Maintains that: (1) mapping skills in elementary school social studies classes should not be separated from life situations; (2) maps are tools that can be used to collect, store, and share information; and (3) the best way for pupils to learn about mapping skills is to combine map and globe activities with content, observation, and real life…

Designates steps to be taken at all stages of the map production process from planning to printing. Pointers include making sure that the map is essential rather than purely decorative; considering the audience for whom the map is intended; determining the primary message that the map is intended to convey; and considering the dimensions of the…

Demonstrates how young children's learning of a completely novel route across a city district is enhanced by an accompanying adult making the child aware of potential landmarks. The importance of permanent and ephemeral landmarks in the child's verbal and modelled-map accounts of the route are discussed. (BC)

Suggests that small-scale mapping activities can be used in geography courses to help students understand geographic concepts such as latitude, longitude, situation, relative location, and national boundaries. (Author/DB)

Describes a game construction model which can be applied to an instructional game or a simulation game for elementary and junior high social studies classes. The game deals with motivations and hardships of the Pilgrims as they traveled to the New World. Journal availability: see SO 507 149. (Author/DB)

Students must develop skills in map reading, map interpretation, and mapping in order to use maps and globes effectively. Presents a compilation of basic map skills and concepts, along with techniques and "tips" for teaching map skills to grades six through eleven. (CS)

Asserts that teaching principles and concepts related to global time is a test of student comprehension and an instructor's teaching ability. Describes how teachers can create an International Date Line Wheel for classroom demonstration purposes. Includes 11 figures illustrating how to make and use the wheel. (CFR)

This publication contains 20 learning activities for developing basic skills while teaching about Japan at the secondary level. The activities are self-contained and each consists of a short description, followed by a five-item true or false test and five open-ended questions for student practice. The learning activities are followed by a…

Geography skills for elementary and secondary grades are outlined in this teacher's guide. The teaching and learning of geography skills is a developmental process. Once introduced and understood, skills must be used repeatedly and in different situations if they are to become part of the students' equipment for learning. A planned program for…

A mini-unit introducing seventh grade students to their new school and its surrounding area can be adapted for use in any school. Following a list of learning objectives and evaluation methods, the document provides a short vocabulary lesson and five student activities and worksheets for learning to read school, city, state, and county maps. A…

This list of essential skills for social studies emerged from a statewide effort to identify a scope and sequence of content, concepts, and skills in social studies from kindergarten through grade eight and for the United States History course at the high school level. These skills are meant to be included in the curriculum along with concepts and…

Activities in this elementary unit focus on developing students' locational skills while strengthening their ability to read and follow instructions. Seven maps of varying complexity are accompanied by worksheets containing 8 to 13 direction exercises. Students are instructed to place buildings, landmarks, and labels in accurate locations on each…

Designed to be infused with existing social studies courses and programs of instruction, this concept-based, skills-oriented curriculum for teachers of students in grades 5-12 provides opportunities for students to develop basic map skills enabling them to mentally develop spatial relationships between diverse global environments and/or culture…

The purpose of this study was to determine if a multidimensional treatment in the study of the content area of social studies would help the average and below average student. The 37 fifth-grade students in this study came from a middle-socioeconomic level of north central New Jersey. The 18 students in the experimental sample received special…

This publication is intended for those who wish to design or evaluate a map and globe skills program across several grade levels. The introduction discusses general considerations underlying effective map and globe skills instruction. A grade-by-grade outline of a map and globe skills program provides recommendations for the following categories:…