National Geography Standard 1 requires that students learn:"How to use maps and other geographic representations, geospatial technologies, and spatial thinking to understand and communicate information" (Heffron and Downs 2012). These concepts have real-world applicability. For example, elevation contour maps are common in many…

The introduction conveys some data on learning in India and on designing Geography textbooks in this country. The present paper is reliant on four Geography textbooks, ranging from the 9th to the 12th grade. As regards each textbook, the study considers their learning units, then analyses their structure, the unitary way of designing them, the…

Charging undergraduate geography students with the task of designing a recreational trail in their local community offers an engaging experiential opportunity with potential to advance geographic learning in a real-world setting. This article presents an assignment in which students were asked to develop a recreational trail proposal for an…

After fifteen years of geographic education efforts, a baseline geography skills test was repeated in Indiana. In 2002, 2,278 students in college freshman geography courses were tested with a revision of the National Council for Geographic Education Competency-Based Geography Test, Secondary Level Form II. The test measured geographic ability in…

Used to satisfy the communications requirement of an undergraduate core curriculum, this article provides a curricular rationale, course outline, behavioral objectives, teaching strategies, and modes of evaluation for a course on the language of maps. (JDH)

Suggests a teaching method (the Visual Response System, VRS) for use in teaching geography concepts to students in high school social studies classes. The purpose of the VRS is to increase the level of active student response to instructional material. A program based on VRS map skills is described. (DB)

Presents an aerial view of a portion of Saudi Arabia as an example of how graphs taken by "Landsat" can provide new information to geographers about topography. (Author/DB)

Relates how a blunder about the Arctic Ocean and the polar ice cap made by the author in his first year of teaching led to a successful learning experience. Lists five important discussion topics that social studies teachers should use to teach about this remote, but strategic, part of the world. (LS)

Advocates the use of infrared satellite maps for geography and social studies instruction above third grade. Teaching ideas with Landsat maps are listed and the costs and ordering sources of the maps provided. (SJL)

Teachers of 13-year-old students are invited to participate in a place-vocabulary project conducted by the International Geographical Union. Students associate names of oceans, countries, and cities with their correct location on a world outline map. Although the test is included, teachers must contact the coordinator to participate. (KC)

Explains that absolute location refers to an exact point on the earth's surface located using the arbitrary grid formed by intersecting lines of latitude and longitude. Presents an activity for elementary students where they learn to use the grid system using a hands-on method and grasp an understanding of absolute location. (CMK)

These learning activities involve secondary geography students in making a turf map, using map grids, solving problems dealing with map scale, and making a map scale. Complete teacher instructions are provided. (RM)

Contends that the introduction of the Five Themes of Geography has revitalized geography in the K-12 curriculum. Argues that physical geography is left out of the "Movement" theme. Presents a set of physical geography ideas to help teachers implement the theme. (CFR)

Among college undergraduates, males consistently outperform females on tests of geographical knowledge. That difference may be caused by the fact that women have had less active control over distances and directions traveled in their lives, and thus less interest in learning about them. This may change as women's roles in society change. (PS)

Presents a classroom exercise for an introductory physical geography course on the college level which explores some aspects of vegetation mapping and the relationship between climate and vegetation type. (Author/DB)