The National Writing Project and the National Geographic Society's Geography Education Program are two highly acclaimed staff development networks that are models for other organizations. Both programs feature intensive summer workshops and numerous followups during the subsequent school year. This paper describes the networks and presents six…

Explores how the tools of geography can help meet some of the challenges inherent in sustainable development by looking at changes in land-use patterns among the Bribri Indians of Costa Rica. Includes a geography lesson on comparing regions and environmental issues. (CMK)

Considers the use of thematic maps in the primary grades as a means to exploring the five themes of geography. Discusses an experiment that evaluated the ability of first grade students in interpreting thematic maps and describes a lesson that introduces thematic maps to primary grade students. (CMK)

Provides a list of teaching materials and general background documents about the Korean War from the ERIC database. Offers directions for obtaining the full text of materials about the division of South and North Korea, the geography of Korea, and South Korea's economic development. (CMK)

Introduces the lessons from "Mountain: A Global Resource" that were developed by the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and The Mountain Institute for use by NCSS members and their students. Provides an overview that introduces the mountains, mountain cultures, historical perceptions, and the geographical importance of…

Introduces a class project on oceans, fishes, and fishing industries around the world. Groups of students make a mural of the world, filling the oceans with accurate drawings of fish, fishing boats, and fishing equipment. Students learn about the importance of fish in various cultures and about the migration routes of fish. Includes a resource…

The Inuit subsist on a diet of virtually all meat and fat yet avoid deficiency and heart diseases. Explains this paradox and discusses cultural and geographic influences on diet. The Inuit diet is compared with a typical American diet and the diet recommended by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in a laboratory exercise that measures dietary fat.…

Explores the assumption that issues-centered instruction is fine for advanced students but too difficult for low-achieving adolescents when reviewing case studies of world geography classes composed of low-achieving students. Concludes that teachers confront numerous difficulties in planning and implementing issues-centered instruction for…

Pans of popcorn are popped to varying degrees in order to compare them to the earth's surface with volcanic pressure building up in this demonstration. Volcanic activity is also related to bodily functions to help students make connections. For example, the release of gas through burping after drinking soda pop is related to the release of…

Demonstrates the connections among authenticity, technology, and geography by discussing the use of the Internet and a Geographic Information System (GIS). Describes an online community-based project in a three-step process (research a local issue, create a Web site, and submit the site to an online community). (CMK)

Describes a lesson plan to develop the students' mental mapping skills that was used with preservice elementary teachers in a social studies methods course. Students deduce the location of a particular Centerville among the 38 throughout the United States. The lesson can be used with fourth grade students and above. (CMK)

Explores the social space of the "out of school club," an important environment of British childhood. Notes particularly how children construct and contest the meanings they attach to material and social environments they inhabit after school. Shows how the notion of place is linked with children's action and behavior in these spaces and…

Observes 16 students from five elementary science classes to examine how students use tools when constructing new knowledge during science instruction, how control of tools is actualized from pedagogical perspectives, how language and tool accessibility intersect, how gender intersects with tool use, and how competition for resources impacts…

Provides an annotated list of websites that focus on international human rights. Explains that human rights can be incorporated into curricula whether the focus is on human geography or contemporary global issues. Indicates that the Northern Light search engine produced over 700,000 hits for human rights websites. (CMK)

Considers the use of globes and maps in the social studies classroom. Addresses place location on maps and globes, using maps and globes in a unit of study, the various types of maps that can be utilized, and the vital generalizations students can make when using maps and globes. (CMK)