A case study on Birmingham is presented in the first part of this resource unit on regional studies designed for fifth graders. The objective of the sequent occupance unit is to illustrate the impact which the discovery and utilization of a large natural resource, namely, iron ore, can have on the development of a city, in the hope that students…

This teachers guide for a secondary course on cultural development builds upon earlier sequential learning courses and deals with concepts and generalizations drawn from the field of anthropology. Primary objectives are to develop students' understanding and awareness of culture. Five sections comprise this 10-week course. The nature of culture is…

Discusses the reactions to two empowering styles of teaching introduced into a newly developed interdisciplinary unit in geography and environmental sciences. Peer assessment was embraced more thoroughly than group work which was eventually accepted with some reservations. Includes charts illustrating student reactions to both innovations. (MJP)

Examines the increase in popularity of objective testing in the United Kingdom and addresses some of the accompanying academic issues. Reports on a case study of test production and implementation to illustrate issues of time costs and benefits. Discusses question styles, marking schemes, and the problem of guesswork. (MJP)

Defines political geography as a discipline specifically concerned with territorial organization and power and how these impact human and political processes. Traces the development of the discipline from the mid-eighteenth century to the present. Discusses reasons for its fall from academic grace and its eventual resurgence. (MJP)

Outlines a variety of activities using each of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences to teach map reading skills. The Multiple Intelligences are logical/mathematical, linguistic, musical, bodily/kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Includes multiple activities for teaching six key ideas and four skills. (MJP)

This booklet describes map-making in a step-by-step process with illustrations of each procedure. The volume contains the following chapters or sections: (1) "The Making of a World Map"; (2) "The World Map Key"; (3) "Appendix I: Map-making Workshop"; and (4) "Appendix II: Project Evaluation." (EH)

This volume examines the history of the State of Hawaii. The book is organized, as most history books are, chronologically; however, it also is arranged thematically. Four aspects of Hawaiian history are divided into three time periods. Unit 1, "Precontact to 1900," addresses that era from the political, economic, social, and land…

This pamphlet explains the importance of geography in the curriculum of primary, middle, and secondary schools. The pamphlet is intended for education decision-makers and advocates the importance of supporting geography education. The article explains what geography is, relates how U.S. students compare to students in other nations in geographic…

This literature review focuses on geography instruction and summarizes the most important information teachers should know. The review suggests that there are four main areas of concern in geographic education: defining geography; developing systematic, sequential curriculum; training geographically literate teachers; and developing tests that…

This booklet examines the subject of fresh water and the ways in which it affects every aspect of human life. The document includes an introduction and seven sections: (1) "Agriculture"; (2) "Transportation"; (3) "Culture"; (4) "Engineering"; (5) "Health and Domestic Use"; (6) "Politics and Economics"; and (7) "Industry." Inside each section is an…

Because of conflicting interpretations among the most widely used sources, the question of how many countries there are in the world does not have an easy answer. This paper, however, seeks to produce a justifiable, definitive answer (at least for as long as changing political tides allow). By moving from continent to continent, listing generally…

The results of a national census are too often viewed as of little use except for allocating seats in the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress. This essay argues that a broader view of census data should be taken; the data can prove valuable for instructional use across the secondary school curriculum. An overview of population education…

Piagetian stages of cognitive development are reviewed, and what teachers of geography skills, particularly map skills, can do to make use of Piaget's theory of child development is discussed. Piaget describes children at four different stages: (1) sensorimotor stage--birth to 2 years, (2) preoperational stage--ages 2-7, (3) concrete operational…

Elementary school teachers are provided with materials and instructions for using a variety of social studies games. The 15 games described are: charades, checker states, hollywood squares, states guessing game, index relay, jeopardy, the match game, the money game, password, the states game, sequence, stump the students, track meet, famous person…