High School Geography

Charlotte Mason believed the study of geography was foundational to a student’s education. Ideally, a student would continue the study of geography throughout high school, one 0.50-credit course each year. At a minimum, choose at least TWO 0.50-credit courses of study for each student before graduation.

 

The Geography courses are designed to introduce students to the general landforms of the world but also a consideration of the people and cultures of the past and present. There is a focus in the curated articles in understanding the inter-relationships of people across cultural and political boundaries. The courses also include exposure to earth studies which can be extended through science coursework. 

This course will require students to complete map work related to the readings in geography. As they read the curated articles, or current articles of your choice, they should also familiarize themselves with where, exactly, in the world these events are taking place.

Texts

A Living High School Geography (linked below for each course) by Jill Papsdorf which includes

• excerpts of Geographical Readers for Elementary Schools Book V: The Old and the New World by Charlotte Mason
• annotations on Charlotte Mason’s text
• mapping activities.

Mason’s text is available online, but we find it preferable to exclude her descriptions of the cultures and peoples. These topics are covered in a more contemporary way by curated articles. 

Note: Maps for the mapping activities are included at the end of A Living High School Geography along with an index indicating how many of each map are necessary to complete the course.

Atlas of your choice, or access to the internet, for assistance in completing the mapping exercises.

Curated Articles related to the areas and subjects in the Geographical Reader – You may use any of your choosing, but Jill Papsdorf has created Google documents of selected articles for student use.

National Geographic digital subscription – If you are using the Curated Articles, you probably need this subscription as the articles draw heavily from the National Geographic website. (Print subscribers should also receive access to the website.)

Selections for Earth Studies – A book of earth studies is selected and scheduled for the first term in the lesson plans for each geographical area. They may be interchanged if desired.

Further Reading in Geography – select 1-2 books to read in terms 2 and 3 from the list within each course. You may find other options at Stories of Color. (Please note the Mater Amabilis moderators have not curated this list.)

List of Courses

Families are encouraged to choose at least two of the following courses, which are designed to earn 0.50 credits each, selecting those that best meet the student’s interests and complement other studies. The readings are designed to be scheduled over an entire year (twice a week), but a student anticipating dual-enrollment or a heavy semester course-load could complete the course in a semester by working four days a week. The courses are designed to be completed in the sequence shown but are independent enough to allow completion in any combination.

Level 5 Year 1: Africa

Level 5 Year 2: Middle East, Central Asia, and India

Level 6 Year 1: Eastern Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica

Level 6 Year 2: The Americas and the Arctic

Appendix: Alternative Selections for Earth Studies

Level 5 Year 1:

Africa

Lesson plan

Geography:

• A Living High School Geography: Africa by Jill Papsdorf (This is a PDF file designed to be printed double-sided. It is in color, but should be fine in black and white.)
• Curated Articles – Africa

1x weekly (alternating) (mapping and narration)

Earth Studies: The Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt, Nothdurft and Smith 1x weekly (N)

Further reading (after the Earth Studies book is complete): 1x weekly (N)

Choose two books from the following or another book related to Africa:

Non-fiction

Out of Africa, Dinesen (colonial Kenya)

The Flame Trees of Thika/The Mottled Lizard, Huxley (colonial Kenya; mature themes)

Stanley: The Impossible Life of Africa’s Greatest Explorer, Jeal (mature themes)

Four Years in Paradise, Johnson (Kenya)

West with the Night, Markham (colonial Kenya)

The White Nile, Moorehead (Africa)

The Blue Nile, Moorehead (Africa)

Africa, Reader (companion to the PBS series, optional plans)

African Saints, African Stories: 40 Holy Men and Women, Brown

In Search of South Africa, Morton

The Royal Road to Romance, Halliburton (North Africa, Europe, Asia)

Prisoners of Geography, Marshall (chapter 5)

Stories from a South African Childhood (Adapted for Young Readers), Noah (the original contains more mature content)

