The Environment as Home and Economic Shaper: Class 3
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Provided by: Ages of Globalization|Published on: September 12, 2025
Lesson PlansScientist Reviewed
9101112AP
Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- The first six classes in the Ages of Globalization program provide a foundation for understanding human history, the drivers of global change, the effects of globalization on the planet, and the goals of sustainability, peace, and empathy.
- In this third class, students will discover how climate zones, topography, trade routes, rivers, ocean access, and geography have influenced the development and economies of various civilizations, as well as the connections between climate stability, the sustainable development goals, and economic prosperity.
- Through readings, videos, and activities using ArcGIS, students will understand the influence of climate and geography on the economic structure of their area, and what this means for communities around the world in the face of climate change.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Economics, History, Geography
Authors: Ages of Globalization, Dr. Jeffrey Sachs
Region: Africa, Asia, Europe, Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Activities and projects in this lesson are focused on students' local realities and will help them see their lives in relation to the global context.
- This lesson includes opportunities for community engagement.
Prerequisites
- The Chapter 5 video is no longer available. Teachers can provide students with the video summary to get an understanding of the main ideas.
- Students should understand climate change and have a general knowledge of major events throughout history.
- Teachers may need to support students in using ArcGIS in the activities or teach a mini-lesson on how to use ArcGIS.
Differentiation & Implementation
- After watching the lecture in the first chapter, students can find their location on the climate zones map and analyze how this climate impacts their lives, including traditions, recreation, and economy.
- AP World History classes can integrate this resource into a number of units in the course and connections can be made with environmental science or economics classes as well.
- When creating flashcards for the vocabulary terms as directed in the lesson, some students may benefit from drawing or printing an image to represent that term and help them remember its definition.
- Thinking about how a shift in climate can impact the economic activities in their region or another, students can refer to the UN Sustainable Development Goals to determine how climate change may affect the strategies for approaching one or more of the goals, especially Goal 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth.
The role of the environment in shaping civilizations and, in particular, economies is discussed at length. Key vocabulary is clearly defined. The ways that our environment is changing in the face of climate change are presented throughout as factors that will change future patterns of globalization. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
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Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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