This report contains nine papers presented at a conference on methods of improving teaching and teacher education and the role of the universities and professional societies in this effort. The speeches are divided into five sequential levels of "incompetence," denoting increasing involvement and experience with the problem. The report also…

Part of an articulated curriculum for grades K-12, this fifth grade resource unit, the first in a series of regional studies, provides an overview to the study of geography of the U. S. Program descriptions, course objectives, teaching strategies, and an explanation of format are presented in the teacher's guide, ED 062 226. Students, emulating…

Unit II of regional studies for grade five is arranged into three sub-units which comprise two case studies and look at the Midwest region as a whole. The objective of the case studies is to illustrate factors which bring about changing use of the land. Sub-unit one, a case study on Twin Cities, traces the cities' development from the days when…

The role of geography in the elementary school curriculum is examined in this paper, which is arranged in four parts. Part 1 briefly sketches the characteristics of geographic instruction at different periods in U.S. history. Intellectual development and social education are identified as two widely accepted goals for elementary education today.…

The scientific community needs to reappraise its actions and become concerned with the real world problems that threaten existence in society. These include world poverty, starvation, and declining quality of life. Geographers need to develop greater concern resulting in evaluating their research, curricula, educational goals and course content in…

Describes study that compared the attainment gains of Guyanan secondary school children in science and geography following two different learning regimes, i.e., systematically designed learning materials, and conventional teaching. Implications of the results for curriculum design and teacher training are discussed. (Author/LRW)

Techniques for making geography more relevant to elementary students are discussed. For example, the abstract ideas of latitude and longitude can be taught by having students "live" a grid system, i.e., evenly spaced letters and numerals posted on the classroom walls. An interdisciplinary approach is needed. (RM)

A study of 100 geographers during their first year of full-time college teaching revealed that the teachers had difficulty in achieving their educational goals. The worst areas of performance by the new teachers included knowing how to stimulate students to high intellectual effort and changing teaching methods as appropriate. (RM)

This instructional package is targeted at students in grades 3 and 4. The package, presented to students as a travelogue, stresses basic map, globe, and geography skills, and presents case studies of communities (cities/towns/villages) across Germany. It contains three lessons: (1) "One Germany in Numbers: Size, Population and…

This packet is a primary/elementary instructional package targeted at grades 3-4. The four lessons address physical and cultural geography, basic needs, community services and community helpers, transportation and communication, and political symbols. The materials focus on a comparative U.S./German perspective. The lessons include: (1)…

This packet is a primary/elementary instructional package targeted at grades 3-4. The lessons are presented as a travelogue, stressing basic map and globe/geography skills and presenting case studies of communities (cities/towns/villages) across Germany. The materials focus on a comparative U.S./German perspective. The lessons include: (1)…

In 2001, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) conducted a geography assessment of the nation's fourth-, eighth-, and twelfth-grade students. This report presents the results of that assessment. Results in 2001 are compared to results of 1994's NAEP geography assessment, which was the preceding NAEP geography assessment and the…

Noting ongoing difficulties in identifying the fundamental role of social studies in educating young children, this chapter focuses on how children begin to develop historical and geographic understanding. The chapter considers age-appropriate and developmental concerns and the role of national standards in history and geography. The chapter…

A teacher developed multidisciplinary unit for teaching elementary and secondary students about Tanzania (Africa) is described. The unit can involve students and teachers from geography, economics, history, language arts, mathematics, literature, and art courses. (RM)

Discusses the development and implementation of a simulation game for a sixth-grade class that used the structure of Thornton Wilder's play, "Our Town," to examine the geographical issues involved in community planning. The land development issue discussed was based on a real-life local concern. (MJP)