The understanding of maps drawn or significantly influenced by American Indians fosters critical thinking, cultural diversity, and awareness of a much-neglected topic in cartography. Line styles, scale depiction, and the sizing of individual entities are discussed in the context of applying principles from mental maps to American Indian maps and…

Produced by cartographers of many nations over the course of six centuries, maps detailing Florida and the North American continent tell tales of exploration, conflict, and change. Before 1492, Europeans were unaware of what existed on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. That reality is illustrated quite well on two maps that show the…

American history demands to be mapped. The stories of exploration, the colonies, the Louisiana Purchase, and so on are incomplete without maps to locate historical places, events, and conflicts. Yet maps can do more for the history teacher than simply illustrating what happened where or what territory was acquired when. Maps also provide clues…

Field trips are wonderful opportunities to expand student learning, but the bus rides can be challenging. Perched in the first row, teachers attempt to guide the driver while tossing repeated reminders of safe bus behavior to the students in back, inevitably arriving at the destination flustered and possibly nauseated. In this article the author…

Provides examples of distorted maps drawn by people from various times and countries. Argues that maps can be culturally confining and can reinforce ethnocentricity. States that exposure to many cartographic perspectives can help a person overcome ethnocentric cultural conditioning. Includes activities and questions for promoting cartographic…

Presents an azimuthal-equidistant map which was created to show the true direction and distance from Hawaii to all the countries bordering the Pacific area. Discusses the advantages of such a map and provides questions to be used in classroom discussions about it. (GEA)

Explains the cartographic qualities of rectangular world maps and compares the merits of various projections such as the Mercator and the recently-created Gall-Peters. States that the Gall-Peters projection does not provide a reasonable base for a general world map; that no rectangular projection does. (JDH)

Presents a model for visual learning and describes an approach to skills instruction which aids students in using atlases. Maintains that teachers must help students see atlases as tools capable of providing useful information rather than experiencing atlas learning as an empty exercise with little relevance to their lives. (JDH)

A way for teachers to counter duality in traditional patterns of thinking, especially in social studies classrooms, is to plan a lesson involving conflicting sources. In this article, the author discusses a mapping lesson for high school and college students, which helps students understand dualities. From this lesson, the student recognizes the…

Every map depicts both objective realities and subjective elements and is a rich resource for studying the geographic knowledge and values of mapmakers and their societies. This paper considers cognitive mapping research and describes how world maps reflect world images. Cognitive mapping is defined as a process that allows people to acquire,…

This booklet is a compilation of sources of cartographic information, ideas and materials. Designed for geography and social studies teachers, the guide tells where to obtain: 1) additional information and ideas on the preparation and use of cartographic materials; 2) motion pictures, filmstrips and slides on mapping and photography; 3)…

Two maps of Salem Neck, Massachusetts, are primary source materials from the National Archives which K-12 teachers can duplicate and use to teach map skills. Students learn how to read maps and how to use them as historical documents. (Author/RM)

Models the creation of a complex mental geographic map to illustrate the geography teacher's instructional task to students. Cites 12 elements of a well-organized geography course that emphasizes spatial analysis, synthesis, and explanation of features and patterns that give geography its uniqueness among social science disciplines. (TRS)

Describes how a combination of mapping and techniques can be used as a basis for measuring and analyzing student locational awareness of California. The case study analysis reveals that there was considerable variation in students' accuracy and precision in locating places. Includes tables and maps. (TRS)

Addresses the importance of maps for instruction in both history and geography. Suggests that maps have gotten recent attention because of the rapid political changes occurring in Europe and the quincentenary of Columbus' voyage. Discusses different map projections and the importance of media and satellite display of real pictures of the world.…