Suggests the essential characteristics of the five fundamental themes of geography and provides related learning activities for elementary grades. States that use of these complementary and overlapping themes will result in balanced and comprehensive geographic instruction. (LS)

Discusses the teaching of geographic concepts through the use of childrens books. Suggests following up the books with a geographically focused activity to increase children's geographic awareness and knowledge. Includes an extensive annotated bibliography. Links specific books to the geographic themes of place, location, movement, regions, and…

Describes a grass-roots geographic education program that combines the efforts of elementary school teachers, Auburn University (Alabama), and a local newspaper. Explains that the program is designed as an alternative to existing curriculum materials. Discusses how geographic themes are illustrated in a way that takes advantage of local interest…

Presents ideas developed by four teachers for teaching the geographic themes. Includes a plastic flamingo sent traveling with instructions for those taking it to return postcards to a first grade class, a wall mural of the United States, and a song representing geographic concepts. Describes how one school painted maps of the continents in a…

A survey of grocery shopping patterns increases elementary students involvement in economic geography. (DE)

Home, school, neighborhood, and community studies offer unique opportunities for teachers to initiate youngsters into observing and recording phenomena. Because fuel costs make trips increasingly expensive, an alternative method is suggested for observing and recording data about the local community. (Author/IS)

Criticizing traditional elementary geography instruction as provincial and overly concerned with description, the author outlines five concepts of human interdependence which can be used to structure a problem-solving curricular approach. He describes how specific map and globe skills can help to develop each concept. (Author/SJL)

This book focuses on improving geography skills and knowledge of basic concepts for grades 4-8, through a variety of activities and resources. The book is divided into six sections that combine to make it convenient for use. The sections include: (1) "Map Reading Skills"; (2) "Geography Concepts and Definitions"; (3)…

A recently copyrighted instrument called the Geochron has been successfully used as a visual aid in teaching several major concepts of astronomical geography at the elementary, secondary, and college levels. The article discusses and illustrates the use of the Geochron to demonstrate earth-sun relationships, world time, and time zones. (Author/RM)

This volume is a collection of materials used to conduct activities in the sessions of the 1971 Annual Convention of the National Council for Geographic Education. Seventy-nine geography activity units and strategies focus on six topics: 1) The Transportation Maze: Passages and Portals; 2) Economic Development: The Quest for Material Well-Being;…

One Learning Activity Packet is presented here, outlining the objectives and the activities for examining the geographic and ecologic bases of the Eastern international region. (JB)

Presents a geography lesson on China to be used to help students understand contemporary and historical China. Suggests that China's population may be the most important factor shaping Chinese culture today. Includes teaching strategies and a student handout to provide an understanding of culture through the geographical concepts of place and…

Focuses on some of the techniques used during an institute (in which teachers were taught how to teach geography through literature) and on the circa-1492 literature that may be used to integrate understandings of literature, reading, and geography. Presents an annotated list of 22 books appropriate for lower elementary through middle school…

Relates a project in which elementary students created a model globe that hung in the classroom in order to enable the students to build their geographic understanding. Describes in detail the process of constructing the globe and discusses the finished globe's uses. (CMK)

This packet is designed for use by students in grades 3-8 of Oregon schools, but has general applicability to students of other locales. The student magazine includes a map and geographic description of Lincoln County, Oregon, establishing its relationship to water resources. Topics explored are: "What is Maritime Folklife?";…