Within Britain, geography as a discipline has been criticized recently for failing either to add to or teach knowledge about the world at large. Instead it has concentrated first at university and then in schools on spatial social science, with examples drawn overwhelmingly from the white Western world. The recent history of geography is reviewed…

Discusses ways of eliminating cultural, geographical, historical, and ideological misconceptions about the Soviet Union in secondary social studies classes. The author outlines four topics of study about the U.S.S.R. which he has found of interest to his students. (AM)

Students at an international school learn the history and geography of their host country, Israel, through an historical narrative communicated through participation in a game activity. (RM)

This ERIC Digest examines: (1) the meaning of the term "Pacific Rim"; (2) reasons for emphasizing the Pacific Rim in the social studies curriculum; and (3) useful strategies for teaching about this part of the world. The terms, Pacific Rim and Pacific Basin, are used. interchangeably; however, the "Rim" refers to those nations…

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)

Because of its exciting use of rhythm and its variety, African music is an excellent musical culture for study. Seventh and eighth grade students, with no prior musical training, learned to play African instruments and dance the Adowa, a traditional dance of the Ashanti people of Ghana. (RM)

The purpose of this three-week teaching unit on China is to promote interest in the People's Republic of China, to investigate China's role in world politics, and to promote cultural awareness. Chinese culture and geography are covered while research skills, group work, and oral presentations are stressed through assignments. The unit contains:…

Today two opportunities are open to geography educators. First they must respond to the new opportunity to return geography to a place in the preparation of business students. Second, geography educators must take advantage of the current interest in international understanding and global education. New courses and textbooks are needed. (RM)

Geographic illiteracy is prevalent in schools today. The objectives of this practicum were to increase 85 percent of the target group's geographic knowledge by 40 percent and to increase parental involvement with the academic success of the student by 40 percent. Activity sheets were created covering political boundaries, landforms, neighboring…

This collection of teaching materials about Japan is designed to educate the youth of Alaska about various aspects of the country that is Alaska's largest trading partner. With some modifications the materials may be adapted for use in other states or regions. The guide is interdisciplinary in nature and is intended for skills development and…

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)

This guide offers a closer look at the newly-independent nation of Kyrgyzstan. The teaching materials focus on the history and culture of the nation, emphasize the influence of physical geography on culture, and explore the diversity found in this small country. Each lesson includes the geography standards linked to the activity, objectives,…

Educators from European countries were presented with up-to-date information about Africa. The seminar was intended to help teachers present the African experience as cogently as possible in their classrooms. The main topics of the seminar are discussed, papers are summarized, discussions of the working groups are presented, participants'…