Uh, LoveItaly, I'm afraid I have news for you. :)

You said:

"North America has three countries. They are Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Most Europeans think that Mexico is in Central or South America."

North America actually has many, many countries. Central America is a geographic region, but not a continent. All the Central American countries, plus all the Caribbean nations and Greenland (though I think I've heard this debated) are part of North America.

Oh, I meant to include this link:

http://www.graphicmaps.com/webimage/countrys/na.htm

jlm, I stand corrected. When I typed the post I was in a big hurry to get out of the house.
What I was trying to say (and did NOT do a good job of it) that I am always amazed that even a lot of people in California think that Mexico is in South America. A lot of people in Italy think that too. I guess I am also surprised that so many people in California think that.Good grief, Mexico is just south of us.
But than again the people that think New Mexico is in Mexico never stops to amaze me.

JLM,
In defense of LoveItaly, Social Studies text books often define N. America as being made up of Canada, the US and Mexico. I'm a SS teacher and there is one small comment in our book that Greenland is considered part of NA but no mention of the role of plate techtonics...They go on to make distinctions between cultural NA (US and Canada only) and Latin America (Mexico, Central America and S. America) The book we use does say that N. America geographically ends at the Isthmus of Panama.

When we teach, our units are broken down based on the cultural slant...We talk about the countries and do make the kids learn their locations (or in the case of the US and Canada, they need to know states, provinces and the 3 Canadian territories)...That's actually something my coteachers and I do--it's not mandated! Are you surprised?

Debbie

Oh, one more thing but in relation to the Eskimos live in igloos stuff...

My kids always have a look of disappointment when I tell them that long ago, the Aleuts and Inuits only used igloos as temporary hunting shelters in the winter and now people live in modern day shelters. They picture Alaska and Canada as being sub-zero year round. I'm not sure they believe me when I tell them I actually wore shorts and tshirts when I visited Alaska during the month of July! They're shocked when I tell them the tundra feels spongy under your feet when you walk on it during the summertime. And that's after I've talked about permafrost and how the topmost layer does thaw! Sometimes I think you just have to experience a place to know what it's like.

lenleigh, you really took that test 20 and failed it because you don't know the east coast?

As in 13 original colonies east coast? Nations capital east coast?

To the people wondering where MO is: It is one of those sort of sqaure states in the middle of the US, fondly referred to as "flyover country".

Now for the tough question: In what state is Kansas City?

(wink wink)

OneWanderingJew. Your students are fortunate to have you as a teacher.
Wish my kids had - they know their countries only because of travels and the maps, world globes etc. we bought them.
About Greenland. I have never heard that Greenland was considered part of North America and I had good teachers when I was in school (especially compared to the California schools my grandchildren go to now). Goes to show we are never past the stage of learning something new!

LoveItaly (and I Loooove Italy by the way!),
I didn't know Greenland is part of North America until I read it in our text book either. I thought that was weird but after a bit of research, I found it has to do with the plate(s) that make up the continent...don't ask me more b/c I don't have an answer for you!

I think being a travel addict helps me teach So. Studies. I've now been to every continent I teach. G-d help me if I change grade levels. It will cost me a bloody fortune b/c I'll be forced (haha) to visit Africa and Asia. Oooh, then I can write off those trips as being work related! Maybe I should put in for 7th grade next year!

Debbie

PS Beentheretwice--Isn't it in MO and KS??

Greenland's association with North America is easier to understand if you look at a globe rather than a flat map.

I can actually relate in a fasion to the Canadians who are sick and tired of moron Americans deplaning in August wearing parkas and demanding to know where they can find some igloo-dwelling Eskimos to stare at. People in the American South experience the same sort of thing, only in reverse.

For some reason, lots of people tend to think that the moment you find yourself south of the DC suburbs, suddenly everyone lives in a gigantic white-pillared mansion reached by a long alley of oaks draped with Spanish moss. All the women are much to delicate to go to work or have an opinion, and all the men wear those idiotic white suits and black bowties made fashionable by Colonel Sanders of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame.

I've been asked, here in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where the best plantation homes are. As if there were actually enough to warrant choosing. The one plantation home anywhere remotely close to this region is Green River Plantation in Rutherfordton, and as far as I know, it's the only plantation, period, for probably a hundred miles or more in any direction.

