Geographic Tools Encourage Children’s Spatial Questions

• In Event: Roundtable Session 95
  In Roundtable Session: New Possibilities in Social Studies Education

Abstract

The nature of geographic knowledge and competencies required in geography is no longer defined by an accumulation of geographic facts, but by an understanding of processes involved in analyzing facts to produce new knowledge. Children in 4 rural schools gained geographic knowledge and skills with trained teachers using National Geographic’s Giant Traveling Map of South America. Elementary students developed questions, sketched maps, and created diagrams to communicate their understanding. Fifty percent of responses (N-167) asked relational, spatial questions when analyzed with the Taxonomy of Spatial Thinking and compared to concepts measured on NAEP 4th grade geography tests. Student questions provide a strong foundation for curriculum in critical spatial thinking skills needed in secondary classes and in emerging careers.

Author

• Reese H. Todd, Texas Tech University