Outlines the advantages and disadvantages of using a single textbook in a college-level economic geography course. Argues that, if a course text is used thoughtfully, the advantages can outweigh the disadvantages. Asserts that students must take greater responsibility for their own learning and develop independent inquiry skills. (CFR)

Asserts that geography teachers teach how to derive information about history and culture from maps, photographs, and observations of real landscapes. Reviews four books: (1) "From Sea Charts to Satellite Images;" (2) "Historic Illinois From the Air;" (3) "Cultural Geography on Topographic Maps;" and (4) "US 40." Includes suggested student…

Presents a classroom project dealing with tropical deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Addresses environmental consequences and economic, social, and political causes. Involves both lectures and individual research and reports by student groups on deforestation causes. Includes a note-playing activity in which students make recommendations for…

Suggests the need for a law and geography course to prepare future geographers to contribute to implementation of the law. Proposes a course outline, including an introduction, major existing research areas, and exploration of developing new research areas combining law and geography. Stresses the importance of social and environmental data in…

Discusses an elementary social studies class project in which students wrote letters to older Russian and European immigrants who were learning their English. Reports that students also met with their pen pals and helped them prepare for their citizenship test. Describes the test as an excellent U.S. history overview. Emphasizes the compassion and…

Argues a global perspective is inherent to all geographic research and education. Quotes several influential geographers concerning their views on globalism and geography as a discipline. Examines geography's five fundamental themes and their applicability to a global perspective. Considers roles geographers can play in solving world environmental…

Maintains that achieving the social studies goal of helping children make good decisions about their world requires data interpretation. Includes activities and accompanying charts for classroom activities that combine social studies content and data interpretation and classification skills. (CFR)

Describes a teaching activity in which middle school students draw maps based on map models used in ancient Babylon. Contends that this approach serves as a transition from the study of world civilizations in grade six to the U.S. history course in grade seven. Includes 10 student-created maps and student comments about the activity. (CFR)

Presents a secondary school lesson on the building of the Ho Chi Minh Trail during the Vietnam War. Helps students link history and geographical skills through cooperative group learning. Includes maps, diagrams, and three student readings. (CFR)

Contends that students enjoy social studies instruction more when new information can be personalized and reshaped into original material. Reports on the content and teaching methods used in an ancient middle east unit designed for the sixth grade. Includes three charts and one table that illustrate the instructional strategies. (CFR)

Describes the development and use of a geography instructional game that is based on the actual travels of U.S. Secretaries of State. Contends that analyzing the nations visited provides clues to international events and foreign policy development. Provides maps and charts detailing visits by Secretaries of State between 1866 and 1990. (CFR)

Provides instructional materials, tasks, and activities to supplement a unit on map reading. Presents a two-page color topographical map of Arthur's Pass (New Zealand). Includes learning activities covering reading grid references, estimating distances, cross-sections, and sketch mapping. Briefly discusses and illustrates digital terrain models.…

Briefly explains the 10 standard objective statements that characterize geography curriculum reform in China. The standards reflect a rigorous and scientific orientation incorporating mathematics, physics, geology, and demographics. No social education component is present. (MJP)

Discusses the isolated and uncertain status of geography departments in most community colleges. Identifies the root of the problem as being a combination of community college growth and the shift from an academic to a remedial/vocational orientation. Finds this disturbing in light of community colleges' massive enrollment. (MJP)

The importance of maps and other graphic representations has become more important to geography and geographers. This is due to the development and widespread diffusion of geographic (spatial) technologies. As computers and silicon chips have become more capable and less expensive, geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning satellite…