The Golden Rhinoceros: Histories of the African Middle Ages, Fauvelle (more academic text based on primary sources and archaeology)

A Memory for Wonders by Mother Veronica Namoyo Le Goulard, P.C.C. (Morocco and Algiers)

Fiction

Things Fall Apart, Achebe (Nigeria)

Cry, the Beloved Country, Paton (South Africa; references to prostitution)

A Long Walk to Water, Park (Sudan; some violence)

A Girl Called Problem, Quirk (Tanzania; easier read)

Other Media Resources

The History of Ancient Egypt (Great Courses), Brier

Around the World in 80 Days and subsequent programs, Palin (BBC; Africa journeys)

Great Courses lectures

Level 5 Year 2:

Middle East, Central Asia, and India

Lesson plan

Geography:

• A Living High School Geography: Middle East, Central Asia, and India by Jill Papsdorf  (This is a PDF file designed to be printed double-sided. It is in color, but should be fine in black and white.)
• Curated Articles – Middle East, Central Asia, and India

1x weekly (alternating) (mapping and narration)

Earth Studies: The Seashell on the Mountaintop, Cutler, 1x weekly (N)

Further reading (after the Earth Studies book is complete): 1x weekly (N)

Choose two books from the following or another book related to the Middle East, Central Asia, or India:

Non-fiction

In the Steps of The Master, Morton (Holy Land)

In the Steps of St. Paul, Morton (Holy Land)

The Royal Road to Romance, Halliburton (North Africa, Europe, Asia)

The Flying Carpet, Halliburton (Europe, Holy Land, Southeast Asia)

Innocents Abroad, Twain (Europe and the Holy Land)

Walking the Bible, Feller

The Other Side of the Lantern, Treves (Mediterranean, India, Burma (Myanmar), Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Hawaii, Yosemite)

Mother Teresa: An Authorized Biography, Spink (India)

Something Beautiful for God, Muggeridge (Mother Teresa; India)

Meatless Days, Goodyear (Pakistan; memoir)

Prisoners of Geography, Marshall (chapters 1, 6, and 7)

Fiction

Two Under the Indian Sun, Godden (colonial India)

The Peacock Spring, Godden (colonial India; pre-read for mature themes)

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Solzhenitsyn (Soviet Russia)

Michael Strogoff, Verne (Russia)

Other Media Resources

Gandhi (film), 1982

“In the Steps of St. Paul,” David Suchet (TV program)

Around the World in 80 Days and subsequent programs, Palin (BBC; journeys in Asia)

Great Courses lectures

Level 6 Year 1:

Eastern Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica

Lesson plan

Geography:

• A Living High School Geography: Eastern Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica by Jill Papsdorf (This is a PDF file designed to be printed double-sided. It is in color, but should be fine in black and white.)
• Curated Articles – Eastern Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica

1x weekly (alternating) (mapping and narration)

Earth Studies: Longitude:  The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time, Sobel, 1x weekly (N)

Further reading (after the Earth Studies book is complete): 1x weekly (N)

Choose two books from the following or another book related to Eastern Asia, Oceania, or Antarctica:

Non-fiction

The Flying Carpet, Halliburton (Europe, Holy Land, Southeast Asia)

The Other Side of the Lantern, Treves (Mediterranean, India, Burma (Myanmar), Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Hawaii, Yosemite)

The Last Whalers, Clark (Indonesia)

A Song for Nagasaki, Glynn (Japan)

The Smile of a Ragpicker, Glynn (Japan)

Water, Wood, and Wild Things, Kirshner (Japan)

The Day the World Exploded: The Earthshaking Catastrophe at Krakatoa, Winchester and Zimmerman (Krakatoa; easier read, an adaptation of a much denser book)

Resources available from the Korean Spirit & Culture Promotion Project

Nafanua, Cox (Samoa)

Fiction

The Good Earth, Buck (China)

My Brilliant Career, Franklin (Australia)

The Short Stories, Mansfield (New Zealand; some stories set in other locations)

