economic interdependence, including the rise of multinational corporations, international organizations, and trade agreements.
    • Analyzing the increasing impact of terrorism.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the influence of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism in the contemporary world by:
    • Describing their beliefs, sacred writings, traditions, and customs.
    • Locating the geographic distribution of religions in the contemporary world.

Students will consider:

  • What impact does trade have on a society?
  • How do the various levels of technological development affect different cultures?
  • How does learning about globalization impact your understanding of yourself, your lived experiences, a concept, a UN Sustainable Development Goal, or a contemporary world issue/event?

Assessments

Student assessments are part of the teaching and learning process.

  • Teachers give assessments to students on an ongoing basis to
    • Check for understanding 
    • Gather information about students' knowledge or skills.
  • Assessments provide information about a child's development of knowledge and skills that can help families and teachers better plan for the next steps in instruction.

For testing questions or additional information about how schools and teachers use test results to support student success, families can contact their children's schools.

In Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), tests focus on measuring content knowledge and skill development.

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