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FIVE

GEOGRAPHIC SKILLS

"Geographic skills provide the necessary tools and techniques for us to think geographically."

  1. Asking Geographic Questions
    . . . about why things are where they are and how they got there . . . the consequences of location and association

  2. Acquiring Geographic Information
    . . . information about locations . . . maps, descriptions, interviews, field work, reference material, library research

  3. Organizing Geographic Information
    . . . translate data into visual form . . . making maps . . . graphs, tables, spreadsheets, time lines . . . oral and written summaries

  4. Analyzing Geographic Information
    . . . patterns, processes . . . relationships, connections . . . trends, sequences . . . probe, examine, explain, synthesize

  5. Answering Geographic Questions
    . . . generalizations and conclusions . . . inferences . . . inductive and deductive reasoning . . . begin again with new questions

"It is essential that students develop the skills that will enable them to observe patterns, associations, and spatial order."