This document provides information for a physical geography course. It outlines important details like the professor, class times, required materials and textbooks. The course will cover topics like climate, landforms, soils and vegetation. Students will take chapter quizzes, map quizzes and exams. They will also complete a presentation project. The professor provides resources and contact information to help ensure student success in the course.

1. Geography 110
Physical
Geography
Reference # 4374
TuesThurs 11:00 AM – 12:15
PM
Professor Lisa Schmidt

2. Important Information
• Professor Lisa Schmidt
• Ref. 4374
• 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM T/Th
• ProfessorLisaS@gmail.com
• PS 221
• (909) 384-5221 Voice Mail
• (760) 440-8977 Text or Voice Mail
• http://schmidtphysicalgeography.wikispaces.com

3. Physical Geography
• Welcome to Geography 110, Physical
Geography. In this class, you will learn
the basic elements of geography. We will
study climate, landforms, water, soils,
native animal life and native vegetation.
We will examine the inter-relationships
between these things and we will look at
their patterns of distribution throughout the
world.

4. Textbooks
 Required
 McKnight’s Physical
Geography 11th Edition
 McKnight and Hess
 ISBN-13: 978-
0321820433
 Recommended
 Goode’s World Atlas
 ISBN 0-528-65000-3
 Or any recent World Atlas
that contains physical maps
 Recommended
 The Geography Coloring
Book
 Wynn Kapit
 978-0131014725
A digital version
of the text is
available, link
on web page.
Text can also be
rented at
Amazon, and a
Kindle edition is
available.
http://schmidtphysicalgeography.wikispaces.com/Textbooks

5. Required Materials
 Internet Access
 Pencils
 Pens
 Paper

6. Recommended Materials
 Colored Pens or Pencils
For map studies

7. Course Description
 The goal of this course is to introduce
students to basic concepts in physical
geography…
Since it is an introductory course, it is
assumed students have little or no
background in physical geography.

8. Course Description
• Topics covered include the atmosphere, atmospheric
processes, weather, geographic patterns of climate, the
biosphere, soil and vegetation processes, the
hydrosphere, water in all of its phases, the formation,
modification, and distribution of various landforms, and
the lithosphere.

9. Course Objectives
• You will gain an understanding of the geographic
perspective within natural and environmental sciences,
including place, space, map scale, map projection,
spatial connection, and spatial diffusion.
• You will better understand how to use maps, in
particular, the geographic distribution of natural
phenomena.
• You will learn about the four environmental spheres,
atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and lithosphere,
and how they interact across the surface of the Earth.
In particular, you will learn the role of humankind within
the environment.

10. Assignments & Grading
• 4 Exams 100 points each =
400 points
• 14 Chapter Quizzes 10
points each = 140 points
• 5 Map Quizzes 25 points
each = 125 points
• 1 Presentation = 100 points
• 100 Random Participation
Points
• Total Points Possible = 865
• 100-90% 865-778 A
• 89-80% 777-692 B
• 79-70% 691-605 C
• 69-60% 604-519 D
• 59-0% 518-0 F
Note: You must earn at least
60% to pass this class. You
may be dropped for falling below
60%. Please refer to your syllabus.

11. Chapter Quizzes
 There will be a quiz for each chapter
in the textbook.
 Quizzes will be posted on Blackboard
after each lecture.
 Quizzes will be due one week after they
are posted by 10:30 AM.
 There will be 14 quizzes.
 The format will be multiple choice,
true/false, and or matching.
 Quiz questions may be used on
exams.
 You will want to take notes from your
quizzes and study them.
You can always access the
quizzes you have taken so you
can study from them-go into
“My Grades” on Blackboard and
click your score, that will take
you into yourr quiz.
Timed: 30 minutes
2 chances

12. Map Quizzes
 We will study the physical features of Earth.
 You MUST bring your atlas to class on map
study nights.
 Colored pens or pencils will be helpful.
 You will have five map quizzes.
 North America 25 points
 South America 25 points
 Europe 25 points
 Asia 25 points
 Africa 25 points
 Total 125 points
Also given using Blackboard
Timed 30 minutes
2 chances
1 week close at 10:30 AM

13. Exams
 There will be four exams.
 Exams will be given using Blackboard.
 The format will be multiple choice, true and
false, and/or matching.
 Each exam will be worth 100 points.
 The final exam will be cumulative.
 A study guide will be available for each exam.
Also given using Blackboard
Timed: 60 minutes
ONE chance – close 10:30 AM

14. Presentation/Project
 You are required to give a presentation for this Physical
Geography course.
 You will be able to choose from a list of topics.
 Presentations will be no less than five minutes but no
more than ten minutes long.
 Presentations MAY be done in groups WITH
INSTRUCTOR APPROVAL.
 Presentations will be scheduled. If you do not present
when you are scheduled, you will lose points.
 See the class web site for presentation details:
 http://schmidtphysicalgeography.wikispaces.com/

15. Random Participation Points
• At any time, I may give an assignment in
class, like a quiz or an activity, or I might give
another attendance check.
• Points will be given for random activities and if
you are not present, you will not receive those
points.
• Random activities will usually happen after the
break, but sometimes may happen at the very
beginning of class.
• Being late or absent CAN hurt your grade.

