Abstract
The writer shows in this paper some results of research on geographical understanding growing in pupil's thought from the fifth grade of elementary school to the third grade of lower secondary school.
Geographical understanding in pupil's thought could be divided into three patterns as follows:
(1) Understanding of distribution
(2) Ability of comparison
(3) Understanding of regional characters
Two or five questionnaires in each patterns were prepared to research and evaluate growth of those understanding and ability for 150 pupils.
The writer obtained the ratio of right answers in each grade as follows:
(1) Understanding of distribution
According to the above table, pupils understanding shows steady growth with their grades, although they are not so high. On the other hand, understanding of geographical location, patterns of distribution and chronological change shows less understanding in all grades.
(2) Ability of comparison
The above table explains that the ratio are higher than the table (1) in all grades.
(3) Understanding of regional characters
Although the ratio of the above table shows growth of understanding with grades, they are much less than (1) and (2).
The table (3) shows another interesting fact that growth of ratio interrupted by reduction in the second grade of lower secondary school. This is probably caused by lack of geographical education in this grade curriculum. This handicap is filled up by preparation for higher secondary school in the third grade.