Meanwhile, I've had people get that crestfallen look on their faces when they learn that if you're going to go looking for the Confederate monument on the courthouse square in Asheville, people will laugh at you until they cry. Because... A -- the mountains of Western North Carolina, like those of western Virginia, the region that became West Virginia, and the Upstate of South Carolina, sided with the Union. Some town were so pro-Union, in fact, that, like the Shelton Laurel community of Madison County, NC, they were burned to the ground by Confederate raiding parties. And B -- this is not by any stretch of the imagination the kind of city where you'll find a slow pace of life, muggy heat, and a courthouse lawn shaded by live oaks. Asheville was a Jazz Age girl who came of age sipping from a hip flask and dancing scandalous dances as F. Scott Fitzgerald bedded the most beautiful babes while his poor Zelda was locked up in a local nuthouse.

And it's not just Asheville that so much more multidimensional than it's alowed credit for in the South. Greensboro, NC, with its strong Quaker heritage, was very much against slavery ever since its founding as was neighboring Salem (which later merged, and hyphanated, with Winston), which was founded as a "utopian" Moravian colony.

And don't get me started on the looks that people give you when you try recommending they look into skiing when bored in the winter. Yes, there are ski resorts in the South, and yes it snows here. This region is not one great big southern Louisiana with palmetto trees and bayous simmering in the summer heat. Give us some credit.

Thanks OneWanderingJew. I sort of cringed when I read about Greenland because History and Geography were always my two favorite classes. Never, never daydreamed through these classes.
Can't say the same for chemistry, ooh sigh. So wondered if I had "drifted off". Besides my family's background and so many people around me in SF and the SF BayArea from everywhere in the world one of the first things I remember is hearing about, Italy, Greece, England, Scotland, France, New Zeeland, Australia and on and on. How fortuante I was.
So this is how I became interested in the world.
I personally wish that every teacher everywhere that taught students about other lands could get a tax credit toward international trips they took.
IMHO this would help all of the earth's population have a better understanding for each other.
I knew (grammar and high school) that none of my teachers had actually traveled to any other the countries they were teaching. I knew this because they taught the facts from the text books but did not have any personal stories to share. Fortunatly they did a good job with the facts however (excluding Greenland). Well actually, we never studied anything about Asia or Africa, how sad.

I have always loved to read, so that has helped considerably. That and always being able to talk to people from all over the world. And the traveling that I have been able to do. Would travel every moment if I could.

And don't we all want the same things? Except for the few who don't, the majority of the population have the same dreams, the same desires for a good decent life for ourselves, our families and our future generations.

Again, I envy the students that have you as a teacher. Cin, cin, (and yes, Italy is wonderful!)

Debbie;

"Kansas City" is in MO. "Kansas City, Kansas" is in Kansas. There is even a Stateline Road. The speed limit in MO is different than that in KS. Until moving here, I would never have known.

And it was proven that KS IS flatter than a pancake.

beentheretwice: I did know that Kansas City is in Missouri and Kansas. Honest, honest :-).
Got so involved with Greenland being in North America that I forgot the question.
Actually, LOL, always thought Kansas City was in Kansas only (as had a friend from their once) until I had a neighbor from MO.
Than confusion (my thinking was, Kansas City is in MO, thought it was in Kansas, ummmm). Than pulled out the atlas and "the lightbulb went on".
Kansas AND Missouri.
A good weekend to you

In response to the OP - some travel misconceptions I've had.

I had heard that Walden Pond was crowded all the time and not at all the peaceful place Thoreau wrote about. Was pleasantly surprised by it -there were people, but not huge crowds and a short walk could take you off by yourself. (I was also suprised by the small town feel of Concord - I guess I expected more urban sprall.)

I thought the Lake Michigan Beaches in Michigan would be OK - I expected rough sand and nothing special. Was pleasantly suprised at how beautiful they were. Wide, soft sand and beautiful sunsets.

Every year teacher certification gets much harder in Illinois on this exact subject. I'm glad.

