Orienteering--the game of following a map to find predetermined locations--can spark interest and develop skills in map making and map reading. This article gives background on orienteering; describes indoor and outdoor orienteering activities; offers suggestions for incorporating orienteering into science, math, and language arts; and provides a…

Presents an activity designed to introduce middle through high school students to the atlas. To be used specifically with GOODE'S WORLD ATLAS (17th edition), students complete questions that enable them to systematically work their way through the atlas. Includes activity objectives, key terms, and a 52-part atlas exercise. (GEA)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is working together with state and local government and private sector partners to prepare the nation and the nation's schools for emergencies of all kinds. This teaching guide includes lessons, reproducible worksheets, and a classroom poster that can be used to reinforce key curriculum concepts while…

Most global studies programs focus either on the study of geographical areas or on global issues that transcend national boundaries. Unfortunately, most U.S. social studies teachers were trained to teach U.S. history or western civilization and have little background in the concepts and issues of global and international education. Studies have…

The Olympic games can help motivate students to learn geography. The article offers a geography decathlon with 10 events to help students build map skills, multicultural awareness, and cooperative spirit. Each event covers at least one of the five fundamental geographic themes (location, place, regions, human/environment interactions, and…

This social studies unit traces the development of the American road system beginning with early Indian footpaths and continuing through horse trails, wagon roads, all-weather highways, and the first national road. The role played by the Conestoga wagon is emphasized as well as the physical, economic, and political factors involved in road…

This unit, one in a set of teacher-developed materials for elementary geography, emphasizes that children act as geographers in activities that use a classroom as the environment. Exploration and discovery through game playing and maps are the techniques used for instruction as an alternative approach to content teaching by discussion. The first…

Twenty activities are described that can be used to develop map and compass skills in elementary grades. The activities range from simple, beginners' projects to more complex tasks as students acquire more skills. Most can be carried out in the classroom, schoolyard, or local neighborhood. Map activities include drawing maps of the classroom,…

This handbook is for teachers to use in the classroom and as a reference source for information about Asia and Asian-Americans. The handbook uses information about geography and culture to teach skills such as almanac, atlas, and encyclopedia use. Other student exercises include: how to sequence a Chinese fairy tale and present it to the class,…

This manual contains 56 teacher-developed activities which can be used in social studies courses to improve students' basic skills. The activities teach location and map skills, writing and study skills, time skills, and thinking skills. Students also learn how to use reference books and how to read and interpret charts and graphs. Each activity…

Presents a simple, yet effective method for drawing a world map that helps younger students remember the continents, oceans, and major seas. The only materials required are a ruler, paper, and a world map (a transparency would work best). Includes suggestions for related activities and ways to improve map skills. (MJP)

This curriculum guide focuses on the development of skills, processes, and competencies necessary for the K-6 social studies program. Divided into six sections, the guide provides objectives and activities for five sets of skills at each of the separate grade levels. Section one, the major portion of the guide, focuses on map and globe skills. It…

Uses microfilm copies of the 1880 and 1900 census records which tallied information about Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family to teach about using census data. Suggests activities that develop vocabulary skills, teach document analysis, utilize map skills, and require research and synthesis skills. (LS)

This Spanish activity packet was designed to be used with the map study portion of each of twelve units in a second year course in Spanish. Each unit deals with a different Spanish-speaking country or place, such as Puerto Rico, Colombia, Venezuela, or Peru. Included here are worksheets, games, map outlines, crossword puzzles, skits, and cultural…

The Ocean Drilling Project brings together scientists and governments from 20 countries to explore the earth's structure and history as it is revealed beneath the oceans' basins. Scientific expeditions examine rock and sediment cores obtained from the ocean floor to learn about the earth's basic processes. The series of activities in this…