Suggests using an example versus nonexample format to teach geographical concepts related to landforms in the elementary grade classroom. Describes lesson plans and includes objectives, methods, and instructional strategies. Recommends using a conceptual framework rather than rote memorization. (NL)

This paper provides an outline of an evaluation schema designed to measure geographic concepts. A concept is summarized as a category of experiences defined by a rule and having a name, criterial attributes, and exemplars. Minimal requirements for such a schema are that it should measure the mastery of the rule, attributes, name, and exemplar…

Presents a classroom exercise entitled, "Latitude, Longitude, Spell It" designed to reinforce the concepts of latitude and longitude. Teachers divide the class into teams, provide them with a map and latitude-longitude coordinate cards, and ask them to record cities found within a given radius of each coordinate. Includes necessary…

Suggested activities for integrating language concepts and comprehension skills into elementary school geography instruction are presented. The activities focus on concept formation through semantic mapping and making analogies, and on comprehension through recalling, generalizing, interpreting, and making inferences. Semantic maps indicate spoke…

Examples of computer programs illustrate how instructors can introduce students to geographic concepts and models while creating a thinking environment in the classroom. The programs are designed to assist students in computational tasks and to provide both graphic and numeric output which will be stimulating. A population pyramid program…

Outlines an exercise dealing with the geographic concept of regions. Suggests this activity as a means of relating theory to students' personal understanding of the world. Provides a lesson plan which helps students appreciate the concept of region as an analytic tool through a "hands-on" exercise. (KO)

Presents an instructional activity which can be used to introduce teachers to the five basic themes of geography, or to help intermediate or secondary students relate geography to their lives. The material can be used in several variations and is organized around the five concepts of location, place, relationships within places, movement, and…

Employs weather forecasting contests as a strategy for teaching about the weather, climate, and atmosphere. States that competency in understanding concepts and the ability to develop logical constructs about atmospheric processes are enhanced. Includes suggestions for teaching weather forecasting at all grade levels, and describes a contest at…

Reprints a 1904 article from the "Journal of Geography" exploring geography's teaching focus. Argued for unchanged emphasis on the land and its people but advocated a deeper geographical interpretation of history. Contended that teaching should pay attention to scientific interpretation, and that children should discover a self-constructed…

The concept of shape often enters introductory cultural geography textbooks through the subject of political geography. This paper focuses on a quantitative way to introduce the concept of shape to students of cultural geography. The measure used in this approach was to compare the perimeter of the sovereign state with the perimeter of a circle…

Geographic, economic, and social/cultural understandings related to the United States, Canada, and Latin America are emphasized in this fifth-grade social studies program. The syllabus contains a teacher notebook that elaborates key features of the program and suggests relevant classroom applications. The notebook includes: (1) the program's 10…

This paper discusses a concept-based approach to teaching secondary geography. It is intended to help teachers in Australia write suitable geography programs and adopt teaching practices appropriate to the 1980s. A useful way to understand "concept" is to put the idea in a context with the definitions of other words such as fact,…

This project investigated whether children in grades 1-3 can learn the central conceptual system of geographic theory and can apply it appropriately in analysing the data of unfamiliar geographic regions. Two experimental curriculums were designed and introduced into 12 intact primary classrooms, matched for grade level and randomly assigned to…

Investigated seven-year-old children's understanding of certain geographical terms. Found that children this age have considerable difficulty with some concepts and that even vernacular terms are often misunderstood. Results support the idea of children's alternative conceptions and suggest that, for teaching to be more effective, children's prior…

Discusses the challenges of teaching high school geography in a way that enables students to develop an informed, spatial view of the world. Discusses the High School Geography Project and its effect on geography instruction. Suggests a map drawing exercise for students to demonstrate the importance of mental maps. (DK)