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Web Gleanings: Teaching the Geographies of Asia

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Keywords: Asia General, Geography, Instructional Technology

How to Cite: S. Ames, J. (2011) “Web Gleanings: Teaching the Geographies of Asia”, Education About Asia. 16(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.65959/eaa.1001

Asia URL: http://continents.pppst.com/asia.html One can keep busy for days simply exploring the links on this site. For the most part, these are links to PowerPoint presentations by teachers. Some presentations are more detailed than others. The links are grouped by geographic region in Asia: Southeast Asia, South Asia, East Asia, etc., and by Asian country. HowStuffWorks: Geography of Asia URL: http://geography.howstuffworks.com/asia/geography-of-asia.htm The Discovery Company produced this article with nine chapters on the geography of Asia. The chapters include Physical Geography, Climate, and Natural Vegetation. Accompanying each of the chapters is a short video pertinent to the topic.
Teaching East Asia in the Middle School (TEAMS)
URL: http://www.indiana.edu/~easc/publications/teams.shtml
The East Asian Studies Center of Indiana University produced this series of articles in 1997–98. Although the articles are more than ten years old, the geography subjects are timeless. So, for example, the articles on the physical geography of East Asia and the geography of Japan still have relevance today.
East Asia in Geographic Perspective
URL: http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/geography/index.html
This is a site that can enrich any lesson about the geography of East Asia; there are articles, maps, and lesson plans. One can explore the site by Five Themes, including Location and Regions, or by Six Essential Elements, such as Places and Regions and Physical Systems. The site is organized according to the eighteen standards set forth by the National Council for Geographic Education.
Understanding the Geography of China
URL: http://sites.asiasociety.org/education/VISIBLE_TRACES/curriculum/pdf/CBDessay.pdf
This essay from the Asia Society’s education division discusses the diversity of China’s geographic terrain. The underlying theme of the article is that to understand the “political China,” the characteristics of the geography must be understood. This is not a new article, but as with many geography essays, the ideas are pertinent today.
China Geography
URL: http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/WorldGeography/China/China.htm
Kidport.com put together a simple site for children about the geography of China. It is easy to navigate because it consists of one lengthy page. Any child can come to understand some basics about China and see some photos as well.
Japan Teaching Module
URL: http://www.utc.edu/Research/AsiaProgram/teaching/
This site is excellent in many ways: the content, the concepts, the organization, and the photography. The geography portions consist of two main sections: Japanese Cultural Landscapes and Centripetal Forces in Japan; each section has five parts. The main page for each of the two sections shows the five parts’ first lines plus a photograph. Students will learn a lot here.
The Geography of Japan
URL: http://www.fcceastudytours.org/pdfs/GeographyJapan&Korea.pdf
This 11.54 MB file (in PDF) takes a while to download, but it is well worth the wait for middle school teachers who would like a photo/graphics presentation of the geography of Japan for their students.
Teaching about Japan: Geography
URL: http://www.international.ucla.edu/eas/japan/geography/geo1.htm
This is an overview of the geography of Japan. The presentation is very attractive and easy to use. There are many helpful graphics and photographs. None of the sections provides deep insights, but there is enough basic information for a student new to the study of Japan.
Indonesia’s Geography
URL: http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/indonesia/pro-geography.htm
This site consists of a single page (but a lengthy one) with details of the physical geography, the regions, and islands of Indonesia, the climate, and the flora. It is a good starting place for those who want to explore the geography of Indonesia.
Geography Teaching Today: New India
URL: http://www.geographyteachingtoday.org.uk/ks3-resources/resources/new-india/
This site has been produced by the Royal Geographic Society in the UK. This first page sets forth the purpose of the site and highlights the geographic information that is covered on its pages. This includes the physical geography of India, its influence on human geography, and the importance of climate.
In this age of multimedia, a picture or movie may indeed be worth a great deal. Below are three video productions that portray aspects of the geography of Asia.
Discovery Atlas: India: Geography (Video)
URL: http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/discovery-atlas-india-geography.html
The Discovery Channel has produced this three-minute vide o that covers the physical geography of India, from mountain ranges to rivers to deserts. The climate of India, including the monsoons, is also featured.
Layers of Asia (Video)
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrfBIVx739E
The purpose of this video is to demonstrate the use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems) technology to enhance learning about the geography of Asia. The imagery is quite spectacular, with photography, maps, and other graphic representations that illustrate the points being made by the narrator. Links to other videos about the geography of Asia are in the right-side frame.
The Geography of Asia and the Pacific (Video)
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-LFOkGfyZM
This video looks at the physical geography of the five major regions of Asia: Southwest Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. There are still photos, graphics, maps, and movies; a narration accompanies the video throughout.

The next two sites can be considered “portals,” i.e., sites with links to lots of other sites. The first site focuses on Asian geography and has many listings; some are good and some are not very good. The second site focuses on geography lessons for mi ddle school students. Here, too, there is unevenness in the value of the sites.

Geography Lesson Plans URL: http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edgeography.htm#asia
Social Studies Websites URL: http://www.sldirectory.com/teachf/socsci.html#geography