Discusses "Mascots and Meanings," a research activity that helps give students a concrete concept of some of the elements of a region or place. Provides a list of professional and college sports mascots. Identifies strategies that call upon students to identify the reasons for the choice of the particular mascots. (SG)

Activities that an intermediate grade teacher used to make geography relevant to her students are described. The students researched their own family heritage. To learn about another culture, they adopted a country and did library research concerning the country's economy and culture. (RM)

A unit that can be adapted to teach about any culture(s) teachers travel to during their vacations is outlined. The unit is interdisciplinary and includes activities for social studies, language arts, mathematics, art, music, dance, physical education, and home economics. The activities can be used in elementary or secondary classes. (RM)