Describes John Snyder's current interest in mapping, provides worksheets for a student map-projection activity, and explains how maps have been used throughout history. (MKR)

Newspapers can help teach elementary students map skills. Students read the newspaper, make cards from newspaper maps, learn about various countries, and do reality-based creative writing. Students can continue to use the maps throughout the year to answer geography questions and stay up-to-date on current events. (SM)

Discusses the strengths and weaknesses of geographers' temporal strategies for research. Suggests diagrammatic interpretations and examples of the strategies. Presents classroom activities for increasing student understanding of the organization of time in the study of geography. (SG)

Examines the life and work of Samuel Griswold Goodrich who, writing under the name "Peter Parley," was one of the United States' most prolific geography textbook writers. Explains that Parley was among the nineteenth century's best known educational figures. Underscores Goodrich's profuse use of illustrations and personal writing style.…

Discusses an assessment program in the geography department of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Describes the development of a senior proficiency examination. Suggests that the assessment process include development of meaningful curricular goals and strategies for implementation. Breaks the project down into phases: the search for funding,…

Addresses the importance of maps for instruction in both history and geography. Suggests that maps have gotten recent attention because of the rapid political changes occurring in Europe and the quincentenary of Columbus' voyage. Discusses different map projections and the importance of media and satellite display of real pictures of the world.…

Presents findings of an analysis of Italian seventh grade students' understanding of capitalism and socialism. Reports that knowledge of the topics was rather poor. Concludes that students who had studied the topics more thoroughly had somewhat, but not substantially, greater understanding of capitalism and socialism. Calls for more research. (SG)

Discusses the poor performance of U.S. students in tests of geographic knowledge. Describes the Memphis (Tennessee) City Schools' World Regional Geography Concepts Project. Explains that the program instructs teachers in geographic content, concepts, and skills. Reports increased geographic expertise among teachers who participated. Indicates that…

Discusses the desirability of teaching latitude and longitude concepts to upper elementary students. Includes a four-lesson unit on the topics. Employs hurricane tracking information available from the National Hurricane Center. Provides a foundation for future lessons on Middle and North American geography. (SG)

Discusses the efforts of the Geography Consensus Project to determine what students should know in geography at different points in their schooling. Describes how attempts at education reform affect the teaching of geography through the establishment of world class standards. Encourages teachers to testify at hearings determining how geography…

Discusses the concept of writing across the curriculum and how it is used in a university level geography class. Suggests that writing as a resource for learning benefits students by encouraging critical thinking, the organization of bodies of information, and increased memory. Includes specific reading and writing assignments. (DK)

Presents two lesson plans integrating social studies, art, music, and literature to teach geographic themes using the concepts of human settlement and transportation. Explains that comparing two paintings of rural life illustrates the themes of relationships with places and movement. Suggests that comparing songs about great projects uses the same…

Discusses the development of effective teaching methods in geography and asks how the field stands in terms of the current movement toward enhanced quality of teaching and learning. Argues that the best way to promote quality teaching is to give the best researchers the training and means to reach students. (DSK)

Suggests that using the format of the planning public inquiry as a model for a learning activity provides geography students, usually working in teams, with the opportunity to investigate environmental issues from a particular point of view and to present their case as an oral presentation and written report. (DSK)

Observes that students cannot be expected to make critical judgments on controversial issues like the global environment without some instruction in the logic of critical reasoning. Describes two argument forms, convergent reasoning and inference, and provides instructions for an interactive activity that uses examples from industrial ecology and…