Examines the importance and the various uses of the geographic concept of regions. Discusses the intersection between geography and such social and political phenomenon as the establishment of large nation states and the splintering of states into smaller units. Briefly describes several recent conflicts in geographic terms. (MJP)

Encourages geography teachers to use biographies to reveal a sense of place and life in a given geographical context. Highlights the life of John Mullett, a surveyor during the settlement of Michigan as a model for using biography in geography instruction appropriate for grades 6-12. Includes surveyor maps and sources of additional biographies.…

Discusses theoretical and practical problems arising from an educational and political commitment to challenging racism through geography teaching. Focuses on student reactions to the anti-racist approach by reviewing the findings of an evaluation of a course taught at University College London. Provides teaching strategies for using this…

Analyzes smallness of national scale, types and degrees of isolation, and degrees of dependence as factors influencing the establishment of education in small states. Notes that the context created by these three circumstances makes dependency inevitable. Examines regionalism as a possible solution to the educational problems of small nations. (KO)

Proposes a socially critical geography curriculum which includes a study of spatial justice for the Australia Aboriginal people. Provides strategies for introducing this curriculum, including awareness of cultural differences; destroying stereotypes; awareness of past and present government policies; and awareness of the language of racism. (LS)

Because of increased recreational use of alpine environments in the western United States, this lesson plan integrates the themes of location, place, and human-environment interaction in order to teach avalanche hazard awareness. Presents classroom activities and research topics to enhance student awareness of snow avalanche hazards. Provides…

Discusses semantic complexities rampant in attempts to define rurality. Examines environmental and economic aspects of rurality and impacts on education. Proposes a definition of rurality based on five human considerations: approximate geographic divisions, level of access to community services, industry type, population makeup, and the…

Discusses the five fundamental themes of geography. Describes the relationship between them and traditional geographic concepts. Merges themes and concepts to include location (position on Earth's surface), place (physical and human characteristics), relationships within places (human and environment), movement (humans interacting with the earth),…

Presents lessons on geographic concepts concerning migration and population change. Suggests student analysis of census data. Focuses on the recent influx of Hispanic immigrants through concepts of assimilation, discrimination, and time decay. Observes that Hispanics, the oldest U.S. immigrant group, are presently viewed as the newest. Examines…

The use of ecological regression in voting rights cases is discussed in the context of a lawsuit against Los Angeles County (California) in 1990. Ecological regression assumes that systematic voting differences between precincts are explained by ethnic differences. An alternative neighborhood model is shown to lead to different conclusions. (SLD)

D. Freedman and others and W. Clark and P. Morrison misunderstand case law in the voting rights area and have unrealistic standards of precision that, if adopted, would make it virtually impossible for minority plaintiffs to succeed. Ecological regression, when used with care, is a reliable tool. (SLD)

Describes the Streetwork project, a qualitative research project in contemporary cultural geography. Outlines the project's goals, implementation, and necessary skill training. Concludes with a discussion of problems that have occurred with the project. (CFR)

Using South Africa as its focus, outlines a middle school lesson plan for teaching geographic themes and location and place. Provides students practice using geographic skills. Includes instruction about major cultural and ethnic groups living in South Africa along with three maps for classroom use. (NL)

Describes a teaching experience in which a unit on environmental issues was added to a college-level human geography course. Asserts that environmental topics are not well-integrated into most geography courses. Concludes that the students enjoyed the experience but suggested that the environmental topics be integrated throughout the entire course…

Asserts that traditional age-stage theory of visual art education is simplistic and misleading. Suggests that neoteny, the retention of juvenile-like traits in adults, may provide another means of linking human development to the visual arts. Concludes that the inherent neotenous aspects of art can make a contribution to successful aging. (CFR)