#worldgeochat is a weekly chat focused on teaching geography and global studies. Chats vary between geography specific topics as well as general teaching and education topics. ALL are welcome in worldgeochat!
Hi everyone, Ed, 7th grade world geography teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. Looking forward to learning some new cross curricular ideas tonight! #worldgeochat
No scotch for me tonight. Settling in to #worldgeochat as the only bulletproof member of my family tonight. Everyone down for the count with the flu but me.
Got my books, tea, and tweetdeck
Suggestions & tips to make your experience positive and productive!
1. Use #worldgeochat hashtag
2. Use Q1/A1 format. A1,A2,etc 4 responses
3. Be kind, supportive + professional
Suggestions & tips to make your experience positive and productive!
1. Use #worldgeochat hashtag
2. Use Q1/A1 format. A1,A2,etc 4 responses
3. Be kind, supportive + professional
I teach 8th grade US History in Southern CA. I hope to grow my PLN and I always feel the need to improve the focus on geography in my instruction! #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 1:
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
(DEFEND?, CONVINCE?)
TO A COLLEAGUE OF ANOTHER DISCIPLINE THAT GEOGRAPHY IS WORTH DOING A INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT WITH?
WHAT’S YOUR BEST ELEVATOR PITCH?
#worldgeochat Question 1:
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
(DEFEND?, CONVINCE?)
TO A COLLEAGUE OF ANOTHER DISCIPLINE THAT GEOGRAPHY IS WORTH DOING A INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT WITH?
WHAT’S YOUR BEST ELEVATOR PITCH?
a1: maps could be incorporated anywhere and through anything. Currently teaching geometry and tying it to maps and area / population density. #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 1:
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
(DEFEND?, CONVINCE?)
TO A COLLEAGUE OF ANOTHER DISCIPLINE THAT GEOGRAPHY IS WORTH DOING A INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT WITH?
WHAT’S YOUR BEST ELEVATOR PITCH?
A1: The argument for interdisciplinary learning in any subject area is the same: there are no such thing as subjects. So let's mix it up, broaden our students understanding of what real problems and real learning look like. #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 1:
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
(DEFEND?, CONVINCE?)
TO A COLLEAGUE OF ANOTHER DISCIPLINE THAT GEOGRAPHY IS WORTH DOING A INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT WITH?
WHAT’S YOUR BEST ELEVATOR PITCH?
A1: Geography is integrated into everything, every subject. Poetry is based off of religion and environment, math and maps go side by side, science and geography are inseparable. Everything comes back to geography #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 1:
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
(DEFEND?, CONVINCE?)
TO A COLLEAGUE OF ANOTHER DISCIPLINE THAT GEOGRAPHY IS WORTH DOING A INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT WITH?
WHAT’S YOUR BEST ELEVATOR PITCH?
A1: first of all, very lucky to have a staff that digs cross curricular in general, but easiest/best pitch is “does your subject fit somewhere with the ENTIRE WORLD? I think we can work with that” #worldgeochat
A1 A geo unit helps to explain the relationships between the people, places, and events through all disciplines. I would love to jump into a PE unit on the geography of sports. #worldgeochat
A1) While student focus needs to be less on point & recall of detailed locations,we live in a world more tightly knit than ever before. Students can draw connections from geography that lead into politics, economics, society & culture! #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 1:
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
(DEFEND?, CONVINCE?)
TO A COLLEAGUE OF ANOTHER DISCIPLINE THAT GEOGRAPHY IS WORTH DOING A INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT WITH?
WHAT’S YOUR BEST ELEVATOR PITCH?
A1 There is something in geography to capture any student's attention, and to present content from all other disciplines from another POV. #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 1:
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN
(DEFEND?, CONVINCE?)
TO A COLLEAGUE OF ANOTHER DISCIPLINE THAT GEOGRAPHY IS WORTH DOING A INTERDISCIPLINARY UNIT WITH?
WHAT’S YOUR BEST ELEVATOR PITCH?
