7. Ten Geography Activities for Secondary Students

“Geography frequently takes a back seat to history in the social studies classroom,” say Tom Marshall and Michael Gonchar in this New York Times Learning Network article, “but teaching geographic literacy is essential if students are going to understand the challenges and opportunities of our complex world.” They suggest ten activities for teaching geography using New York Times content, all related to the National Geography Standards:

http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/standards/national-geography-standards/?ar_a=1

• Play Geography Bingo. Have students search New York Times stories and archives to fill in a Bingo card on topics like migration, culture, and ecosystems:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/blogs/learning/pdf/2012/GeographyStandardsBingoLN.pdf

• Have students draw and annotate mental maps. They should think about times they got lost and how we may be losing skills because we’ve become too dependent on technology.

• Compare different kinds of maps. Some maps are better than others, and by looking at different kinds of maps – and use of symbols, imagery, and technology – students can design their own maps of a location they know well, a location in a film or novel, or an imaginary place, to convey detail and enhance understanding.

• Explore boundary disputes. The one that’s most in the news is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians over their borders. Have students look at the New York Times Borderlines blog for interesting and compelling examples.

• Explore international stereotypes. Students have opinions of people in other countries that are often exaggerated or inaccurate. Introduce the concepts and have them identify contemporary examples of stereotyping.

• Explore economic globalization. Have students read articles on the outsourcing of iPhone jobs and the impact of floods in Thailand and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

• Explore the culture, history, and landscape of a foreign land. Have students read the Frugal Traveler and Journeys columns in the Times and then write their own travel stories.

• Explore how people affect their environment for better or for worse. Examples include cities in the Brazilian rain forest and protecting woodlands in Paraguay.

• Explore the effects of storms, earthquakes, and climate change. Students explore the negative and positive effects and write letters to local officials suggesting effective actions.

• Explore migration of people around the world. What are the pushes and pulls?

“All Over the Map: 10 Ways to Teach About Geography” by Tom Marshall and Michael Gonchar in The New York Times Learning Network, Dec. 12, 2012

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/all-over-the-map-10-ways-to-teach-about-geography/

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