Maintains that children love books, and through carefully selected books, geographic concepts can be taught. Explains how children's literature encourages geographic thinking, builds geographic skills, and develops lasting mental maps of places and regions. Discusses 14 suggested books. (CFR)

Maintains that, if national geography standards are effective, issues-based instructional materials are needed. Reports on a study of the use of 3 modules on environmental education by 480 secondary students in 18 schools. Finds that the students made significant cognitive and skill gains. (CFR)

Asserts that the 1994 National Geography Standards provide a new and valuable resource for teachers who want to improve geography instruction. Presents a sampler of additional geography instructional materials developed during this same period of educational reform. (CFR)