To measure and report on the extent and quality of students' understanding of geography, the National Geographic Society initiated and provided support for a national assessment of students 17 years old and in the 12th grade. Since 1969, the Nation's Report Card, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), has been responsible for…

This subunit, consisting of an introduction and geography of the USSR, is part of a unit on the USSR, one of four resource units for an eleventh grade course on area studies. The introduction contains suggested teaching procedures for each part of the USSR unit and objectives for the introduction. The section on geography focuses on developing an…

Asserts that writing a critical atlas review is often a requirement for cartography courses because it forces students to think analytically about cartographic presentation and theory. Presents a choropleth map review exercise that can be used as an alternative to the atlas review or as an independent instructional activity. (CFR)

This publication contains 19 papers presented at the inaugural meeting of the Australian Geographical Education Research Association held in Brisbane, December 1980. The papers surveyed a wide and diverse range of research. The introductory group of papers present several new views on curriculum development, course content, and teaching methods…

Describes a college level course in which computer mapping is incorporated into the geography curriculum. Discusses problems associated with using commercial mapping software in the general geography classroom. Concludes that students have reduced computer anxiety and a better understanding of geographic concepts as a result of the computer…

The nine-week course for sixth graders concentrates on map skills and the cultural and historical geography of Egypt, Mexico, and Latin America. Having completed the course, the learner will be able to list several ways in which 1) power has led to conflict; 2) new inventions lead to changes in ways of living; 3) man influences his environment and…

Maintains that a common component of geography courses is to show how a globe is an accurate representation of the earth whereas flat maps give a distorted view. Presents a case study and lesson plan in which the Muslim practice of praying while facing Mecca is used to illustrate this idea. (CFR)

An analysis of the content and methods of college courses in map use yields a three-section result. The first is a rather traditional overview of the general uniformity in content (scale, coordinates, symbols, relief, and directions) but some diversity in methods. The focus is usually on map use skills. The second part classifies and analyzes the…

Describes a course for first-year college students that focuses on the Silk Road. Discusses the problems that occurs in such a course, types of resources used, basic strategies and tactics taken, and the focus on mapmaking in the beginning of the course. Includes an annotated bibliography. (CMK)

The journal, written by Connecticut teachers, covers various aspects of social studies education in that state. The objectives are to serve as a forum for exchange of information, to be a catalyst for dialogue on issues of common concern, and to be a source of mutual support and professional growth. The journal is comprised of five articles. The…

This Fort Bend (Texas) social studies curriculum guide for fifth grade covers six six-week periods, and the 15 course outlines include the topics to be covered, the main goals and their supporting objectives, and a materials correlation key. The 15 topics include social studies skills, globes, maps, physical maps, street and road maps, leadership,…

This curriculum guide presents materials for teaching about Central America and emphasizes the concepts of environment, culture, interdependence, and citizenship. The guide is designed to integrate the study of geographic, economic, historic, political, and social features of Central American nations. The major theme of the document deals with how…

The New York City social studies curriculum revision program emphasizes the teaching of basic concepts rather than the accumulation of data, providing students with necessary values and skills to cope with today's social problems. To accomplish this, the curriculum uses techniques of inquiry and discovery that aim at conceptualization and that…