A1: Geography is integrated into everything, every subject. Poetry is based off of religion and environment, math and maps go side by side, science and geography are inseparable. Everything comes back to geography #worldgeochat
There are so many connections that can be made between geography and other content areas, whether it be through literature, math, science etc....#worldgeochat
A1 Bringing in geography provides a richer, more complete educational experience--from literature to science to music. You can understand many ideas in these disciplines by looking at physical and/or cultural geography! #worldgeochat
A1: I know I’ve shared this before, but geography is inherently interdisciplinary. The content sell is easy. Yet, the world is also increasingly interconnected and students won’t be working in the kinds of of silos we currently teach in. #worldgeochat
A1: an English T & I are always bouncing ideas off of each other when it comes to seeing how we can contribute to each other's lesson ... geo really helps her Ss understand the context of novels #worldgeochat
A1 #geography is LITERALLY the study of every single physical system on the planet PLUS every single human system on the planet... AND how those systems interact with each other so we can ask difficult questions 2 explain why were are all here & where are we going
#worldgeochat
A1) Geography has the potential to relate to everything when used strategically including culture, religion, landforms etc... It forms the foundation of many other content areas. #worldgeochat
A1: I always say to colleagues and my students that Geography is all encompassing, that's why it's my favorite. I get to teach English, Spanish, Science, Government, Math, and so much more, all in one little class! #worldgeochat
A1: I know I’ve shared this before, but geography is inherently interdisciplinary. The content sell is easy. Yet, the world is also increasingly interconnected and students won’t be working in the kinds of of silos we currently teach in. #worldgeochat
A1 sewing multiple people mentioning connections with ELA teachers and I think once you do one or two things together, it clicks that ELA and Geography were meant for each other. I could team teach the whole year with Our ELA T #worldgeochat
A1: I know I’ve shared this before, but geography is inherently interdisciplinary. The content sell is easy. Yet, the world is also increasingly interconnected and students won’t be working in the kinds of of silos we currently teach in. #worldgeochat
A1: We recently had local businesses come in to do a career day with our freshmen students. When business leaders were asked what skills students need, one of the top three was knowing how to use ArcGIS. #worldgeochat
A2: Latitude and Longitude! Love throwing in games for that portion - we did Battleship this year! I also did an activity where they did math with Mayan numbers - it was a hit! #worldgeochat
A2 population pyramids are great for x and y axis, bar graphs, labels, etc. we will be experimenting with possibility of building 3D population pyramids as extension of math project building 3D “normal” pyramids #worldgeochat
how long would it take a caravan to get from (insert city) to (insertcity) on the Silk Road going at (insert speed) - you need 2 gallons of water per day. how much water do you neeD? how much will that weigh? #worldgeochat
A2 Ss created a simple webpage with a .js script for Comp. Sci Class... and me to easily upload a spreadsheet and calculate natural breaks. Soooo Cool! #worldgeochat#OneForMathOneForCode#GeoCanCteTOO
A2: Honestly haven't worked with my math department on Geography. We could definitely look into working with Longitude and Latitude systems, topographic map reading or even some crunching of demographics or other data. #worldgeochat
a2: I've learned some students have trouble connecting graphing to lat/long --> It's reverse (x,y) is left/right first and lat/long is read north/south first #worldgeochat
We examine latitude and longitude, budgets, demographics, and travel time/distance & I have to say it’s fun showing Ss how to apply their math skills #worldgeochat
Yes! Totally forgot about plotting latitude & longitude! I've done a similar activity with Battleship before. I need to do this again next year! #worldgeochat
Population growth, demographic trends, GDP, statistics on income and just about everything else! The opportunities are endless and also a necessary part of teaching about the world. Without these numbers we wouldn't be able to base our information on data. #worldgeochat
A2: Mathematical models for doubling time, natural increase, arithmetic vs. exponential growth and the gravity model are all so real-world applicable. It’s great to use math to justify optimal locations for businesses and do market area analysis. #worldgeochat
A2: Honestly haven't worked with my math department on Geography. We could definitely look into working with Longitude and Latitude systems, topographic map reading or even some crunching of demographics or other data. #worldgeochat
A2: One of my favorite math/geo projects came from the brain of a tremendous math colleague, @sarahwilson144. We used perpendicular bisectors to map access to services in our community. #worldgeochat
Population growth, demographic trends, GDP, statistics on income and just about everything else! The opportunities are endless and also a necessary part of teaching about the world. Without these numbers we wouldn't be able to base our information on data. #worldgeochat
A2: Here’s a great podcast on the math behind the efficiency gap, which might be an answer to more definitively identifying gerrymandered districts. #worldgeochathttps://t.co/YwaCeS06qN
Tony from Singapore here. Late for #worldgeochat again and leaving soon:( But love seeing the connections to maths. Wish our Maths Dept. were not so dysfunctional.
