The concept of shape often enters introductory cultural geography textbooks through the subject of political geography. This paper focuses on a quantitative way to introduce the concept of shape to students of cultural geography. The measure used in this approach was to compare the perimeter of the sovereign state with the perimeter of a circle…

This unit is designed for students in grades 7-12 and can be adapted for individual settings. The unit provides student-centered instruction in geography through content specific teaching strategies. The unit is divided into five sections with lessons in each section. Sections include: (1) "Basic Perspectives"; (2) "Cultural Perspectives"; (3)…

This unit for high school students uses two dissimilar places in time; (2) Jamestown, Virginia, founded in 1607, one of the earliest settlements in the United States and (2) Disneyland, California, built in 1956, an institution of contemporary culture. The lessons address two fundamental questions in geography: (1) where? and (2) why here rather…

Efforts to develop geographic literacy, specifically "place-name" knowledge, need to be based in an understanding of cognitive psychological principles. This paper argues that developing knowledge of place-names, including memorization of such names, is important if students are to achieve geographic literacy. A cognitive psychology model of how…

A geographic perspective of urban revitalization is provided in this publication, which is intended for geography professors, students, and researchers. There are seven chapters. Chapter 1 discusses the geographical aspects of urban revitalization. Urban decline and redevelopment is the focus of the second chapter. Discussed are parks, civic…

Social Studies textbooks from grades 1-4 published by Macmillan (1985), Scott Foresman (1986), and Silver Burdett & Ginn (1988) were selected for review to assess the position given by these books to geographic place vocabulary. Each was evaluated on the basis of frequency and continuity of places named, the attention to stressing place name…

This document contains lessons designed for teaching geography and map skills to intermediate level students, although many may be adapted to other grade levels. The lessons place heavy reliance on children making a series of individual and collective maps. The 16 lessons included are: (1) mental maps; (2) conventional maps; (3) map elements; (4)…

This volume presents a framework for developing courses of study in geography at grade levels 7-12. Several sample courses illustrate how the framework may be used. Five fundamental themes in geographic education provide the basis for the framework. The suggested learning opportunities are designed to incorporate various levels of thinking. These…

A profile of Canada emerges from this collection of black and white illustrative maps, tables, and graphs. Aspects of the country depicted include: geography, population, resources, international trade, government, and energy. Short texts on multiculturalism, the Canadian economy, the country's history, and U.S.-Canada relations also are included.…

Intended to provide background for study and discussion, this publication gives updated information on development in sub-Saharan Africa and provides a basis for understanding U.S. policy toward this vital region. The strengths, problems, politics, natural resources, and language and ethnolinguistic groups of this area of the world and the…

This exercise teaches undergraduate geography students to use the Lorenz Curve and the Index of Dissimilarity to assess the spatial distributions of the White, Black, and American Indian populations of the United States in 1980. Specific procedures for implementing the exercise are provided; solutions to the exercise are also included. Students…

Addressing the need for world geography classes to consider demography and other cultures, this paper presents a teaching unit to be included in seventh grade world geography courses. The primary focus of this unit is an individual project in which each student chooses a country and uses basic geographical skills and knowledge to analyze the…

An internship program is described in which geography undergraduates and graduate students receive on-the-job career training as well as academic training. This particular program was begun in 1969 at San Diego State University to help geography students relate their academic training to practical job experiences and to help them obtain meaningful…

In 1976 and 1981, surveys were conducted to determine the curricular role of geography in the New York State Community College System. The questionnaire solicited information on the geography courses offered; frequency with which they were offered; new courses planned; faculty degrees; responsiveness of geographical associations and community…

The potential of geography in qualifying college students for the environmental job market is explored. To provide information regarding the best combination of factors for job success, the background and training of graduates of the environmental studies program at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville were examined. The program featured…