"Place" is a central concept in geography. Geographers focus considerable attention on describing and understanding the nature of places and variations from one place to another. The collection of data and the measurement and analysis of the characteristics of a place requires that its boundaries are defined. How and where we draw…

This article is an attempt to create new ways for students to appreciate the complexities and diversity of the Middle East's foodways and thus of their people and societies. It takes a broad view of the region that is historically inclusive, stretching from Morocco and al-Andalus (Spain) in the west to Iran in the east and from modern-day Turkey…

"Local foods" are inherently geographical, rooted in space and place. Students can explore local foods from multiple geography angles. This introduction highlights some of these potential angles as applied to ice cream shops in New York State. Teachers are encouraged to adapt this lesson to fit their own needs and appropriate local food…

This lesson introduces the concept of regionalization and types of regions. After a brief introductory activity, students explore a story map to learn the material. The teacher can project the story map on a screen for all students to follow or students may work individually on computers. Working individually will allow students to set their own…

The Minneapolis Green Zone Initiative was created in 2016 with the goal of "improving health and supporting economic development using environmentally conscious efforts in communities that face the cumulative effects of environmental pollution, as well as social, political and economic vulnerability" (Green Zone Initiative 2019). Two…

With the 2016 presidential election right around the corner, geography provides a dynamic view of the spatial patterns and processes that shape the electorate. The major presidential campaigns know that a winning strategy must use geography to make informed decisions about where to allocate limited resources such as money and staff. In the end,…

The regional divisions termed as "Latin America" versus "Anglo-America" used by many geographers do not fully reflect the cultural and political trends in the world today. "Latin" is a term that was coined by the French Emperor Napoleon the III in order to justify Mexico's being ruled by Maximillian, and later picked…

In this article, a retired long-time geography teacher offers his perspective on what a geography teacher needs to keep in mind when teaching geography. The author notes that geography is a useful school subject because it helps young people make their way in the world by giving them some tools to become lifelong learners. The author encourages…

The author describes methods for using picture books to teach geography in middle school. Introducing students to geographic regions through narrative and visual text can provide background information about the area, stimulate student interest in the culture, and facilitate student comprehension of geographic concepts. The author provides…

Television is an important source of geographic perceptions held by college students. How the television series M*A*S*H can be used to help students learn regional geography is discussed. M*A*S*H uses regional imagery, place-name stereotyping, and regional personality characterization. (RM)

Describes a teacher-developed lesson for high school students dealing with the origin of the Hawaiian Islands. The lesson, which consists of six steps and a homework assignment, is designed for a single class period of 45 minutes. (RM)

This map kit is designed to demonstrate graphically the size of countries of the Middle East in comparison to the United States and to each of the 50 states. Basic demographic statistics for each Middle Eastern country and for each of the 50 states are included to enhance comparisons. The overarching premise behind this map kit is that the visual…

Concentrating on events in Canada during the last ten years, this article discusses the Quebec separatist movement and other strong regionalisms in Canada. Important processes involved with conflict and compromise within the Canadian state are examined. (RM)

A nation's folk literature offers a window into its people and their beliefs across time and geographic locations. Whether the stories are tall tales, creation stories, or fairy tales, they reveal insights into the make-up of the populace--what they believe, what motivates them, what their attitudes are, how they behave, and how time and place…

Eight units which depict the people and geography of Canada are featured in this document. Learning is facilitated through the use of maps, case studies, charts, graphs, sketches, photographs, and drawings which appear throughout the units. To help organize the information four symbols are used to indicate the concepts being explained. The symbol…