16. Changes
• The dates, topics, assignments, and due
dates in the syllabus are tentative.
• There may be changes, it is your
responsibility to stay informed of changes.
• I recommend you make friends…

17. Class Web Page
• I have created a web page for your class.
• All of the presentations and maps used in class
are posted there already.
• You can print out a copy of the lecture and bring
it to class so you can take notes on it…
– I often lecture quickly, but ALL of the information is
online so I do not expect you to write down my slides
word for word as I lecture because you can access
them at any time.
• Each chapter has supplemental material as well,
like videos and pictures or articles that connect
the topics to our lives in the real world.
http://schmidtphysicalgeography.wikispaces.com/

18. Late Work and Exams
 Late work ...
will not be accepted.
There will be no opening of
quizzes or exams after they
close unless you have some
documented proof of an
emergency.

19. Absences and Tardiness
 I reserve the right to drop students
who miss class twice.
 If you have to miss class, you should
stay in contact with me if you do not
want to be dropped.
 You may be dropped for excessive
tardiness.
 This means being more than five
minutes late, more than three times.
 If you are going to be late, come in
quietly and take a seat WITHOUT
interrupting lecture.

20. Dropping
 It is your responsibility to drop if
you decide you want to.
 If you stop coming to class, I have
no way of knowing if you want to
drop or receive and F.
I will give F’s, it is your responsibility
to drop.

21. Extra Credit
 Some extra credit may be assigned
throughout the semester.
 It will be announced in class and you must
be present in order to take advantage of it.
I started you with some extra credit on your syllabus…
Note the Quotes…
Give Blood 10 points
Ed Plan 5 points
Cloud Picture 5 points

22. Academic Honesty
 Cheating of any kind will not be tolerated.
Any incidences of cheating or plagiarism will
be reported to the deans office.
Please refer to San Bernardino Valley
College’s policy on academic honesty.

23. Cell Phones and Texting
 Use of cell phones for
talking or texting during
class is inappropriate.
 You may be asked to
leave the classroom if you
are talking or texting on
your phone during lecture.
 Phones should be set to
silent mode when in class.

24. Random Participation Points
 You never quite know what I am going to do…
 I might give a pop quiz, maybe a worksheet,
maybe an activity, maybe a movie, maybe an
attendance check after the break,
 So I wrote in Random Participation Points
because attendance and participation are
important.

25. Disability
Accommodations
• If you need accommodations for this course,
please see me after class.
• If you have or think you may have a disability that
might affect your performance in this course,
please contact the office of Disabled Students
Programs and Services at (909) 384-4443.

26. Blackboard
• Blackboard will be used for this class.
– You will need to log in to Blackboard to take
your quizzes and exams.
– http://blackboard.valleycollege.edu
• If you have questions about blackboard, stay after
class, I am here to help.

27. Contact Information
• The best way to reach me is by e-mail.
• My e-mail address is:
ProfessorLisaS@gmail.com
• My mailbox is located in this building, in
the office just below us.
• You may text me at (760) 440-8977 and
you can leave voice mail at this number
too.

28. Note

29. Disruptive Behavior
• You may be asked to leave class
if you disrupt the learning process
for others. This includes talking
during lecture or during
classmate's presentations. If you
are asked to leave, and
disciplinary action is taken, you
may be suspended from the next
class meeting.

30. Course
Schedule
At this time, I would like you to look at the
Schedule in your syllabus…
Note that it is quite detailed, you have information
On the topics being covered each night, what opens on
Blackboard, what closes, when parts of your project are due,
When maps studies happen, and when exams happen.

31. For Your Success

32. For Your Success

34. Service Available For Your
Success
• EOPS 384-4412
• Counseling – Educational
384-4404 &
Psychological 384-4495
• Childcare Center
384-4440
• Veterans Services
384-4441
• Health Center 384-4495
• Tutoring Services
• Student Success Centers
• Open Computer Labs
• STEM-Science
Technology Engineering
Mathematics
– Has a club
– Has its own counselor
– Has money for book
grants and more
And more… If you need something, there is probably an
office on campus that can help, ask me too.

35. What is Geography?
 The scientific study of the Earth's surface
and its various climates, countries,
peoples, and natural resources.

36. Fields of Geography
 Human or Cultural Geography
 Deals with social, economic, and behavioral
processes
 Physical Geography
 Examines the natural processes occurring at
Earth’s surface that provide the physical setting for
human activities

37. Branches of Human Geography
 Developmental
Geography
 Economic Geography
 Medical Geography
 Transportation
Geography
 Urban Geography
 Cultural Geography
 Historical Geography
 Political Geography
 Population
Geography
 Demography

38. Branches of Physical Geography
 Biogeography
 Climatology
 Coastal Geography
 Environmental Geography
 Geomorphology
 Glaciology
 Hydrology
 Oceanography
 Paleogeography

39. What we will be studying
 The atmosphere
 Atmospheric processes
 Weather and Climate
 The Biosphere
 Soil
 Vegetation
 Hydrosphere
 Tectonic Processes
 Volcanic Processes

40. What we will be studying…
 Four great physical realms or
spheres of Earth
 Atmosphere
 The gaseous layer that
surrounds the earth
 Lithosphere
 The outermost solid layer
of the Earth
 Hydrosphere
 The liquid realm of the
Earth
 Biosphere
 Encompasses all living
organisms of the Earth

41. Tools Geographers Use
 Maps
 Paper representations of space showing point, line, or area data
 Or more simply put, locations, connections, and regions
 Remote Sensing
 Aircraft or spacecraft provide images of earth’s surface
 GIS or Geographic Information Systems
 Powerful computer mapmaking software connected to data bases
 Mathematical Modeling and Statistics
 Used to understand natural and human phenomenon

42. Next Class
• Introduction to Geography
• Chapter One next Tuesday