In the HSGP curriculum, students use cognitive skills of analysis, judgment, forecasting, evaluation, and translation on selected geographic data:

1. to explore fundamental geographic principles;

2. to use geographic concepts and perspectives to explore social policy issues;

3. to reinforce values concerning: the usefulness of knowledge, the power of ideas and the excitement of learning

4. to practice various social skills, including leadership, cooperation, and conflict resolution.

In the HSGP, classroom activities have multiple objectives. The project fosters a participative approach to learning geography, with students working individually or in small groups, as well as in whole-class activities.

History of Development

The project was developed under the auspices of the Association of American Geographers with support from the National Science Foundation. Teams consisting of professional geographers, teachers, and educational specialists developed the curriculum. They used a broad range of teaching strategies and classroom procedures, and the materials reflect their commitment to students' active, hands-on involvement in a wide variety of learning experiences. The project was published and distributed commercially as Geography in the Urban Age.

Organization of the Project

All of the HSGP units are available on Culture and Technology. The project consists of the following six units plus a local geography handbook:

Each unit contains a teacher's guide, student resources (readings), and other teaching aids that support a rich variety of student activities, including games, simulations, role playing activities, and map projects. The local community handbook serves as a resource guide for teachers who wish to explore important geographical principles with their students through the study of their local community. Student readings do not accompany the handbook.

Note: In some lessons, the project data, such as populations, crop volumes, and prices, may need to be updated. Users may find it instructionally useful to plan a "data hunt" with their students to obtain current figures.