A baseline geography skills test was administered during 1987 to over 3,000 students who were enrolled in freshmen geography courses at 18 Indiana universities. Known as the National Council for Geographic Education Competency-Based Geography Test, Secondary Level, Form D, this test was used to measure the students' level of geographic ability in:…

Examines an earth-focus in social studies as a means of fostering better understanding of the physical environment. Presents evidence that this type of study will improve students' knowledge of the economic, historical, and social processes of the earth's inhabitants. (DB)

Discusses shortcomings of conventional maps and examines how to transform map geography to provide more functional cartographic illustrations. (Author/DB)

Describes two mini-units, a primary grade activity and upper grade activity, to teach elementary students location skills by becoming map-makers, rather than merely interpreting maps made by others. Students learn to locate areas of a grid, to use a compass rose, to use scale and plot distances, to solve proportion problems, and to enlarge…

Discusses sketch maps that are free-hand maps drawn from memory that help to organize spatial information. Demonstrates how teachers can use sketch map activities in their classrooms and provides examples of students' maps that illustrate progressive levels of learning world place location. (DB)

Students today face a wide range of economic decisions. To be wise consumers, prudent savers, and knowledgeable investors, they need basic economic concepts and decision-making skills. To this end the National Council on Economic Education (NCEE) developed the Voluntary National Content Standards in Economics (1997) for students in kindergarten…

The ultimate responsibility of education is to affirm and to restore people's sense of their own nobility. (RC)

Various combinations of text and illustrative material, when tested, failed to indicate a role for graphics in improving cognitive achievement. They may, however, increase the motivational quality of the text or provide suggestions and materials for alternative lessons. (JH)

Article focused on a technique to make beginning report writing fun and help kids learn to be concise. (Editor/RK)

Virginia reel, Hora, Tarantella - folk dancing is an exciting way to explore other cultures. (Editor)

This brief bibliography lists materials and resources of use to an instructor planning futures-oriented inservice and classroom instructional activities for teachers, students, and communities. Several publications of general interest to futurists are cited, following which materials within five different categories are listed: societal futures;…

This paper considers current National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) concerns, highlights issues about the context and content of social studies, and discusses opportunities for successfully teaching social studies-related courses. The context of social studies education is examined in relation to a profile of students and society, while…

In 1987 U.S. Secretary of Education, William J. Bennett, published "James Madison High School: A Curriculum for American Students" that proposed a core curriculum for high schools. In response to that publication, this paper examines the core curriculum as it affects social studies. The social studies sequence emphasized history (ninth…

This document is a collection of 108 quotations concerning the U.S. Constitution. The quotations are from men who fought for the ratification of the Constitution, U.S. Presidents, U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and leaders of other nations. Some of the quotations are also from U.S. Supreme Court decisions. The sayings are arranged in approximate…

In formulating a practical guide for evaluators of social studies courseware, the fundamental elements of the "Evaluator's Guide to Microcomputer-Based Instructional Packages," (MicroSIFT, 1982) were combined with an abbreviated version of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) adopted curriculum-specific guidelines. The categories…