Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Higher Education Regional Office VI (HERO VI)
City Government of Bago
BAGO CITY COLLEGE
Rafael Salas Drive, Brgy. Balingasag, Bago City, Negros Occidental 6101
Tel: [034] 4611-363 | Fax: [034] 4610-546 | E-mail: [email protected]

COURSE GUIDE 1st Cycle

MODULE IN SS7- PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY (GEOGRAPHY 2) 2ND

YEAR BSED – SOCIAL STUDIES

Module 1: CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENTAL GEOGRAPHY

Intended Learning Outcomes: At the end of this module, the student must have:
1. Indicated the meaning, scope and importance of environmental geography using the chart.
2. Explained and provided examples in each objective of environmental geography using the example and the table.
3. Discussed the meaning of human environment in geography and its difference from physical geography as well as its importance using the guided
questions.
4. Created infotography about the relations of environment and social science by editing and adding texts in the relative information.
A. Introduction
Environmental geography represents a critically important set of analytical tools for assessing the impact of human presence on the environment by
measuring the result of human activity on natural landforms and cycles. This program draws on courses within physical geography, including a distinctive
strand of courses dealing with environmental issues, resources and management. Teaching and learning methods are diverse, ranging from lectures and
tutorials through to a variety of practical work in cartography, GIS, remote sensing and statistics.

Environmental geographers are familiar with how natural systems function, but they also know that humans are a dominant agent of change in
nature. They realize that it is not possible to understand environmental problems without understanding the physical processes as well as the demographic,
cultural, and economic processes that lead to increased resource consumption and waste. Environmental geographers fan out along a variety of academic
paths, and these paths will cross, mingle, or converge with those of other disciplines. By its very nature geography is a discipline that seeks to integrate
and synthesize knowledge. The geographer’s world is your world: it is the earth as the home of humans.
B. Activity A. Concepts of Environmental Geography
Instruction: Using the chart below indicate the meaning, scope and importance of environmental geography. Use the space provided to answer this
activity.

Environmental geography is the branch of geography that describes the

Meaning spatial elements of interactions among people and the natural world. It is
additionally the study of systematic description of various parts of
the environment and it calls for expertise in the dynamics of climatology,
hydrology, biogeography, geology, and geomorphology, in addition to the
methods wherein human societies conceptualize the environment.

Environmental geography is the study of characteristic features of

numerous components of the environment, the interactions amongst and
some of the components in a geo-environment in terms of the
Scope environment of numerous spatial and temporal scales. It is related to other
disciplines like- life science, physical science, ecology, economics, biology,
chemistry, public administration etc. The scope of environmental
geography can be grouped into nine main subfields such as; geo-
ecosystem, ecosystem function, temporal ecological change, spatial
ecological change, man and environmental processes, global
environmental problems, hazard and disaster, environmental degradation
and pollution, and environmental management.

Environmental geography offers us the tools to increase sustainable

Importance
answers to environmental problems. For example, you may find out about the impact of weather alternate on biodiversity, the effect of human beings on
environmental assets, the cause-effect, severity, management and
mitigation of various environmental issues like climate change, global warming, ozone depletion, habitat loss, biodiversity loss, pollution, etc. It includes the notion
of sustainable development, environment education, planning, conservation, and management.

