This paper critically reflects on how transformative learning (TL) is described both conceptually and as a process in the literature in different fields and national contexts. We articulate a definition of TL and justify why geography education is an ideal vehicle for enabling it. This is followed by a series of case studies explaining how TL can…

Cooperative learning is a teaching strategy that promotes the positive interaction of children in small, heterogeneous groups. Each group contain three or four students of varying achievement levels, backgrounds, socio-economic status, and sex. Cooperative learning processes promote student motivation, build group skills, foster social and…

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)

Presents an extended classroom activity in which students explore relationships, organize information, and make generalizations about geography and the world around them. Includes writing assignments and examples of student work. Provides suggestions for extending the activity. (CFR)

Discusses a study unit that integrated geography skills, language arts, and local history. Identifies the objectives of the lesson. Explains that students gathered information through interviews, letter writing, newspaper articles, and other research. Reports that students ultimately constructed a three-dimensional model of their community. (CH)

Presents a lesson plan that enables children to identify their community as a nodal region. Includes field trips, map tracing and comparison, discussion, and observation. Emphasizes children's analysis of the effect of rail transportation on their community. Suggests using the students' community as a geographic laboratory for hands-on experience.…

Describes projects developed through the Long Distance Learning Network (LDLN) that experimented with using telecommunications in classrooms in the United States and in other countries. A creative writing project involving elementary school students in the United States, Canada, and Australia is described, and a seventh-grade geography project is…

In October and November 1986, the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) sponsored a series of forums for elementary teachers to share ideas about the use of computers in the classroom. During the forums, each teacher took from 15 to 30 minutes to explain how he or she taught the lesson that was being shared. The informality of the…

Discusses the Brotherhood program at Iles Elementary School in Lubbock, Texas. Emphasizes the program's promotion of world peace and multicultural awareness. Explains that each grade level's students conduct in-depth interdisciplinary research into a different culture. Reports that students examine such topics as the subject country's geographic…

Describes a project undertaken by students and their teachers at Bolin School in East Peoria, Illinois, to send stuffed animals person-to-person around the world and back via friends and families. Journals attached to the animals recorded their travels, and hundreds of letters were sent to the school as a result of the project. (MDM)

Presents an interdisciplinary approach combining geography and children's literature to teach about Japanese culture. Describes classroom activities that link the Five Fundamental Themes of Geography to literature and art. Includes 11 figures, 9 summaries of children's books about Japan, and a 15-item annotated bibliography. (CFR)

Presents instructional activities that bring "real world" content to the study of World War II by elementary students. Includes experiential activities such as interviews, guest speakers, visits to war memorials, and reading fiction and biographies. Includes an "All-American Matching Exercise" emphasizing cultural pluralism. (CFR)

Social studies lessons developed by students in the elementary social studies education program at the University of Texas (Permian Basin) are provided. The lessons are presented according to the phase in which they were developed. Phase I consists of lessons created in the Fall, 1979; Phase II includes selected Phase I lessons which were revised,…

Discusses an elementary social studies class project in which students wrote letters to older Russian and European immigrants who were learning their English. Reports that students also met with their pen pals and helped them prepare for their citizenship test. Describes the test as an excellent U.S. history overview. Emphasizes the compassion and…

Uses Japanese family crests to motivate students to construct a family history. Includes background information on Japanese history and culture. Provides an outline for the student research project. Supplies a list of Japanese emblems and their symbolism. (NL)