By analyzing nineteenth-century mental health data, college level geography students discover the concept of distance decay, which describes the decrease in intensity of a phenomenon with increasing distance from some central place. (RM)

The production of an American pencil is the result of complex interactions involving many people, places, and resources. Learning activities dealing with the making of a pencil that will help students learn about global interdependence are described. The activities can be adapted to fit any elementary grade level. (RM)

Classroom activities that geography instructors can use to help students analyze two aspects of a health care system--the amount of disease present and the use of facilities to help cure disease--are suggested. The spatial patterns of morbidity and hospital utilization patterns in Central Harlem are used as examples. (RM)

After a brief introduction to political redistricting, this article describes a learning activity to teach secondary or college level students about malapportionment and gerrymandering. The activity can be used in political geography, political science, or social studies courses. (RM)

By conducting a pedestrian survey, secondary or college level students answer the question "What is the best location for a new business requiring maximum pedestrian traffic?" They collect data on the number and types of people on streets in a commercial area of a city. (RM)

Urges that college level geography students will develop greater appreciation of population projections when they are directly and systematically involved in making and using them. An exercise is described in which students are directed to make several population projections, compare their projections with published projections, and explain…

The interconnections between urban climates and human ecology are discussed, strengthening the notion that man is not yet free of environmental constraints, especially climatic ones. Student learning activities are suggested to allow students to become aware of this area of geography and its relation to environmental education. (Author/JR)

Two exercises are presented to show that changes in the size of urban populations invove the demographic processes of migration and natural change. Discussion of these exercises and the result provides a useful introduction to various aspects of urban growth and to the role and nature of models in studying urban processes. (JR)

The purpose of this unit is to increase student comprehension of the economic forces at work in regions, states, nations, and the world. Although the unit is intended for North Carolina teachers, it is appropriate for all economic programs. The unit encourages students to examine how geography, available resources, capital investment, and economic…

Describes an activity intended to heighten teaching effectiveness and student interest in college-level introductory cultural geography. By tracing their family's migration history, students experience a sense of time, place, and cultural heritage. (Author)

Rural and small-town Ontario, Canada is introduced through illustrations and discussions of seven typical elements that helped shape the province: cemetery, house, barn, hall, fence, roadscape, and main street. Having students make and discuss sketches is an excellent way to help them learn about the human geography of an area. (RM)

This paper illustrates a method by which geography students can experience a process of inquiry and problem-solving by using data banks as a resource. Examples are given of open-ended and structured classroom utilization of a data bank for students to study the socioeconomic structure of Wichita, Kansas. (Author/AV)

Describes instructional strategies for stimulating student awareness of their membership in global society. Included are learning objectives, required materials, sample letters to parents and community members, and explanations of 22 activities students might undertake in an inventory of global links in their home, school, and community.…

Presents a lesson plan on the slave-based rice plantation economy in South Carolina from the late eighteenth century until the Civil War. Includes objectives, teaching activities, maps, handouts of student readings, photographs, and plans for visiting the sites. Discusses plantation life and the culture of the rice economy. (DK)

Examines Australia's land, people, past, and the way that the people have perceived and interacted with their environment. Explores Australia's geography and compares the aboriginal perspective of the environment with the European settler's perspective. Presents a student activity concerning Australia's environment, past and present. (DB)