NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.

This study was supported by Environmental Systems Research Institute, Department of Interior/U.S. Geological Survey Grant No. 00HQAG0011, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Grant No. NAG5-9857, National Geographic Society Education Foundation Grant No. 200-0123, and National Science Foundation Grant No. BCS-0076284. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Learning to think spatially : GIS as a support system in the K-12 curriculum.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Space perception—Study and teaching. 2. Geographic information systems. I. National Academies Press (U.S.)

BF723.S63L43 2006

370.15′2—dc22

2005032115

Cover designed by Van Nguyen. Photo © Blauel/Gnamm—ARTOTHEK. Courtesy of the Städelsches Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt.