Presents a geography lesson on China to be used to help students understand contemporary and historical China. Suggests that China's population may be the most important factor shaping Chinese culture today. Includes teaching strategies and a student handout to provide an understanding of culture through the geographical concepts of place and…

Asserts that children's literature is a natural vehicle for developing geographic literacy. Discusses instructional techniques for teaching geographic concepts using children's books. Offers an annotated bibliography of 14 books, including a story summary, the geographic setting, and recommended grade level. (CFR)

Presents a lesson plan constructed around activities and materials concerning the National Park System. Activities include using maps and other geographic tools to acquire, process, and report information in spatial terms; discovering the physical and human characteristics of places; and interpreting how culture and experience influence…

Offers guidelines for teaching about foreign countries in elementary school social studies lessons. Explains ways to determine content and goals, build background information, and locate instructional materials/community resources. Suggests activities for beginning, sustaining, and concluding units. Stresses importance of maintaining student…

Presents ideas developed by four teachers for teaching the geographic themes. Includes a plastic flamingo sent traveling with instructions for those taking it to return postcards to a first grade class, a wall mural of the United States, and a song representing geographic concepts. Describes how one school painted maps of the continents in a…

Provides a lesson plan designed to increase student map skills. Objectives are to (1) trace a route on a street map; (2) use symbols for locating skills; and (3) employ mileage scales to determine distance. Includes the procedures and an answer key. (RW)

Provides an annotated bibliography of 11 books from children's literature that can be used to help teach geographic location. Categorizes the books by both geographic skills and grade levels. (CFR)

Maintains that children's literature and well-planned extension activities can help students understand time, one of the most important concepts in geography and history. Provides definitions of macro, meso, and micro time and discusses theme-related children's books for each concept. Includes a chart of key time activities. (MJP)

Discusses the use of advance organizers in elementary geography instruction. Asserts that maps and globes can be used as advance organizers to improve learning about geographic locations and regions. Provides two classroom activities with accompanying data charts to illustrate the technique. (CFR)

Maintains that young children view the world holistically, and thus the social studies curriculum should emphasize the concept of integration. Provides two sample lessons on soup in which students explore geographic concepts, history, economics, and the sociology of soup consumption and production. Includes teaching strategies and learning goals.…

Describes ways to integrate geography into the curriculum of primary and intermediate grades. Suggests hands-on activities for teaching abstract concepts through concrete experiences. Includes two units: creating a global map of the earth and incorporating social studies into language arts and mathematics by using magnet cars on maps. (NL)

Asserts that children's literature which explores geographic themes such as place and movement can foster real life applications of mathematics and social studies. Presents a review of 14 books grouped thematically to illustrate possibilities for integrating mathematics throughout the social studies curriculum. (CFR)

Maintains that global and multicultural education frequently competes for attention in the social studies curriculum. Contends that a global perspective is compatible with multicultural education. Provides a bibliographic essay describing geography activity packets and posters, reference works, and hands-on "culture kits." (CFR)

Presents three different articles on social studies. Includes an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of textbook use in social studies and a teaching method using puppets to represent historical or political personalities for debate, discussion, and interviews. Describes a program in which students learn about geography and other cultures by…

Outlines lesson plans for teaching economics in the primary grades, designed to complement the video series, "Econ and Me." Suggests activities incorporate mathematics, language arts, geography, and science. Targets the following specific economic concepts in individual lesson plans: scarcity, choice, production, goods, opportunity cost,…