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Geography Skills Geographic skills provide the necessary tools and techniques that enable us to think geographically. They are essential to understanding physical and human patterns and processes in our world. They are central to our ability to engage in geographic inquiry and to think critically about phenomena on Earth. Geographic skills should be taught systematically throughout a students' education. All of the national geography skills listed below are essential to a well developed geographic education. Student success in accomplishing the learnings identified in both the national and state standards requires that they develop proficiency in geographic skills. Teachers are encouraged to make use of the skills identified below as they plan their instruction and develop their assessments. The Five Sets of Geographic Skills END OF FOURTH | END OF EIGHTH | END OF TWELFTH Geographic skills to be learned by the end of the Fourth Grade Skill Set 1--Asking geographic questions By the end of the fourth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Ask geographic questions--Where is it located? Why is it there? What is significant about its location? How is its location related to the locations of other people, places, and environments? Distinguish between geographic and nongeographic questions. Skill Set 2--Acquiring geographic information By the end of the fourth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Locate, gather, and process information from a variety of primary and secondary sources including maps. Make and record observations about the physical and human characteristics of places. Skill Set 3--Organizing geographic information By the end of the fourth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Prepare maps to display geographic information. Construct graphs, tables, and diagrams to display geographic information. Skill Set 4--Analyzing geographic information By the end of the fourth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Use maps to observe and interpret geographic relationships. Use tables and graphs to observe and interpret geographic trends and relationships. Use texts, photographs, and documents to observe and interpret geographic trends and relationships. Use simple mathematics to analyze geographic data. Skill Set 5--Answering geographic questions By the end of the fourth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Present geographic information in the form of both oral and written reports accompanied by maps and graphics. Use methods of geographic inquiry to acquire geographic information, draw conclusions, and make generalizations. Apply generalizations to solve geographic problems and make reasoned decisions. END OF FOURTH | END OF EIGHTH | END OF TWELFTH Geographic Skills to be Learned by the end of the Eighth Grade Skill Set 1--Asking geographic questions By the end of the eighth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Identify geographic issues, define geographic problems, and pose geographic questions. Plan how to answer geographic questions. Skill Set 2--Acquiring geographic information By the end of the eighth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Use a variety of research skills to locate and collect geographic data. Use maps to collect and/or compile geographic information. Systematically observe the physical and human characteristics of places on the basis of fieldwork. Skill Set 3--Organizing geographic information By the end of the eighth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Prepare various forms of maps as a means of organizing geographic information. Prepare various forms of graphs to organize and display geographic information. Prepare various forms of diagrams, tables, and charts to organize and display geographic information. Integrate various types of materials to organize geographic information. Skill Set 4--Analyzing geographic information By the end of the eighth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Interpret information obtained from maps, aerial photographs, satellite- produced images, and geographic information systems. Use statistics and other quantitative techniques to evaluate geographic information. Interpret and synthesize information obtained from a variety of sources – graphs, charts, tables, diagrams, texts, photographs documents, interviews. Skill Set 5--Answering geographic questions By the end of the eighth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Develop and present combinations of geographic information to answer geographic questions. Make generalizations and assess their validity. END OF FOURTH | END OF EIGHTH | END OF TWELFTH Geographic skills to be learned by the end of the Twelfth Grade Skill Set 1--Asking geographic questions By the end of the twelfth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Plan and organize a geographic research project (e.g., specify a problem, pose a research question or hypothesis, and identify data sources). Skill Set 2--Acquiring geographic information By the end of the twelfth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Systematically locate and gather geographic information from a variety of primary and secondary sources. Systematically assess the value and use of geographic information. Skill Set 3--Organizing geographic information By the end of the twelfth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Select and design appropriate forms of maps to organize geographic information. Select and design appropriate forms of graphs, diagrams, tables, and charts to organize geographic information. Use a variety of media to develop and organize integrated summaries of geographic information. Skill Set 4--Analyzing geographic information By the end of the twelfth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Use quantitative methods of analysis to interpret geographic information. Make inferences and draw conclusions from maps and other geographic representations. Use the processes of analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and explanation to interpret geographic information from a variety of sources. Skill Set 5--Answering geographic questions By the end of the twelfth grade, the student should know and understand how to: Formulate valid generalizations from the results of various kinds of geographic inquiry. Evaluate the answers to geographic questions. Apply geographic models, generalizations, and theories to the analysis, interpretation, and presentation of geographic information. END OF FOURTH | END OF EIGHTH | END OF TWELFTH