Knowing place names is not the essence of geography, but some knowledge of names of geographical locations is widely considered to be basic information. Whether used in general cultural literacy, lighthearted Trivial Pursuit, educational sixth grade social studies, or serious debates on world events, place names and their locations are assumed to…

Describes Middle America (Central America) in terms of two geographical building blocks: location and place. Tables, maps, films, video resources, and a suggested instructional activity demonstrate the concepts of location, physical characteristics, and cultural characteristics in geographic education. (DH)

Discusses the importance of teaching place names and locations to students. Targeting rote memorization as an unstimulating method, offers an exercise and several activities using an incorrectly labeled map to teach place-name and location geography in an interesting manner. (AEM)

Describes the second map printed in Europe which appeared in 1475. Provides background information that teachers to help students grasp the fundamental aspects of the map. Explores the map as a whole, its details and parts, and the significance of the map for studying the world view of Europeans preceding Columbus's discoveries. (DK)

Fifteen maps of Florida, each containing errors to be corrected by students, are presented for use in teaching Florida geography. Among the error maps included are Florida's borders today, the rivers of Florida, cities in the Grapefruit League, and Florida's European explorers. Teachers are encouraged to reproduce the maps and students to use the…

Examines the geography of population loss in certain regions of the United States based on 1990-95 census data and presents color maps showing county-level patterns of population change. Correlates population changes with social and economic variables, examines common characteristics of losing counties, and profiles major population-losing areas.…

The 20th anniversary of the establishment of the information and Documentation Center for the Geography of the Netherlands (IDG) occurred on September 21, 1984. To mark this anniversary, the 1983/84 issue of the "IDG Bulletin" is devoted to a review of the past 20 years. The first section consists of four review articles by specialists:…

High school students learn about the sun's effects on the earth by examining the concepts of latitude and longitude, seasons, and time. Each of these topics is treated in a separate, but similarly organized, unit. Relevant vocabulary is introduced, and complex terms are clarified with diagrams and illustrations. In the unit on time, potentially…

Designed to supplement and complement the Louisiana "World Geography Curriculum Guide: Bulletin 1727," this document contains 72 maps that can be used for instructing high school students. Two world maps are provided, along with regional map sets of: (1) Anglo-America; (2) Asia; (3) Africa and the Middle East; (4) Europe; (5) Latin…

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.…

This document consists of the 10 issues of "World Eagle" issued during the 1990-1991 school year. World Eagle is a monthly social studies resource in which demographic and geographic information is presented in the forms of maps, graphs, charts, and text. Each issue of World Eagle has a section that focuses on a particular topic, along with other…

This primer is designed to teach about the concept of census tracts. Census tracts are relatively small statistical subdivisons that vary in population from about 2,500 to 8,000 and are designed to include fairly homogeneous populations. They are most often found in cities and counties of metropolitan areas of the nation. In all, there are over…

Discusses the changes in geography and social science education in the former Soviet Union that followed the sweeping political changes there. Explains how the curriculum and teacher education changed under glasnost and perestroika. Examines prospects for the future. Includes maps and charts detailing some of the many changes in the former USSR.…

Discusses shortcomings of conventional maps and examines how to transform map geography to provide more functional cartographic illustrations. (Author/DB)

Designed for students in grades 7 through 10, this teaching unit presents illustrative resource materials depicting the multi-factor nature of a geographic region. The unit focuses not only on climatic factors, but also on introducing other regional factors in an informal way. A blackboard summary of a class discussion of the different regions is…