Developed to integrate fundamental oceanographic concepts with basic research, this book presents information about the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon. Characterizations and descriptions of the marine environment from the coastline to approximately 200 miles offshore are provided for the interested public. Chapter topics include: (1) marine…

Designed for students in grades 7 through 10, this teaching unit presents illustrative resource materials depicting the multi-factor nature of a geographic region. The unit focuses not only on climatic factors, but also on introducing other regional factors in an informal way. A blackboard summary of a class discussion of the different regions is…

Designed for use in grades 4-6, this guide consists of four basic units related to the study of Vermont: Indian Civilization, Vermont History, Geography and Economics, and Cities and Towns. Each unit lists key concepts, content objectives, skills objectives, and related objectives. Next, specialized vocabulary as well as common, essential…

Provides background information on how scientists have learned about the history of the Earth, including studying fossils, dating rocks, and tracing geological movements. Included are teaching activities about prehistoric animals, state fossils, tracing animal movement and evolution, and discovering fossils. Contains reproducible handouts and…

Three hands-on activities that will actively involve secondary students in learning map skills and acquiring a global perspective are presented. Students make their own maps, use 16-inch diameter globes to investigate many topics, and devise a sequence for a randomly shuffled pack of slides. (RM)

Presented is a model for teaching elementary students how to associate place names with their referents on a map. The model has six steps: motivate, demonstrate, mnemonic devices, practice, test, and review. Described is a sample lesson for teaching about western states. (RM)

The physical geography of the Los Angeles, California, area is composed of six natural regions: mountains, valleys, bays, rivers, a basin, and a peninsula. When the Spanish first explored the region they saw a fairly level plain, extending some miles back from the seacoast, with high mountains in the background. Most of the land near the ocean was…

Understanding the geography of the state is the key to understanding the history of California. From the beginnings of the first early settlements of indigenous peoples, the terrain and resources of California have always influenced how people arrived and where they settled in the state. Having a knowledge of the physical setting of California is…

The Water in Africa Project was realized over a 2-year period by a team of Peace Corps volunteers, World Wise Schools (WWS) classroom teachers, and WWS staff members. As part of an expanded, detailed design, resources were collected from over 90 volunteers serving in African countries, photos and stories were prepared, and standards-based learning…

This book is about changes in the Chesapeake Bay, its animals, plants, and the surrounding land during the last 15,000 years. Some changes were caused by natural forces while others were made by people. "Chesapeake Challenges" tests the student's thinking skills. "Family Action" lists things families can do to learn more about…

This text is a combination of a student training manual and a teacher's guide. The student manual gives background information, activities, and student worksheets for map work. Chapter titles include: (1) "Our Country"; (2) "World Regions"; (3) "United States Regions"; (4) "Continental Topics"; (5) "Urban Topics"; (6) "Rural Cultures"; (7) "World…

Recounts research regarding elementary education majors' familiarity with world geography. Reports poor performance among 253 students on a geography test designed for use at the high school level. Indicates that the education majors performed best on map reading activities and worst on identification of land forms. Calls for further research. (SG)

Reprints an article from a 1964 "Journal of Geography" that defined the four traditions of geography. Proposed a basic nomenclature with associated ideas to confront the pluralism inherent in geographic thought. Claimed that the four traditions offered a pluralistic basis to maintain an alliance between professional geography and pedagogical…

This curriculum unit teaches students about the basic physical and political geography of Europe and introduces or reviews fundamental geographical concepts and vocabulary in a European context. The unit offers a geographic introduction to the changing map of Europe. Each of the unit's five lessons can be integrated into the curriculum where it…

This thematic unit involves 2nd and 3rd grade students in an in-depth study of wild animals and their habitats. The interdisciplinary unit connects knowledge related to art, language arts, applied mathematics, social studies, and science. Students think about different types of animals from around the world and consider how they are alike and…