States that drainage basins, stream discharge, and sediment discharge are fundamental concepts in physical geography and integral parts of other cognate disciplines. Presents two exercises about these concepts. Includes a set of field-based exercises and a set of exercises for students who are unable to conduct field monitoring. (CFR)

Describes an approach used by the Wayland, Massachusetts, middle school to organizing students into instructional teams. Explains that each instructional team is organized into a "house" named after a significant individual around whom the curriculum and theme for field trips is designed. Highlights the Rachel Carson House activities of…

Describes a hands-on geography activity that is designed to teach longitude and latitude to fifth-grade students. Children create a scale model of the earth from a 300 gram weather balloon. This activity incorporates geography, mathematics, science, art, and homework. Provides information for obtaining materials. (KO)

States that firsthand observations of the dynamic process that shapes landforms are important to understanding physical geography. Posits that locally planned, short-duration field exercises to study miniature or fourth-order landforms will enhance instruction about these fundamental geographic concepts. (DB)

Outlines a method for conducting a rural cultural-landscape field project. Notes that this activity is especially useful with students whose life experiences are primarily urban. Describes a cemetery survey, a small town reconnaissance, and rural land and building survey. Provides examples of student generated materials. (KO)

Describes a 3-week study tour of Egypt and Greece by 15 geography teachers, 15 students, and 5 administrators during summer 1992. Discusses nine processes that were used to provide structure for the trip's events. Concludes that a geography teacher's task is to evoke in students the spirit of the traveler. (CFR)

Describes a third grade class geography project in which students assembled a quilt from fabrics acquired from 29 foreign countries. Presents photographs of quilt squares obtained and excerpts from letters of contributors. States that the project made textbook locations seem more relevant to students. (DB)

Outlines an exercise dealing with the geographic concept of regions. Suggests this activity as a means of relating theory to students' personal understanding of the world. Provides a lesson plan which helps students appreciate the concept of region as an analytic tool through a "hands-on" exercise. (KO)

Maintains that growing grapes for winemaking has increased dramatically in the United States. Describes a college class assignment in which students analyzed climate and soil type to identify appropriate viticulture areas. Reports high student interest in the assignment and includes four figures illustrating the approach. (CFR)

Describes an instructional activity in which students collected and analyzed data from an urban environment. Explains that students developed an "urban attractiveness scale" and used it to rate different urban areas. Concludes that the exercise was effective as a learning activity. (CFR)

Maintains that understanding and implementing the National Geography Standards through simulation techniques can be a powerful tool for studying any cultural region. Provides a step-by-step instruction for creating a classroom field trip simulation. Includes tips for follow-up activities and assessment procedures. (MJP)

Outlines a number of activities to be conducted with a stream table (large wooden box filled with sediment and designed for water to pass through) in class. Activities illustrate such fluvial processes as stream meandering, erosion, transportation, and deposition. Includes a diagram for constructing a stream table. (MJP)

Asserts that college students often do not understand or appreciate the way that the mass media construct images of place. Describes a day-long simulation exercise in which students work on journalistic teams sent to an unfamiliar location to report on its landscape and environment. (CFR)

Outlines reasons why computer programming should be taught to geographers. These include experience using macro (scripting) languages and sophisticated visualization software, and developing a deeper understanding of general hardware and software capabilities. Discusses the distinct advantages and few disadvantages of the programming language…

Describes a primary-level field geography program in which students explore the geography and archaeology of their rural community. Presents a set of mapping activities to help students understand cardinal directions and use locational skills. Concludes that the program has successfully involved students, parents, and community members in…