Poor geographic knowledge among students and citizens, in general, has been one of the main research concerns in the area of geography education. This study is part of a project aimed at determining compulsory secondary education students' level of geographic knowledge and providing tools to improve learning. Following quantitative research…

Describes Middle America (Central America) in terms of two geographical building blocks: location and place. Tables, maps, films, video resources, and a suggested instructional activity demonstrate the concepts of location, physical characteristics, and cultural characteristics in geographic education. (DH)

Discusses the importance of geographic knowledge and understanding for learning history. Emphasizes five themes of geography: location, place, relationships within places, movement, and regions. Provides specific lesson suggestions. Argues for geography instruction's integration into all areas of social studies with maps and geographic themes. (DK)

Examined how varying levels of geographic expertise facilitated reasoning with maps as representations of the earth's surface. Found that geography experts performed significantly better than novices and preservice teachers, and experts' performance was differentiated by the reasoning in which they engaged. Explored implications for understanding…

The criteria that elementary school teachers use to guide their decisions concerning content, sequence, and instructional strategy in geography and their frames of reference toward geography were examined through interviews and classroom observations. Research indicates that the teacher determines the curriculum that the students actually…

Techniques for encouraging young children to discover the purpose and use of maps are discussed. Motor activity and topological studies form a base from which the teacher and children can build a mapping program of progressive sophistication. Concepts important to mapping include boundaries, regions, exteriors, interiors, holes, order, point of…

The booklet identifies 217 geography skills to be acquired by students in kindergarten through grade six. It is intended to help teachers in developing geographical strands and outcomes in the elementary social studies curriculum. Skills are presented for three grade levels: kindergarten through grade two, grades three and four, and grades five…

During the 1975-76 school year the Nystrom Map and Globe Study Skills Program was pilot tested by approximately 1,400 students in three elementary schools in Spokane, Washington. The program is a continuous progress program based upon a series of sequential instructional objectives. Major objectives of the program were to help students develop…

A land use unit using information from space programs is intended to help secondary teachers develop, plan, and implement land use programs in the social studies classroom. The subject of this unit is a flood control dam in Colorado. Interdisciplinary curriculum includes activities in mapmaking, environmental and mathematical studies, local…

Describes a geography literacy quiz project developed by the Geography Club at California State University (Fresno). Reports that poor quiz results sparked interest in developing programs to ensure geographic literacy. Comments on a program at Dos Palos (California) High School that will require geography proficiency examinations for graduation by…