The World

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKZpg7FVQW0&feature=player_embedded

T-Shirt Travels

The largest export product from the US to Africa is used clothing. This is really interesting documentary on that process and the impact that it has on employment in Africa.

Popular Culture

http://www2.geog.okstate.edu/users/lightfoot/cola.html
My favorite is the picture from Mali. Note the shirt she is wearing.

Seven Billion

Johnna and Finbar, you have already seen these. Everyone else should watch these. It will take less than five minutes.

Chinglish

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/05/03/world/asia/20100503_CHINGLISH.html
Diffusion of languages at its best. Current lingua franca, meet upcoming lingua franca.

Pop v. Soda

http://popvssoda.com/images/smalldrawn.gif
What do you say? I said "Coke" growing up, but I'm starting to say soda more. Geographically, that makes sense!

Important Links

http://www.theglobalist.com/StoryId.aspx?StoryId=9363
Discusses supranationalism (very possible FRQ) and its connection to the economic crises in Greece.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2097720_2097772_2097763,00.html

Quick and easy article in Time about the top 10 Megacities.

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/08/what-happens-when-you-flush-a-toilet-in-the-worlds-tallest-building.html
Fascinating look at the juxtaposition of technological advancements and basic infrastucture in Dubai.

Economic Geography Free Response Answers

Peter Singer

This is a really impacting (and short) youtube video inspired by Peter Singer's "Solution to World Poverty." Micayla, watch with caution, I don't want you feeling guilty again about eating dinner at a restaurant with your family...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onsIdBanynY&feature=player_embedded

Chapter 6: Economic Geography Video

Hello my little scholars,

Please watch the following video which presents two case studies on supranationalism and devolution. Both of these are almost certainly going to appear on the AP exam. The video is at the bottom of the page and is 28 minutes long. Please take thorough notes.

http://www.learner.org/powerofplace/page3.html?pop=yes&pid=1928#

Sample Free Response Answer

Time space convergence is the idea that space and time are shrinking as technology increases. This connects to the terms “absolute distance” and “relative distance” because as technology increases (such as through the invention of air planes, the internet, and other modes of transportation and communication), relative distance decreases while absolute distance remains the same.

Cool links

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2010/apr/01/information-is-beautiful-military-spending
Particularly interesting war data.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gianordoli/3815093184/in/pool-730230@N24/
Breakdown of foreign aid given and received.

http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/visualizations/the-billion-dollar-gram/
Comparison of billions spent.

http://usdebt.kleptocracy.us/
Debt.

Twitter Map

Very cool cartogram charting moods across the country, according to Twitter. It looks like Herbert might be the only happy tweeter in all of Massachusetts.

http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/amislove/twittermood/

Scholarships

Summer is a great time to complete scholarship applications (I'm doing mine for law school now), and I recommend the link below. From skimming, it looked like the "Community Sponsored Scholarships" had the most scholarships for students who are 9-12 and are probably a bit easier than the national ones.
http://www.bostonyouthzone.com/resources/college_guide/guide.asp

Summer Assignments

Required Summer Assignments:

1. Read and thoroughly annotate Chapter 1 of the Barron's AP Human Geography (pg. 53-77)
2. Complete the multiple choice section of the diagnostic exam (pg. 19-34); review and correct answers (pg. 37-47).  Because quizzing yourself is the best way to review, I recommend that you record your answers on a separate sheet of paper.  That way, you can retake the test in a few months and see how much you have improved.  Don't worry if you struggle with this - for most of you it will be completely new information, and you aren't expected to know it yet.

Recommended Summer Assignments:

1. Read and thoroughly annotate the entire Barron's book (pg. 53-292)
2. Create and study vocabulary flashcards for Chapters 1-3 (or use the flashcards on quizlet.com; see the "Important Links" tab for access to flashcards I have already made for you)
3. Watch or read the news on a daily basis

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email me.  Over the summer, the best email to reach me at is: mmarie.doak@gmail.com

Barron's Book

Please purchase a copy of the Barron's book for AP Human Geography (3rd addition).  The link below is for the cheapest copy I have been able to find ($8.56 including tax and shipping).  Please purchase your book before summer, as you will need it for your summer assignments. 
http://www.buy.com/prod/barron-s-ap-human-geography/q/sellerid/25506529/loc/106/211986681.html

If you want to purchase the Barron's book and accompanying CD (which has additional practice included on it), the link is below.  This is more expensive and is not required for the course ($23.74).
http://www.buy.com/prod/barron-s-ap-human-geography/q/loc/106/211986789.html

Welcome to AP Human Geography!

Hello, my fellow geographers!  Congratulations on your acceptance to BCCS's first class of APHG scholars! Thank you for your thoughtful applications and your dedication to academics, and I look forward to working with you as you prepare for May's APHG exam.

Human Geography focuses on the way in which people interact with their environment and the impacts of geography on the progress and processes of society.  Thus, to be successful in APHG, it is vital that you have a strong understanding of global cultures.  As the AP test prefers students to use contemporary examples in their open responses, it's time to start watching the news.  Seriously, you need to watch or read the news on a daily basis - and not CNN's coverage of Lindsay Lohan - the real news.  In case you don't know what constitutes "real news," I'm posting links below.  I'll also bring "real news" magazines to school that you can start reading in SSR.

Thank you again for your commitment to your education, and welcome to APHG!

http://www.csmonitor.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/
*free for up to 20 articles a month, or find the article on their website and then Google it to avoid having to pay
http://www.bbc.co.uk/
http://www.cnn.com/