B. Objectives of Environmental Geography

Instructions: Explain and provide examples in the given objectives about environmental geography. Use guide sample below.
Objectives Explanation Examples
  Take a Nature Walk
Take your kids for a walk on the wild side
with a guided nature tour.
 Plant a Community Garden
Get together with some friends and neighbors
to plant a community garden.
Environmental awareness is to understand the
 Create an Outdoor Classroom
fragility of our environment and the importance of
Help your students appreciate nature and its
its protection. Promoting environmental awareness
beauty by building an outdoor classroom.
is an easy way to become an environmental steward
With just some wood and nails you can create
and participate in creating a brighter future for our
an amazing outdoor space that's perfect for
children.
observing nature, writing or lectures.
Environmental awareness is an integral part of the  Up cycled Folk Art Competition
movement’s success. By teaching our friends and Let their creative energy soar with an art
family that the physical environment is fragile and competition. Challenge individuals or teams to
Creating the awareness about environmental indispensable, we can begin fixing the problems that create amazing works of art from their
problems among people. threaten it. wouldbe trash.
 Organize a Green Fashion Show
Let your little ones strut their green stuff in a
fashion show. Acceptable fashions may be
made from sustainable fabrics like organic
cotton, hemp, or bamboo.
Imparting basic knowledge about the Environmental knowledge allows individuals to gain  Responsible Action is Taken to Better the
environment and its allied problems. conceptualization in exploring environmental issues, Environment
engaging in problem-solving, and taking action to Help students understand how their decisions
improve the environment. As a result, individuals and actions affect the environment, builds
develop a deeper understanding of environmental knowledge and skills necessary to address
issues and have the skills to make informed and complex environmental issues, as well as ways
responsible decisions. we can take action to keep our environment
healthy and sustainable for the future.
Environmental knowledge creates awareness and
 Students and Teachers are
connects us to the world around us as well as builds
Empowered
consciousness and apprehension about both natural
Promotes active learning, citizenship,
and built environments. Environmental knowledge and student leadership. It empowers
enlightens us of the issues impacting the youth to share their voice and make a
environment upon which we all depend, as well as difference at their school and in their
actions we can take to improve and sustain it. communities.
 Communities are Strengthened
Promotes a sense of place and
connection through community
involvement. When students decide to
learn more or take action to improve
their environment, they reach out to
community experts, donors, volunteers,
and local facilities to help bring the
community together to understand and
address environmental issues impacting
their neighborhood.
 Critical and Creative Thinking
Skills
Encourages students to research,
investigate how and why things
happen, and make their own decisions
about complex environmental issues.
By developing and enhancing critical
and creative thinking skills, EE helps
foster a new generation of informed
consumers, workers, as well as policy
or decision-makers.
 Healthy Lifestyles Encourage
Get students outside and active, and
helps address some of the health issues
we are seeing in children today, such as
obesity, attention deficit disorders, and
depression. Good nutrition is often
emphasized and stress is reduced due
 to increased time spent in nature.

Developing an attitude of concern for the Developing an environmental attitude of concern  Learn How to Use Resources
environment. towards our environment can protect our ecosystem Sustainably
and our natural resources which affects the With natural resources such as air,
sustainability of our communities. Making sustainable water, oil, minerals are getting depleted
and renewable choices in our daily life will help to rapidly, the environmental studies
preserve these crucial resources. course can help students understand
the importance of these resources and
Developing an environmental attitude of concern how we can improve the situation by
towards our environment can combat climate change taking appropriate actions in our
and foster our economic growth, an effort to protect regular lives to preserve these
our environment on a daily basis will make all the resources.
difference to our future. It can help fund  Create Awareness about
conservation projects, create jobs, and increase the Preserving the Environment
economic value of local communities. Whether it is spreading awareness
against plastic use or air pollution,
universities can conduct various
beyond-the-classroom activities as a
part of this course to make students
understand the significance of
protecting the environment.
 Foster a Healthy Learning
Environment
Such important non-academic courses
empower students to take a lead in
creating a healthier, greener, and
sustainable learning environment where
students understand the importance of
saving the environment and take
necessary steps to conserve natural
resources.
 Pursue a Full-Time Career in
 Environment Studies
Career opportunities in environmental
studies are thriving with multiple
options in the energy industry, animal
conservation, and more.
 Develop Sustainable Strategies
It helps students to develop an
understanding of living and physical
environment and how to resolve
challenging environmental issues
affecting nature.

