Student activities that focus on the different cultures and the history of the Middle East from Biblical times to the present are suggested. These include debates, art projects, slide shows, maps, and research problems. (IS)

Activities are suggested for helping students understand the nature of contours (lines of constant geographic elevation), including instructions for preparing a contour map with an apparatus constructed with a sharpened stake and perpendicular crossbar, plumb line (washer tied to string), and a soda straw. (SK)

Explores various ways in which people use myths to communicate facts and influence values. Suggests various activities to help upper elementary and junior high school social studies students understand the role of myths and legends in geographic education. Activities include discussing perspectives on legendary lands, working with maps and globes…

Presents the steps for drawing a block-diagram from a map in the area of structural geology. The author recommends first platting on the orthographic net, all directional data with respect to geographical reference axes. (Author/SA)

From interviews with two cartographers, describes the work done and skills needed in the art and science of cartography, which includes mapping not only the earth, the ocean floor, and air currents but also the galaxy. Discusses earnings, employment prospects, training needed, and how to get into the field. (MF)

Describes an educational testing experiment designed to measure perspectives of elementary school students in a map drawing task. Findings indicated a significant correlation between perspective ability and map conceptualization. For journal availability, see SO 505 397. (Author/DB)

This article describes a class geography project which involves middle school and junior high school students in re-mapping the United States. A bibliography of print and human resources is included. (Author/RM)

Four language classroom activities are described, including a geography unit focusing on the Paris/province contrast and use of maps as authentic documents; a reading exercise teaching comprehension of an article on French family economics; an oral communication activity about European countries; and a year-long project on business administration…

Presents a classroom exercise entitled, "Latitude, Longitude, Spell It" designed to reinforce the concepts of latitude and longitude. Teachers divide the class into teams, provide them with a map and latitude-longitude coordinate cards, and ask them to record cities found within a given radius of each coordinate. Includes necessary…

Discusses how questions dealing with location and place are important to the process of geographic inquiry. Argues that understanding the fundamentals of location and place is necessary to understanding the geographic and historical factors that interact at any place. Emphasizes that location is useful in understanding global relationships. (KO)

Presents a role playing lesson on Meriweather Lewis and George Rogers Clark's exploration of the Louisiana Purchase. Emphasizes integration of the five fundamental themes of geography: location, place, human environment interactions, movement, and regions. Suggests evaluation procedures, extension lessons, and materials and resources. Calls upon…

Presents a game for learning about Canada's geography, natural resources, and major highways. Suggests that the activity will help students develop map skills, knowledge of capital cities, cooperative skills, and natural and human-made hazards. Includes instructions concerning game objectives, procedures, and materials. (SG)

The Olympic games can help motivate students to learn geography. The article offers a geography decathlon with 10 events to help students build map skills, multicultural awareness, and cooperative spirit. Each event covers at least one of the five fundamental geographic themes (location, place, regions, human/environment interactions, and…

Describes ways to integrate geography into the curriculum of primary and intermediate grades. Suggests hands-on activities for teaching abstract concepts through concrete experiences. Includes two units: creating a global map of the earth and incorporating social studies into language arts and mathematics by using magnet cars on maps. (NL)

Identifies the problems maps pose for children. Provides a lesson plan designed to help first grade students understand maps through a study of lakes and rivers. Asks students to identify bodies of water on a globe and then build a model of a lake or river. Includes instructions for making a model. (RW)