The historical destinies of all nations have been strongly conditioned by their geographic setting and their natural environment. Intended as background information for teachers, geographical features of the USSR are discussed. (RM)

Materials and space needs are discussed and planning suggestions are given for utilization of new equipment and audiovisual materials. (JB)

Explains how the use of Army Map Service (AMS) maps can enhance student understanding of Soviet geography on the college level. Topics discussed include map characteristics, division of content and map examples, and techniques for using the maps. (DB)

Discusses those U.S. counties that the State Department has forbidden former Soviet government personnel to enter. Includes a U.S. map indicating closed counties. Explains that the policy came in response to restrictions on foreigners' movements in the former Soviet Union. Suggests that teachers have students explore why particular U.S. regions…

Discusses ways of eliminating cultural, geographical, historical, and ideological misconceptions about the Soviet Union in secondary social studies classes. The author outlines four topics of study about the U.S.S.R. which he has found of interest to his students. (AM)

Based on recent critiques of Soviet and American textbooks, this article discusses educators' differing assumptions concerning what students should learn, who should decide what they learn, how students learn, how geography and history curriculum should be organized, and how much choice teachers should have. Includes eight references. (MLH)

This paper describes the joint cooperation between the United States and the USSR for a bilateral textbook review project that was begun in the 1970s. The US/USSR Textbook Study Project, suspended in 1980 when President Jimmy Carter ended U.S. cultural exchanges with the Soviet Union after the Afghanistan invasion, resumed in 1986 with different…

Objectives of a seventh grade course in physical geography and an eighth grade course in economic geography are outlined, among them is the goal of having each student comprehend the contribution each region within the Soviet Union makes to the national economy and to international development. (JB)

Describes ways to teach about the role of geography on politics in high school social studies. Students study the influence of waterways and other topographical features on politics. The influence of geopolitical theory on American and Soviet foreign policies is examined. (AM)

Discusses the new Soviet geography curriculum comprised of: Introduction to Physical Geography; Geography of the Continents and Oceans; Geography of the USSR; Geography of the USSR II; and Economic and Social Geography of the World. Discusses the program's scientific content and describes the trends of geography instruction in Soviet classrooms.…

Asserts that natural conditions and resources and the territorial organization of the use of resources constitute the study of geography. Argues that how geography is defined determines both prospects for resource use and environmental attitudes. Suggests that methodological study of how human activities affect the environment deepens students'…

Provides a framework for introducing students to the geography of the Soviet Union. Identifies basic themes for a geographical approach, including (1) advantages and disadvantages of size and location; (2) spatial impact of political economy; (3) paradox of economic development; (4) challenges of governing a multinational state; (5) integration…

Introduces a cooperative project undertaken by the USSR Ministry of Education and by various educational institutions in the United States to assess what youth in each country learn about the other country from geography and history textbooks. The objective was to minimize misinformation. (DB)