Motivating public to participate in environment Motivating the public to participate in environment  Start Your Own Initiative or Volunteer
protection and environment improvement. protection and environment improvement rebuilds a with Environmental Organizations
healthy relationship with nature. A cleaner Whether it’s something small like starting a
environment reduces the health problems humans community clean-up group or building a large
face, including lung diseases, heart attacks, infections, social organization with significant reach and
and cancer caused by the pollutants existing in our impact, taking initiatives for environmental
environment. We must protect our mother nature and conservation can go a long way.
environment so that we can continue to live on this  Participate in the Mass Movement to
planet in a healthy and safe atmosphere. Protect Nature
Students can be a part of mass public
Motivating the public to participate in environment awareness movements and encourage their
protection and environment improvement reduces the fellow batch-mates to participate.
destruction of ecosystems caused by a myriad of  Recycle More Often
anthropogenic activities. It is more of a moral Recycling is a simple, yet effective way of
obligation for humans to protect the environment conserving resources and reducing your
from pollution and other activities that lead to individual carbon footprint. Rather than
environmental degradation. Importantly, throwing everything in the trash, separate
environmental degradation is detrimental since it your plastic, paper, and metal waste, and
threatens the long-term health of animals, humans, deposit it in a recycling bin. Recycling helps
and plants. reduce landfill pollution, raw materials, and
fossil fuel consumption, and generates a
circular economy.
  Save Resources
By doing simple things like taking shorter
showers, avoiding washing of small clothes,
and turning your taps off while brushing, you
can save gallons of water. Similarly, it’s
important to be mindful of your electricity
consumption, and make adaptations so that
you can reduce the demand for energy
production and thereby preserve fossil fuel
resources.
 Buy Sustainable Products
Plastic is one of the most significant
contributors to soil and marine pollution,
endangering both land and marine life. Plastic
isn’t biodegradable and is often consumed by
animals who mistake it for food. When buying
a product, be aware of its environmental
impact and disposal after use.
Acquiring skills to help the concerned individuals Solving and identifying environmental problems  Give Students More Responsibility
in identifying and solving environmental requires skills, understanding, and development in If educators and parents take over the entire
problems. multiple learning dimensions. It helps individuals to burden in terms of environmental
develop skills required for making discriminations in preservation, students won’t be prompted to
form, shape, sound, touch, habits, and habitats. take action for their environment. Give them
Further, to develop the ability to draw unbiased more control over the projects and ask them
inferences and conclusions. to actually do something, they are much more
likely to understand the purpose of
Solving and identifying environmental problems environmental education.
requires practical skills, knowledge, values, and  Help Them Get a Sense of It
attitudes to participate in a responsible and effective Students can hardly understand the
way in anticipating and solving social problems, and in environment only by reading about it in books.
the management of the quality of the environment. No one says that you should take them to
complete big projects, but simply going
outside with them is going to give them a
better sense of what they are learning.
  Educate Neighbors
Host a talk about the vital importance of the
environment, biodiversity, nature, wetlands,
grasslands, and forest ecosystems.
 Provide Outside-Class Opportunities
Manage students to be more environmentally
aware and create useful and interesting
activities, they are bound to show interest to
actually make something for their
environment.
 Get a Help
It is time to start connecting and asking for
help. Once you do, you’ll realize that the
numbers of people who are environmentally
aware and care about this are very numerous.
Knowing what they know, they’ll be more than
willing to help out in shaping the youngest
minds.
 Be a Role Model
You can’t really teach students that nature
should be kept and preserved if you litter,
smoke, or drive a car to work. If you really
want to make a difference, become a role
model. Let students see that you’re
environmentally aware too. They’re more likely
to follow in your footsteps if you do or ignore
the environmental problems if you don’t care.
Striving to attain harmony with Nature. Harmony with nature makes people easier to perform  Cultivating Awareness of Nature
physical activities and thus improve their health. It Trusting that truth is found in Life, strive to
also increases our potential and mood. Living in develop awareness by spending time
harmony with nature improves our thinking ability. observing and contemplating Nature. This can
Everyone could benefit from being in the presence of be as simple as working in a garden or
green spaces. meditating on a single flower.
 Being Open to Learning and Change
Harmony with nature is an important aspect of Nature continuously adjusts to changing
rearticulating human development is to emphasize the conditions. We are committed to seeking ways
need for fairness to nature and other living beings. to educate ourselves in order to adjust our
We cannot be developed unless our lives become behaviors that cause damage to people and
reconnected and in balance, cooperation, and the planet. We know we will not be able to
harmony with nature. change anything without changing ourselves
first.
 Developing Empathy for All Forms of Life
All life has value in itself, and this value is not
dependent on its usefulness to humans. Aware
that life is a vast web of interconnections, we
will work to change our view that humans are
superior to other forms of life on Earth and
protect diversity.
 Cherishing and Nurturing the Young
Nature reproduces itself: the tender leaf,
rosebud, the baby bird, tiny fish. Each new
life, anywhere, at any scale, is Nature’s
freshest gift of innocence and purity, fully
deserving the most basic right to live. Aware
that a baby’s first breath ushers in new hope
for the world, we vow to cherish, protect, and
nurture new life as well as the nature.
 Limiting Consumption and Waste
Aware that Nature uses only what it needs, we
too will make a diligent effort to consume only
the energy we need and to reduce waste. We
are determined not to waste the Earth’s
precious resources while millions are hungry
and lack the basic necessities of life. We will
use and value renewable resources whenever
possible and make every effort to reuse or
recycle plastics, metals, and paper.
Analysis
Deepen your understanding for the following statement: Answer it comprehensively.
1. What is human environment in geography?
The human environment in geography is all about the interaction between man and the environment, it is the relationship of people to their natural and
physical environment that surrounds them, the environment includes the physical, biological, cultural, social and economic factors of the area. It draws on
social theory, ecology, earth systems science, evolutionary studies, decision science, law, and ethics to study the relationships between humans and the
environment as well as the long-term legacies, use and control of natural resources, socio-ecological vulnerability, and resilience, and patterns of
environmental justice, conflict, and unequal development. In human-environmental interactions, it is important to be aware of specific characteristics of the
human social system. The type of society strongly influences people's attitude towards nature, their behavior, and their impact on nature, ecosystems, and
the environment.

