【People's Education Press】Junior High School Geography Grade 7 Part 2

📚 Content Summary

This textbook is for the seventh-grade geography curriculum in junior high school, systematically introducing the natural geographical features, human environments, and economic development of major regions and countries in Asia, the Eastern Hemisphere, and the Western Hemisphere. It aims to cultivate students' global perspective and geographic literacy.

Crossing meridians and parallels, explore the vast world, master global geographic wisdom.

Author: Research and Development Center for Geography Curriculum and Textbooks, Institute of Curriculum and Textbook Studies

Acknowledgments: Map Editing: Fu Tao; Illustrations: Li Hao, Wang Guodong, et al.; Map Production: Li Shuwei, et al.

🎯 Learning Objectives

1. Use maps to describe Asia’s hemispheric position, geographic coordinates, and location relative to oceans and continents.
2. Use data and facts to demonstrate that Asia is the largest continent in the world.
3. Summarize the topography and river characteristics of Asia, and understand how terrain influences river flow direction.
4. Apply plate tectonics theory to explain Japan’s geological disasters, and summarize the climate patterns of North America and the distribution of landforms and climate in Russia.
5. Analyze the causes of Japan’s industrial distribution, the impact of Southeast Asian rivers on urban settlement, and the role of Russia’s natural resources in supporting heavy industry.
6. Understand Japan’s culture blending Eastern and Western elements, Chinese cultural influence in Southeast Asia, and India’s status as the second most populous country in the world.
7. Use maps to identify oil distribution and export routes in the Middle East, and analyze the impacts of water scarcity and multiculturalism on the region.
8. Summarize the characteristics of dense industry and concentration of developed countries in Western Europe, and explain how natural conditions affect modernized livestock farming.
9. Identify cultural traits of sub-Saharan Africa, analyze the drawbacks of its single-commodity economy, and address the severe human-environment relationship issues.
10. Use maps and charts to describe the ethnic composition and cultural characteristics of the United States and Brazil.

🔹 Lesson 1: Asia: The World’s Largest Continent – Natural Features and Location

Overview: This lesson guides seventh-grade students to comprehensively understand Asia’s geographical profile. Topics include Asia’s hemispheric position, geographic coordinates, and ocean-land location, establishing its status as “the world’s largest continent.” By analyzing Asia’s topographic variations, river distribution, and complex climate features—comparing them with those of North America—students will develop comprehensive geographic thinking skills to synthesize continental natural environments.

Learning Outcomes:

• Use maps to describe Asia’s hemispheric position, geographic coordinates, and ocean-land location.
• Use data and facts to demonstrate that Asia is the world’s largest continent.
• Summarize the topography and river characteristics of Asia, and understand how terrain affects river flow.

🔹 Lesson 2: Neighboring Regions and Countries: Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Russia

Overview: This instructional unit covers core geographical features of neighboring Asian countries (Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Russia) and the climate patterns of North America. Key topics include Japan’s geological hazards and industrial layout, Southeast Asia’s cultural landscapes and river functions, India’s population situation, Russia’s natural resources and environment, and the climatic distribution across North America. Through map analysis and logical diagrams, students will grasp the intrinsic connections between “natural environment” and “human activities.”

Learning Outcomes:

• Apply plate tectonics theory to explain Japan’s geological disasters, and summarize the climate patterns of North America and the distribution of landforms and climate in Russia.
• Analyze the reasons behind Japan’s industrial distribution, the influence of Southeast Asian rivers on urban settlement, and the role of Russia’s natural resources in supporting heavy industry.
• Understand Japan’s culture integrating Eastern and Western elements, Chinese cultural presence in Southeast Asia, and India’s status as the world’s second most populous nation.

🔹 Lesson 3: Other Regions in the Eastern Hemisphere: From the Middle East to Australia

Overview: This unit covers four representative regions in the Eastern Hemisphere: the resource-rich but environmentally complex Middle East, the economically advanced Western Europe, the developing yet facing significant human-environment conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, and Australia, whose unique natural environment supports thriving agriculture, livestock, and mining industries. Through this study, students will gain insight into the geographical features, economic structures, and close ties between these regions and their natural environments.

Learning Outcomes:

• Use maps to identify oil distribution and export routes in the Middle East, and analyze the effects of water scarcity and multiculturalism on the region.
• Summarize the characteristics of dense industrialization and concentration of developed nations in Western Europe, and explain how natural conditions affect modernized livestock farming.
• Identify cultural traits of sub-Saharan Africa, analyze the disadvantages of its single-commodity economy, and examine the serious human-environment challenges.

🔹 Lesson 4: Countries in the Western Hemisphere: In-Depth Analysis of the United States and Brazil

Overview: This lesson focuses on two highly representative Western Hemisphere countries— the United States and Brazil—to help students understand how geography shapes human activity. The course covers the U.S.’s immigrant culture, specialized agriculture, and leading high-tech industries, as well as Brazil’s mixed-race society and resource-driven industrial and agricultural distribution. It also delves into the global environmental issue of Amazon rainforest development and conservation.

Learning Outcomes:

• Use maps and charts to describe the ethnic composition and cultural characteristics of the United States and Brazil.
• Understand the relationship between U.S. agricultural specialization and natural conditions (topography, climate), and the link between Brazil’s industrial distribution and raw material availability.
• Evaluate the contribution of high-tech industries to the U.S. economy, and express a balanced, critical perspective on the development and protection of the Amazon tropical rainforest.

🔹 Lesson 5: Polar Regions: Comparative Study and Conservation of the Ice Worlds

Overview: This lesson focuses on the special geographical zones at Earth’s poles—the Antarctic and Arctic regions. By analyzing maps to understand the locations, extents, surrounding oceans, and adjacent continents of both polar areas, students will grasp the unique natural characteristics of these extreme environments. The lesson emphasizes comparing differences between the poles in temperature, precipitation, and wind speed, revealing the causes of Antarctica’s extreme climate—earning it titles such as the “Ice Plateau,” “White Desert,” and “Wind Repository.”

Learning Outcomes:

• Use maps to identify the ranges of the Antarctic and Arctic Circles, and accurately name the oceans surrounding Antarctica and the continents bordering the Arctic Ocean.
• Summarize and compare differences between Antarctica and the Arctic in annual average temperature, record low temperatures, annual precipitation, and average wind speed.
• Combine data and terminology to analyze and summarize the uniqueness of polar natural environments.