Spatial Concept Perspectives

We have gathered ~300 excerpts from published works about fundamental spatial concept terms. These have been cross-referenced with the concept lexicon appearing on the left. Those terms were drawn from the U.S.National Science Education Standards (NSES 1996) for topic areas B - Physical Science, C - Life Science, D - Earth and Space Science, as well as from the 1994 U.S. Geography Teaching Standards for grades 9-12. Those standards can be browsed here.

spatial concept terms

disciplinary perspectives on "point"

point

A singular location, locus or position; e.g. an exact time on a timeline. A mathematical point has no extension. An isolated electron approaches being a 'point charge'. Positions in geometric arrangements (e.g. a crystal lattice) are points. The intersection of an artificial horizon or computed boundary and a trajectory may be a 'point of no return', or a decision point in a search pattern. An abrupt transition is a point, e.g. a boiling point. Some structures are 'pointed', e.g. a thorn.

Science Education

Mathewson, J. H. (2005)

The visual core of science: definition and applications to education