Acquiring Powerful Thinking Through Geographical Key Concepts

This chapter explores the key concept approach in geography education, outlining four different concepts of space used in the German educational standards currently applied in state schools. Consideration is given to how teachers use a conceptual approach to enable them to plan lessons which promote geographical thinking and enquiry. Two exemplar exercises are presented which illustrate possibilities for key concept development and opportunities to introduce challenging enquiry to promote powerful thinking—both for geography teachers and for their students. By reporting on the outcomes of a research project into the use of key concepts in geography classes, this chapter reflects on what has been learnt during the training of geography teachers about the practical implementation of key concepts in classrooms. Suggestions are also offered for the development of in-service training concerning geographical concepts.