Describes an approach to eliminating "map illiteracy" in college students. Map illiteracy is defined as the inability to read and draw meaning from simple maps used in history texts and teaching. (JDH)

Described are activities which will increase fluency in the use of north, south, east, west, up, and down; reinforce the proper positioning of the cardinal directions on a map grid; relate map symbols to familiar surface features; give practice in identifying map symbols; and provide an opportunity to construct maps. (RM)

Presented are tips for writing effectively about geographical issues in popular publications. Geographers should present ideas clearly and logically, write lively summaries of geographical research, include people in the article, use humor, and use the best forms of graphic presentation. (RM)

Kohn--a geographer who has taught at all educational levels and is a former president of the National Council for Geographic Education and the American Association of Geographers--talks about his family and schooling, cooperation between professional organizations, his role in the High School Geography Project, and his interest in enology. (RM)

Discusses implications of utilizing the term "up" to signify north and "down" to signify south in map instruction. Included are several strategies to avoid possible confusion, especially in young children of indiscriminate interchange of the terms. (SL)

Describes the study tour of China undertaken by 20 members of the Australian Geography Teachers Association. An itinerary of the three week tour and reports from Australian and Chinese newspapers are included. For journal availability, see SO 505 212. (Author/DB)

This book is for those who want to teach about the life, history, language or culture of Russia and the former Soviet Union. Students will learn about the states of the former Soviet Union and the current political structure of Russia. Information is drawn from interviews with Russian children, traditional folktales, maps, original Russian…

Teaching about Turkey is currently a priority in world and global history courses. There has been a re-examination of this region, a re-emphasis on the contribution of the peoples of the area to history, and a re-evaluation of the role of the Turks not only in Turkish history but also in Central Asia, Western China, Eastern Europe, and Russia. The…

Rivers play a vital role in the life of the planet. They provide water for wildlife, plant life, and people, and they help to fertilize fields where corn and other crops grow. But how were these rivers made? This children's book takes readers/students on a journey down a river from its source at the top of a mountain to its mouth where it meets…

In this kindergarten unit, students learn to name and talk about their address. The purpose of the lesson is to meet requirement K.4 of the California History Social Science Standards, to guide young children as they become aware of themselves in relation to the earth upon which they live, to develop a story which focuses the student's learning,…

Introductory courses in Geographic Information Systems and cartography cover the fundamentals of map design. Students are given guidelines for producing a good map, but visual demonstrations are much more impressive. ArcView was used to produce illustrations of bad mapping practices and placed in a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation to demonstrate…

This paper examines the factors that govern identification of place in its environment, its literature, and its description as presented to the reference librarian by the genealogical researcher. Toponyms and exonyms, their elements of activity, status, extent, focus, and boundaries are examined, explicated, and defined. The techniques, sources,…

This unit of study seeks to introduce students to the history of Africans in the Mexican state of Veracruz and to provide the classroom teacher with resources and information about Veracruz. Although the unit is designed for students with an advanced level of Spanish, the readings are in English so this activity could be part of an…

In this document the social studies knowledge and skills deemed necessary for preparing Maine students for work, higher education, citizenship, and personal fulfillment are identified. The document serves as a guideline for teachers and parents regarding what students should know and be able to do at various checkpoints during their social studies…

In a question and answer interview, a social studies consultant gives assistance to teachers. (GB)