Geography+Resources



Quinn Hurdle Kevin Aaron

[] In my experience, History teachers often struggle with designing lesson that incorporate geography. I think there are two reasons for this. First, many teachers an in depth understanding of geographic factors and second, the skills required to understand geography and its relationship to people are in some ways more challenging then other skills. This resource provides teachers with an introduction on how to teach geography and connects it to a pedagogical framework. The site offers teachers direct instruction on geography and provides resources including lesson plans.
 * __ Curated Resources for Teaching Geography __**
 * Teaching Teachers
 * Teaching Teachers

National Geography Standards [] There are several components of geography. Teachers have to determine which components are most important for their students and the curriculum. National geography standards break down geographic standards and identifies specific skills associated with each standards. This site is terrific for helping teachers to construct a unit on geography or to use when constructing lesson that incorporate specific geographic concepts like migration or economic growth using the earth’s surface.

Geography- Direct Instruction [|http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/mapping/interactive-map/?lg=11&b=0&f=131&bbox=-174.77644,11.95335,-8.13581,68.81593&ar_a=1&t=1&ls=801007] Many student struggle with visualizing differences in the relationship between people and physical areas. This site allows users to control for certain variables and to manipulate a global map to show isolated characteristics. This tool could be used in a variety of ways including direct instruction and also independent practice. Teachers could use it to show population density (urbanization) or climatic differences between the north and south (cause of the civil war). The site is not only good for history teachers; it includes several options for science as well (e.g., volcanic eruptions)

Geographic Definitions [] A common vernacular is critical for kids to learn. Teachers may fail to use important geographic terms because they are unaware or may use terms that students do not know and that are not easily defined. This site provides a list of common geographic terms that both teachers and students can use to create operational definitions of key terms used in class. Some of the terms are more appropriate for science but others are certainly applicable to history.

Google Earth [] No curated list of geographic resources would be complete without google maps. The free download will help students to research nearly every place on earth, develop special awareness, and control for a variety of variables. In U.S. history, google earths could be used for a variety of purposes from showing key battles from previous wars to illustrated differences between rural and urban areas, to showing border between countries.

U.S. Geography [] From elementary to high school, students need to practice interacting with geography. This site offers students a variety of “games” to develop their skills in identifying geographic features. The site is designed for different levels so it students could determine which level is within their zone of proximal development zone both younger.

Global Maps [] There is a correlation between geography the human condition. This site changes the size of continents based on how they are affected by certain phenomenon. A provocative site, the maps offered allow students to consider deep issues of access and equity by examining factors such “movies watched” to “living on a dollar a day.” As a digital resources, its helps students to see global trends.

Geography in the News [] The articles found on this webpage are those published in Geographical journals and therefore serve as an excellent resource to both students and teachers. Teachers can use the papers to further geographical knowledge as well as potentially assign a research paper or project. Students can use these articles to gain further understanding of contemporary debates and theories surrounding geography.

National Atlas [] This webpage serves a wide array of people interested in geography and those who may not even know that something they desire to know can be found on this page. This site provides topographic maps and other geographic information by offering a range of scales and layers of geospatial information on its National Map.

World Mapper [] Imagine the world, as you’ve never seen it. Can you imagine that? Yea ne neither. What this website serves to do is provide a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest. Some examples are “land area to population,” another is “ internet users from 2000-07,” a third one is “human poverty.” This site can service both students and teacher in many ways, but one in particular would be to contextualize geography in many different aspect as well as put different components of it into perspective.

United States Environ-mental Protection Agency [] This webpage provides numerous resources for both students and teachers. The resources range from homework resources to ideas for a school project. The page also has games, quizzes, and tutorials for those interesting in increasing their knowledge on geography. For teachers (ex. History, geography, civics etc.) the webpage has lesson plans and teacher guides to enable one to begin brainstorming a cool project or essay assignment students will enjoy. ||