Rubric 4 3 2 1

Organization of Ideas
2. What is the difference between physical and environmental geography?
Content

The difference between physical and environmental geography is that physical geography focuses on the character and formation processes of the
earth's surface, and its shell emphasizes the spatial variations that occur and the changes over time that are necessary to understand the earth's
surface and the environment These features include vegetation, climate, the local water cycle, and land formations. Geography doesn't just
determine whether humans can live in a certain area or not, it also determines people's lifestyles, as they adapt to the available food and climate
patterns while the environmental geography or the geography of the human environment is the branch of geography that describes the spatial
aspects of the interactions between human individuals or societies and their natural environment and explains the interactions of human and
environment. Moreover, environmental geography is about people and nature and how we affect the environment and our planet and physical
 geography is all about our home planet and all of its components: its lands, waters, atmosphere, and interior as well as a science-based on scientific
knowledge that uses the scientific method as the fundamental method for understanding the environment.

Rubric 4 3 2 1

Organization of Ideas

Content

Rubric 4 3 2 1

Organization of Ideas

Content
C. Abstraction Meaning of Environment
• The term environment has been derived from a French word “Environ “means to surround. It refers to both abiotic (physical or Non-living) and biotic
(living) environment.
• Environment regulates the life of the organisms including human beings Human beings interact with the environment more vigorously than other
living beings
• Ordinarily environment refers to the materials and forces that surrounds the living organism
• According to P Gisbert Environment is anything immediately surrounding an object and exerting a direct influence on it.
• According to E J Ross Environment is an external force which influences us.
• Environment refers to anything that is immediately surrounding an object and exerting a direct influence on it. The environment by which man is
surrounded and affected by factors may be natural, artificial, social, biological and psychological
 Environmental Geography
• Environmental geography is the study of systematic description of different components of environment and interactions of man with these
components.
• Integrated geography (also referred to as integrative geography environmental geography or human environment geography) is the branch of
geography that describes and explains the spatial aspects of interactions between human individuals or societies and their natural environment.
• Environmental geography is the study of characteristic features of various components of the Environment, the interactions between and among the
components in a geo ecosystem in terms of ecosystem of varying spatial and temporal scales.
• Environmental geography may be defined as the study of spatial attributes of interrelationships between living organisms and natural environment in
general and between technologically advanced economic man and his natural environment in particular in temporal and spatial framework.

