Monuments All Over the World: Using Historical Monuments to Teach Cultural Geography

Abstract

Cultural geography is a unique, diverse, contested, and at times, confusing branch of study in the geography curriculum. Much like many other sub-branches of the social sciences, there has been significant controversy and struggle over the place of cultural geography in the curriculum. This article encourages social studies teachers to consider new approaches to teaching cultural geography concepts, while also utilizing a variety of instructional methods to engage students in a meaningful and enriching exploration of cultures all over the world. A rationale is discussed for incorporating the use of monuments and memorials as an instructional tool to teach cultural geography. In addition, this article provides teachers with a classroom tested activity on how monuments and memorials can be used as instruments to study cultural geography and how this topic can be implemented into a secondary geography or history classroom.

Citation

Waters, S. and Russell III, W.B. (2012), "Monuments All Over the World: Using Historical Monuments to Teach Cultural Geography", Social Studies Research and Practice, Vol. 7 No. 3, pp. 33-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSRP-03-2012-B0003