Deep social studies-based engagement is critical in early childhood to provide a foundation for later learning and increasingly mature understandings. Skills and attitudes necessary for active citizenship should be fostered in prekindergarten "in a way which is appealing and pleasurable (Casey, DiCarlo, & Sheldon, 2019, p. 1)". The…

The paper investigates how teacher trainees in higher education geography and external, non-scientific partners perceive and experience collaborations in an active teaching and learning approach. Such formats are recommended in education for sustainable development (ESD) but are likely to be challenging experiences for all actors involved. The…

As the popularity of project-based learning grows, so does the importance of understanding how this instructional approach can support students' learning and development. The authors describe a project-based approach to literacy and social studies instruction that research has shown to be effective. Key characteristics of the approach and…

In the 1960s, the High School Geography Project (HSGP) was developed in the effort to improve geography's status within high school social studies curriculum. Now, nearly 50 years later, can selected units and activities be implemented in today's social studies curriculum? This article attempts to rekindle students' interest in geography education…

This article reports on a service learning project in a South African primary school teacher education programme, as experiential and practice-based pedagogy in a social studies methods course. We aimed to broaden understanding of service learning as a form of non-placement work-integrated learning for the development of teacher professional…

Teacher practices created experiences for students to guide their inquiry by creating opportunities to gather data through field notes. Students examined their county and gathered data from the field on a daylong investigation of their county. Students generated questions and considered their observations at multiple stops. Students learned to…

Today more than ever, teachers must prepare young learners to understand and address complex social and environmental problems. Many of these problems are directly related to how humans use natural resources to meet their needs. This is a core concept in geography and geography education. The College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework suggests…

This article introduces the fifty states project, a year-long study of the United States that uses crowd sourcing to bring authentic materials into the social studies classroom. The project started five years ago, when author Kelly McPherson decided that she wanted to have a care package sent from all 50 states to help students learn about the…

Questions remain about inquiry instruction, while research confirms that using primary sources can aid students' inquiry learning processes. This study questioned: "How do second-grade teachers at an International Baccalaureate Organization/IBO language immersion setting incorporate inquiry methods in instructional practices?"; "How…

In this article, the authors describe a recent project undertaken at the University of South Florida's (USF) Preschool for Creative Learning. To align with the inquiry approach of their laboratory school, the environment at the Preschool is designed so that children can learn through exploration and individual initiative. The administration and…

This guide provides activities that have pupils actively involved, obtaining knowledge through cognitive, affective, or kinesthetic approaches to learning. The book is divided into three sections. Section 1, "Map Skills--Physical and Political Features", includes simulations, simulated review games, and problem-solving dilemmas to employ the use…

Reviews surveys concerning the attitudes of San Marcos (Texas) school children toward geography in 1983 and 1993. Shows that they generally ranked geography low on their list of favorite subjects; however, discerns statistically significant improvement in the popularity of geography over the decade, tentatively associated with more active learning…

This supplement to the active learning modules summarizes some of the shared experience and wisdom on active pedagogy of module testers, pedagogy experts, and teachers. Among the issues addressed in the supplement are: hints to facilitate teaching an active learning module; suggestions for instructors who are new to a particular location and who…

This unit is designed for students in grades 7-12 and can be adapted for individual settings. The unit provides student-centered instruction in geography through content specific teaching strategies. The unit is divided into five sections with lessons in each section. Sections include: (1) "Basic Perspectives"; (2) "Cultural Perspectives"; (3)…

The purpose of this guide is to provide teachers with activities that integrate the lessons of geography throughout the broader curriculum, teaching students to appreciate how geography fundamentally shapes all lives. The five themes of geography (location, place, relationships among places, movement, and regions) are the basis for the hundreds of…