Scope and of Environmental Geography

1) Geo ecosystem or simply ecosystem as study unit
2) The functioning of ecosystem including circulation of energy and matter and ecosystem productivity
3) Temporal changes in ecosystem
4) Spatial ecological changes
5) Global environmental problems
6) Environmental hazards disasters
7) Man and environmental processes
8) Environmental degradation and pollution
9) Environmental management
• Environment geography is multi-disciplinary in nature
• It is related to other disciplines like life science, physical science, ecology, economics, biology, chemistry, public administration etc  It’s concerned
with the spatial attributes of all the phenomena related to the environment.
• Studies the various biomes and human influences
• Deals with the pattern of biodiversity at the global, national and local level
• Studies the spatial pattern of physical and anthropogenic degradation of environment
• Studies cause effect, severity, management and mitigation of various environment issues like Climate change, global warming, ozone depletion,
habitat loss, bio diversity loss, pollution etc
• Includes the notion of sustainable development, environment education, planning, conservation and management

D. Application
Instruction: Choose or select an illustration from the internet which shows the relations of environment and social sciences. Edit the infotography by
adding texts and relative information. This is graded base on the given rubrics.
 Category 15 points 12 points 9 points 6 points
At least 4 accurate facts are At least 3 accurate facts are At least 2 accurate facts are 1 Accurate facts displayed in
Content
displayed in the infographic displayed in the infographic displayed in the infographic the infographic
Selection, color, shape, size Selection, color, shape, size Selection, color, shape, size
Selection, color, shape, size
and arrangement of graphic and arrangement are and arrangement are
Graphics and Visuals contribute meaning to the and arrangement are
eyecatching and contribute preent but do not
overall message distracting or misleading
some meaning. contribute to the meaning.
2 facts have sources One or zero facts have
All 4 facts how sources 3 facts have since identified
References identified on the infographic. sources identified on the
identified on the infographic on the infographic
infographic

E. Evaluation
Instruction: Write an Essay for following questions below. This is graded based on the given rubrics.
1) As a future social studies teacher, how will you relate the importance of environment to geography?
As a social studies teacher, it is important to know the importance of the environment to geography because the environment plays a vital
and critical role in humans in which geography aims to study with. In relation to the scope of geography that studies the relationships and
interactions of humans within its environment, humans also play an important role to preserve the environment but sometimes, they are also
the cause of various issues that lead to different environmental problems like global warming, climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity,
natural resources depletion, deforestation, waste production/disposal, etc. that creates a big threat to each and every individual. Knowing the
importance of the environment to geography builds enlightenment and consciousness to become more aware of the possible effect and
outcomes of those environmental problems as well as being known to various environmental resources, management, and human activities.

2) Having the significance and rationale of teaching environmental geography to social studies major, why do you need to understand the
relationship of environment to geography?
Studying the relationship of environment to geography gives us a clearer and deeper understanding of the spatial aspects of interactions
between humans and the natural world as well as how humans bring multiple impacts to the environment. Understanding the environment in
connection to geography also gives us a tool to develop a resolution to environmental problems and understand the various types of human
activities that affect the environment and the life of every individual. It also gives us a better understanding of how natural systems function,
how they change over time caused by various human activities, and how people manage their natural resources as well as how they provide
an absolute solution to the environmental issues that still exist in our world.
Category Exemplary Quality Adequate Needs Improvement
 10 points 8 points 6 points 4 points
Answers are not
Answers are comprehensive, Answers are partial or
Answers are accurate and comprehensive or completely
accurate and complete. Key incomplete. Key points are not
Content complete. Key points are stated. Key points are
ideas are clearly stated, clear. Question not adequately
stated and supported. addressed, but not well
explained, and well supported. answered.
supported.
Inadequate organization or
Well organized, coherently Organization is mostly clear Organization and structure
Organization development. Structure of the
developed, and easy to follow. and easy to follow. detract from the answer.
answer is not easy to follow.
Displays one to three errors in Displays three to five errors in Displays over five errors in
Displays no errors in spelling,
spelling, punctuation, spelling, punctuation, spelling, punctuation, grammar,
Writing Conventions punctuation, grammar, and
grammar, and sentence grammar, and sentence and sentence structure.
sentence structure.
structure. structure.

Prepared by:

EDUARDO D. QUIDTA JR., M.A.Ed, M.Ed

Part Time Instructor