Geographic Perspectives: The United States of America

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Geographic Perspectives: The United States of America, part of a six-volume series entitled Geography for Students, suggests that geography extends far beyond basic statistical and topographical facts and figures to reveal connections between the land and its people. A friendly teen host guides viewers through key aspects of U.S. geography, dividing the country into three types of regions—formal, functional, and perceptual—but always coming back to the human element (instead of simply naming U.S. physical features, the program discusses, for example, the transformation of the “Great American Desert” into the Great Plains, examines the impact of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina, and points out America’s responsibilities as the largest worldwide source of greenhouse emissions). The program concludes with a cultural study of regional ethnic groups, reminding viewers that the history of the U.S. is in many ways “a history of its immigrants.” Combining excellent archival footage, fast-paced editing, and a script that challenges the stale notion that geography is simply about maps, this is an excellent overview. The other titles in the series are: Environment & Society, Human Systems, Physical Systems, Places & Regions, and The World in Spatial Terms. Highly recommended.

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Gr 5-9-Geography, as this series explains, is much more complex than memorizing state capitals or major mountain ranges. Physical Systems, for example, introduces terms like "atmosphere," "lithosphere," and "biosphere," and shows how events like the eruption of Mt. St. Helens can affect other physical systems. Places and Regions talks about Formal, Functional, and Perceptual Regions, noting that the Jello Belt, for example, is a Formal Region, similar to the Sun Belt and Rust Belt. Throughout the series, vocabulary terms are explained in easy-to-understand language, with the exception of "ethnic enclave" which on two different programs is defined by one of the academic experts as "an affinity group with spatial representation." However, footage of a Chinatown will help the viewers understand the meaning of an ethnic enclave. By contrast, the concept of time zones across the globe is clearly explained in The World in Spatial Terms. Each title has the same format, with a male with a backpack introducing each section, while the main narration is done by a female. The footage is colorful and fast moving, and the myriad of geography experts who appear on camera keep their comments short and to the point. The series includes timely references to Hurricane Katrina and global warming. There are also surprising nuggets of information, such as an explanation of the Ring of Fire, a series of volcanic plates ringing the Pacific Ocean, which includes both New Zealand and Alaska; and the fact that the Great Plains were originally called the Great American Desert. Sometimes too much information is provided, as in the comparison of the Mercator, Robinson, and Winkel Tripel map projections. Overall, though, the series will capture students' interest and be useful in social studies and even science classes. Be aware of overlapping segments, though, especially in Geographic Perspectives. Most of the segments on that DVD are also on other titles in the series.

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal. Used with permission.

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