Examines an earth-focus in social studies as a means of fostering better understanding of the physical environment. Presents evidence that this type of study will improve students' knowledge of the economic, historical, and social processes of the earth's inhabitants. (DB)

Presents a model for structuring writing in the geography class with a focus on using maps to prompt writing that will promote student interaction with geographic concepts. Delineates four components of successful writing as fluency, flexibility, frequency, and formality. Includes suggestions for geographic writing activities. (MJP)

Summarizes methods from a high school geography class that used examples from local geography to teach basic geographic concepts. Maintains that these illustrative examples can be used even in courses where the content is not local geography. Provides examples of local landscapes illustrating concepts applicable to the Brazilian rain forest. (MJP)

Provides annotated reference materials from the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database designed to help middle and high school social studies teachers incorporate the five major themes of geography into their classrooms. Includes materials on the United Nations, lesson plans on place geography, as well as interdisciplinary themes…

Cites reports pointing to a lack of geographical literacy in the United States. Provides a lesson plan on the identification of countries in the Middle East, utilizing repetitive drill and mnemonic devices. Describes this activity as one way of helping students remember place-name geography facts. (RW)

Addresses the problem of geographic literacy with respect to the Caribbean Basin. Provides a lesson plan, including maps and charts, that encourages and challenges students to learn the geography of the Caribbean Basin, and to think about the problems that develop when large numbers of legal and illegal immigrants enter the United States. (RW)

Presents group activities for learning geographic terminology. Includes (1) learning basic terminology and definitions; (2) evaluating and selecting by consensus; (3) creating models to illustrate terms; (4) challenging classmates to identify terms; (5) grouping models into categories; and (6) explaining the meaning of terms in writing. Discusses…

Presents lessons on the geography of the desert designed to teach that different subjects are interrelated and dependant on each other. Explains that the goal was to help students understand that geography is a way of looking at the world not just a study of maps. Includes activities in reading, mathematics, art, and science. (DK)

The voyage of Columbus in 1492 is a turning point in world history. After 1492, people and civilizations of long-separated regions began to develop connections that have led to the incipient global community of the 1990s. It is their global significance that justifies a prominent place in today's curriculum for the four voyages of Columbus to the…

Inspired by America 2000, the educational reform initiative proposed by President George Bush, these materials describe a way of rethinking the place of geography in the curriculum. It is proposed that both natural geography and social geography be taught, and that both should be taught in science and social studies classes. Activities to be used…

This document is the second curriculum development project of the Connecticut Geographic Alliance. The Alliance focuses on equipping teachers for more effective geographic instruction by providing leadership training so teachers can conduct workshops in local districts, and offering institutes for teachers that focus on important geographic…

This booklet draws on the findings of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) geography survey of 1988 and shapes recommendations for practices that will make teachers more effective in stimulating student excitement about this increasingly important subject. The assessment surveyed more than 3,000 high school seniors in…

A packet of resources for helping students develop map skills is presented. The packet includes: 18 stencil masters of mapping exercises for elementary students; an aerial photograph; the course guide, entitled "A Course to Understand Maps," designed to help secondary students understand maps through problem solving; and a teacher's…

This collection of articles is designed to acquaint elementary and secondary school teachers with new educational media and with effective uses of old media. Two articles discuss the media concept and its appropriateness to the study of geography. In several articles, commonly used materials such as wall maps, globes, and elements of the classroom…

Recommends making choropleth maps as a fun and interesting way to teach geographic concepts. Choropleth maps represent data and ratios (population density, voter registration) and can be constructed easily. Includes suggested activities and representative maps. (MJP)