Knowing a place well may demand experiencing it from the inside to see it in detail and viewing it from the outside to attain greater perspective. This article suggests elements that contribute to understanding home when away by using the works of American expatriate writers who lived in Paris in the 1920s. (RM)

States that the Model United Nations (M.U.N.) is a colorful and stimulating way to teach geography and help secondary school students overcome their indifference to classroom instruction. Outlines the procedures for implementing the M.U.N. in a classroom situation and indicates how it addresses the fundamental themes in geography. (Author/GEA)

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)

The synthesis of two approaches that can be used in teaching geomorphology is described. The equilibrium approach explains landforms and landform change in terms of equilibrium between landforms and controlling processes. The historical approach draws on climatic geomorphology to describe the effects of Quaternary climatic and tectonic events on…

This paper traces the history and growth of air photo interpretation and remote sensing within the field of geography. Courses offered in these fields, factors influencing growth, research findings, and professional geographic interest are discussed. (JH)

Perception of the environment varies from culture to culture. Since no one can understand environment objectively, it is important that geography teachers deal with perceived environment. Recognizing that it is subjective, it is, nevertheless, the basis for decision making. (NH)

Presents a photograph of the Hawaiian island, Oahu, as taken by the Landsat 2 satellite on February 14, 1978. A description of Landsat 2 remote sensing procedures and discussion of the topographical details shown in the photograph are included. (AM)

A phenomenographic approach to research into learning can be appropriate for exploring the approaches geography students adopt in their learning. This resources article provides a brief description of phenomenography. The essence of the approach is that it takes a relational qualitative perspective that aims to describe key aspects of variation in…

What are maps? Maps are representations of actual surface areas of the world. But what makes the use of maps so important for scientific thinking? The answer is simple: Map use relies on one's ability to identify relationships between two things. For example, the distance between Key West, Florida, and New Orleans, Louisiana, is 1024 kilometers…

This commentary suggests that the first geography course a student takes is of critical importance because the relative success or failure of the instructor in offering an interesting, relevant, and well-taught class may strongly influence whether the student take additional geography courses later in his or her education career.

This study brings in a comparative approach regarding pictures involved in secondary school (14-17 ages) textbooks taught in Turkey. In this respect, following the classification of pictures (line drawings and photographs) included in secondary school education geography textbooks, evaluation of the photographs in books in question in terms of…

The federal "No Child Left Behind Act of 2001" (NCLB) legislation required school districts to ensure that all teachers of core academic subjects met the requirements to be designated highly qualified by July 1, 2006. However, because no Maryland counties were able to comply with the 100 percent highly qualified designation by July 1,…

This packet contains three lessons designed for the high school classroom. Lessons include: (1) "The German Worker"; (2) "Government in Germany"; and (3) "Culture and Daily Life in Germany." Student activities focus on comparative economic systems, worker training and apprenticeship programs, structure of government…

Geographic information systems (GIS) are computer-based tools for geographic data analysis and spatial visualization. They have become one of the information and communications technologies for education at all levels. This article reviews the current status of GIS in schools, analyzes the requirements of a GIS-based learning environment from…

This curriculum unit teaches students about the basic physical and political geography of Europe and introduces or reviews fundamental geographical concepts and vocabulary in a European context. The unit offers a geographic introduction to the changing map of Europe. Each of the unit's five lessons can be integrated into the curriculum where it…