Now you, regardless of what field you teach, have to have third world history credits and also a nutrition or health category of credit hours. Nothing else was eliminated either. These were just added about 4 years ago. One son, who teaches at junior college, just took another Political Geography as things are changing all the time- and you need to be up on them. I took Chinese History last year and got to do some acupuncture too- really neat! If you've got time on your hands and can't travel all the time- take a class at your local community college. You'll enjoy- and may get a broadened outlook about a lot of misconceptions, like how much you really do know. School is much different when you don't "have to" be there for a degree or whatever. You'd be surprised. I did much of mine in my 40's and 50's- as I had no opportunity for advanced schooling before that.

And I give lenleigh tons of credit for the truthful admission about the US states quiz. I bet she learned a lot just trying. Going back to school for some of the things you don't know, is a great idea whatever age- and it all starts when you realize you don't "know it all" or act like you do.

There are a lot of highly interesting and intelligent people on this board, but people do not retain what they do not use. Possibly some of the more arrogant, would be REALLY shocked if they had to take an intermediate Algebra test and truthfully saw what they had retained. Or had to go take a ACT or an L-STAT after being out of school for more than 10 years. So be kind, people, and never chide someone who is trying to make a stretch. Travel related or not, I can never let someone who is as brave as lenleigh was, let it go by.

Thanks JJ5, why should I be ashamed to admit I don't have all the east coasts states memorized. I know everything without hesitation from the west of North Dakota. I have no problem identifying states like NY, NJ, CT, RI, GA, FL, MI, MN, PA... but it's all those little bible belt ones where I have never been that I don't really remember. I am fully aware of the nations capital by the way.

GoTravel, when I sold airfare I had to memorize all the airport codes worldwide. Bet I know more than most on here but I wouldn't consider anyone ignorant for not knowing them.

People who come up to Minnesta have just left the southern plantations in Iowa where the men always wear white coats. As soon as the get to the Welcome to Minnesota sign they all stop at the rest stop and inquire about how to protect themselves from the wild band of Indians and where to rent a birch bark canoe to get to the north woods. When they canoe up the river past my log home they all ask how much farther to the igloos ,Eskimos and dog sleds. I tell them to just keep going until they find the great North American ice cap just north of Duluth. This is truth and every traveler asks these questions.

Just thought I would add yet another exaggeration and myth about what travelers suppossedly think and ask.

Did that song with all 50 states in it happen to be sung to the tune "Turkey in the Straw"? I learned it in grade school and has come in handy more times than i can count. Like on quiz shows when the final questions is listing all US states that begin with the letter M.

I was born in Wisconsin but moved to Mississippi when I was still quite youg. To this day I'm amazed at what one group of friends assumed about the other. The WI friends were figured I'd never get used to living down there, what with all of the barefootedness and not enough indoor plumbing to go around. The MS contingency didn't understand how a person could live in snow and ice all year round.

But they were kids for the most part, and any ignorance on their part might be forgiven. It was when I moved from MS to Massachusetts as an adult that I was truly taken aback by all of the preconceived notions folks up here have about the South. Not everybody certainly, but plenty of people here in western MA who pride themselves on being cultural, liberal-minded men and women accosted me with insinuations of being virulently racist, Republican, anti-feminist, anti-gay, etc. (I'm not any of the above.) Because clearly anyone with a MS accent who refuses to give up the use of "y'all" (which is really the only non-gender specific plural form of the word "you" in the English language) must love Trent Lott and long for the days of segregation, ya know?

As far as my own travel misconceptions, on my first visit to Europe, I was surprised that everybody was driving on the same side of the road as Americans do. I had assumed that because Brits drive on the left that all Europeans would, too.

When I moved from MS to MA, I was surprised how rugged the terrain was, not realizing that the Appalachian mountains continue all the way to ME. I had been expecting greenery, certainly, but mostly in the form of rolling farmland. Not crags and small peaks.

And I recently had a disagreement with an acquaintance who is also a part time travel agent who did not believe that Dominica and the Dominican Republic are two separate countries.

Years ago my DH, newly immigrated from India, was giving a talk to HS kids about India. He came from Calcutta, a huge city in Eastern India His talk was complete with pictures. At the end of the talk he asked if there were any questions. One seemingly intelligent student asked if he rode an elephant to school. After staring at this child for several moments, he replied..."Yeah, but the're the devil to park."