What do you want to know about the National Geography Standards? About geography curriculum development? What do you want to know about the content of geography? About approriate teaching methods and materials? Submit your questions to the NCGE by e-mailing dzeigler@odu.edu and look for an answer within a week or two. Also, please feel free to post your questions in our Forum for discussing the standards. Post your own, reply to others, or read past postings. This is a forum for the discussion of geography teaching methods, techniques and content. Post often because your comments and ideas will help other teachers. Thank you.
Here the answers to some general questions about the "National Geography Standards" and "Geography Content and Teaching Methods."
The five themes (location, place, movement, human-environment relationships, region) were launched in the 1980s as the first step to restoring geography to our schools. The National Geography Standards were launched in 1994 to continue that effort. All five themes permeate Geography for Life even if they are not identified in the expected manner. They continue to be important as organizing concepts which cut across the subject matter of geography as outlined in the 18 Standards. For a discussion of the relationships between "the themes" and "the standards" get a copy of Key to the National Geography Standards, available from the NCGE.
As the title implies, the National Geography Standards are designed to insure that future citizens are prepared for life in the 21st century. It also suggests that well-prepared students will carry with them a commitment to life-long learning about their world. What students learn in a geography class will serve them throughout their adult lives.