FEATURES & DETAILS:
- Copyright: 2006
- Color
- MARC records, Catalog Card Kit and Single Main Entry Cards are available
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PRODUCT SUMMARY
To understand and appreciate our world, it is important to understand the patterns of organization of the physical and human aspects of our planet. From how landforms define and shape our world to how people adapt to them and sometimes alter them, the relationship between the two defines our planet. In The World in Spatial Terms, students will learn about cartography and technologies such as GIS, GPS and databases that geographers use to help us see the regular and recurring patterns in Earth's physical and human systems. These tools not only help us see and understand the world's patterns, but also help to make our planet a more comprehensible and fascinating place. Part of the multivolume Geography for Students Video Series. A teacher's guide is included and available online.
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
"…vocabulary terms are explained in easy-to-understand language…colorful and fast moving…includes timely references to Hurricane Katrina and global warming…will capture students’ interest and be useful in social studies and even science classes."- School Library Journal (June 2006)
"…this series addresses much of the standard curriculum in geography, and with the well-planned Teacher’s Guide that is almost a lesson plan in itself; an entire unit of study comes in one small package…Recommended." - Library Media Connection (Jan 2007)
FULL REVIEWS
School Library Journal (June 2006)
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.