A Town Like Alice, Shute (Australia)

Other Media Resources

Catholics of Oz podcast

“In the Steps of St. Paul,” David Suchet (TV program)

Around the World in 80 Days and subsequent programs, Palin (BBC; journeys in Asia)

Great Courses lecture

Level 6 Year 2:

The Americas and the Arctic

Lesson plan

Geography:

• A Living High School Geography: The Americas and the Arctic by Jill Papsdorf (This is a PDF file designed to be printed double-sided. It is in color, but should be fine in black and white.)
• Curated Articles – The Americas and the Arctic

1x weekly (alternating) (mapping and narration)

Earth Studies: The Earth in Turmoil, Sieh and LeVay, 1x weekly (N)

Note: The Earth in Turmoil may be out of print, but used copies are available. If you prefer, you can substitute The Great Quake by Henry Fountain, one chapter each week. 

Further reading (after the Earth Studies book is complete): 1x weekly (N)

Choose two books from the following or another book related to the Americas or the Arctic. The Extracurricular Reading List includes additional geography recommendations for North America, many of which would also be good choices for further reading selections.

Non-Fiction

The Shepherd Who Didn’t Run: Fr. Stanley Rother, Scaperlanda (Guatemala)

The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, McCullough (Panama)

Turn Right at Machu Picchu: Rediscovering the Lost City One Step at a Time, Adams (Peru)

Wild Coast: Travels on South America’s Untamed Edge, Gimlette (northeastern South America, mature themes)

The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey, Millard (Brazil)

Prisoners of Geography, Marshall (chapter 9)

The Brendan Voyage, Severin (North American exploration; hardcover has color photos)

North with the Spring, Teale (North America)

Undaunted Courage, Ambrose (United States; some mature content, also history)

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Dillard (Virginia, US)

The Sun Is a Compass, Van Hemert (Alaska and Canada; memoir)

My Heart Lies South, Young People’s Edition: The Story of My Mexican Marriage by Elizabeth Borton De Treviño (Mexico)

Iniquis Affictisque, Pius XI (encyclical on persecution of the Church in Mexico)

Blessed Miguel Pro, Ball (Mexico)

Mexican History: A Primary Source Reader, Jaffary, Osowski, & Porter (Mexico)

Mexican Martyrdom, Parsons (Mexico)

Fiction

One Hundred Years of Solitude, García Márquez (mature themes)

Wide Sargasso Sea, Rhys (mature themes)

The Power and the Glory, Greene (Mexico)

The Underdogs, Azuela (Mexico)

All Hispanic-culture titles at The Baldwin Project

Anne of the Island, Montgomery (Canada; or any other Anne novels)

A Girl of the Limberlost, Porter (Indiana, US)

Other Media Resources

The Brendan Voyage (film)

Great Courses lectures

Appendix:

Alternative Selections for Earth Studies

A book of earth studies is selected and scheduled for the first term in the lesson plans for each geographical area. They may be interchanged if desired.

(Africa) The Lost Dinosaurs of Egypt, Nothdurft and Smith (paleontology)

(Middle East, Central Asia, and India) The Seashell on the Mountaintop, Cutler (early history of geology)

(Eastern Asia, Oceania, and Antarctica) Longitude, Sobel (engineering and geography)

(South America and Central America) The Earth in Turmoil: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Their Impact on Humankind, Sieh and LeVay (plate tectonics) or The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet, Fountain (plate tectonics)

If your student has read the selected book above, you might consider:

The Map that Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology, Winchester (later history of geology)

The Sea Around Us, Carson (oceanography)

Beneath Our Feet: The Rocks of Planet Earth, Vernon (geology)

18 Miles: The Epic Drama of Our Atmosphere and Its Weather, Dewdney (weather and atmospheric science)

The Monkey’s Voyage: How Improbable Journeys Shaped the History of Life, de Querioz (biogeography, continental drift, best for seniors or motivated juniors)