Reviews the six essential elements of the National Standards for Geography and demonstrates how children's books can teach them. Each element and a particular standard are applied to a specific picture book. Briefly reviews the standards and what knowledge they incorporate. (MJP)

Maintains that understanding and implementing the National Geography Standards through simulation techniques can be a powerful tool for studying any cultural region. Provides a step-by-step instruction for creating a classroom field trip simulation. Includes tips for follow-up activities and assessment procedures. (MJP)

Presents a model for structuring writing in the geography class with a focus on using maps to prompt writing that will promote student interaction with geographic concepts. Delineates four components of successful writing as fluency, flexibility, frequency, and formality. Includes suggestions for geographic writing activities. (MJP)

Summarizes methods from a high school geography class that used examples from local geography to teach basic geographic concepts. Maintains that these illustrative examples can be used even in courses where the content is not local geography. Provides examples of local landscapes illustrating concepts applicable to the Brazilian rain forest. (MJP)

Recommends making choropleth maps as a fun and interesting way to teach geographic concepts. Choropleth maps represent data and ratios (population density, voter registration) and can be constructed easily. Includes suggested activities and representative maps. (MJP)

Traces the evolution of the state geography standards in Rhode Island and gives a summary of the work accomplished thus far toward implementing the National Geography Standards. Profiles several state and local initiatives and discusses the Standards that they represent. (MJP)

Shows that the experiment of the ancient Greek mathematician and geographer, Eratosthenes, can be replicated and used to teach geographic concepts. Eratosthenes calculated the most accurate ancient measurement of earth based on fundamental mathematics concepts and earth-sun relations. Includes instructions, illustrations, graphs, and historical…

Suggests the use of picture books to teach the five fundamental themes of geography in the primary grades. Describes the use of maps which follow the paths of characters in children's literature. Discusses the use of four stories that are accompanied by maps and follow-up activities. Includes reproducible maps. (KO)

Describes six activities that encourage young children to look at a variety of objects from different points of view. The activities are designed to enhance children's understanding of geography relative to visualizing areas to be mapped. Organizes activities so that they move from the concrete to the abstract. (KO)

Defines basic typographic terminology and offers two classroom projects using microcomputers to create and use type. Discusses typeface, type families, type style, type size, and type font. Examples of student projects that include the creation of bulletin board displays and page-size maps. (KO)

Explores the value of Mark Twain's "Life on the Mississippi" for the middle-school geography classroom. Examines the genesis of the book, investigates the authenticity of Twain's experiences, analyzes the book's content, and suggests teaching strategies. Finds the detailed geographic observations in the book quite useful for the classroom. (KO)

Outlines an exercise dealing with the geographic concept of regions. Suggests this activity as a means of relating theory to students' personal understanding of the world. Provides a lesson plan which helps students appreciate the concept of region as an analytic tool through a "hands-on" exercise. (KO)

Describes an economic development simulation in which student groups roleplay the leadership of a developing nation. Suggests a semester schedule and provides a number of student materials that include a map and a project participation rating check sheet. Describes information sources where materials may be obtained for further study. (KO)

Presents the script of the drama, "The Other Side of Discovery," concerning the effects of Columbus' arrival in the Americas. Offers the story in the "Readers' Theater" style, featuring dramatic readings by three actors but no stage movements. (SG)

Presents a series of five short stories for children that incorporate geographic concepts. Includes the concepts of region, boundaries, and grids. Suggests that the stories will help children master challenging concepts and vocabulary that in turn will increase their knowledge and self-esteem. (DK)