#worldgeochat Question 3:
SCIENCE!!
WHAT SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES/STATE STANDARDS DO YOU ADDRESS IN YOUR INSTRUCTION? HOW?
WHAT DO YOU FIND EASY/HARD TO WEAVE TOGETHER?
Any excuse to use Lego! I ran a GeoLego club after school. Kids built models of landmarks. Mostly buildings like the Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower, Pyramids. A couple of volcanoes though :) #worldgeochat
I sometimes this that many geography teachers focus too heavily on the human geography side of things and get nervous of digging in to a 'heavy science' physical geography side. #worldgeochat
A3- I did a lesson with the bio teacher talking about the spread of disease. It was a schoolwide simulation. It was really cool to see the disease spread around the school #worldgeochat
A3b: SUSTAINABILITY! Science this year tdiscussed a lot about renewable energy and resources. Right now, they're talking about earthquakes. These are all things I talk about but with a geographic lens #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 3:
SCIENCE!!
WHAT SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES/STATE STANDARDS DO YOU ADDRESS IN YOUR INSTRUCTION? HOW?
WHAT DO YOU FIND EASY/HARD TO WEAVE TOGETHER?
A3: Thinking ahead for next year, the beginning of the year would be so amazing to tie with my science teacher! We talk landforms and water. Also, anything about climate is totally applicable! #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 3:
SCIENCE!!
WHAT SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES/STATE STANDARDS DO YOU ADDRESS IN YOUR INSTRUCTION? HOW?
WHAT DO YOU FIND EASY/HARD TO WEAVE TOGETHER?
A3: Malthusian Theory seems to be an easy environmental science connection to make (carrying capacity, bro-Malthusians, tragedy of the commons). AP Environmental Science always seems like a logical follow-up to AP Human Geo. #worldgeochat
When kids come back from break, they're GOING to do an Amazing Race that highlights many of the chapters in the textbook. I'm going to try and use most of their activities. They're awesome. I emphasize going because I am determined to make this happen haha. #worldgeochat
In reply to
@ecasey77, @ParkersGeocats, @TeacherRunner42
My team's science teacher and I have addressed issues of water scarcity together the past two years. She has had students create filters for water. It is so powerful to show students these connections. #worldgeochat
It is easy to learn through the perspective of geography. Image below is the step by step directions to a visual map/canvas. In this case...the header of https://t.co/ytem4mnid2. Indentation is meaningful. Nothing but boxes nested in boxes. #worldgeochat
A3b: SUSTAINABILITY! Science this year tdiscussed a lot about renewable energy and resources. Right now, they're talking about earthquakes. These are all things I talk about but with a geographic lens #worldgeochat
A3 We hit environmental concerns pretty hard in my classes, I've had students draw models of physical systems, create posters, AP students had to dig in and research green energy technologies. It helps that I'm married to an environmentalist so it comes easily.
#worldgeochat
Love this ide Ed! You can connect math and ELA with water scarcity as well! The add in some foreign language and culture. Boom!!! Connections everywhere! #worldgeochat
My team's science teacher and I have addressed issues of water scarcity together the past two years. She has had students create filters for water. It is so powerful to show students these connections. #worldgeochat
A3) Some of my 8th grade Ss take bio as elective. They recently had to choose one school lunch item and diagram it's procress from harvest through processing and packaging then through the digestive system. cool idea! #worldgeochat
A2 Classic geography topics like the GPGP, seasons, core/mantle/crust are some of the most-accessed science topics on our site. Tech-science is a harder sell. #worldgeochathttps://t.co/TLRnf8kZWn
#worldgeochat Question 4:
THE ARTS!!
HAVE YOU EVER DONE A CROSS-CURRICULAR ARTS UNIT/LESSON IN GEOGRAPHY CLASS?
WHAT WAS IT LIKE?
DID YOU BRING IN THE RELEVANT ARTS TEACHER?
WHAT WORKED? WHAT DIDN'T?
#worldgeochat Question 4:
THE ARTS!!
HAVE YOU EVER DONE A CROSS-CURRICULAR ARTS UNIT/LESSON IN GEOGRAPHY CLASS?
WHAT WAS IT LIKE?
DID YOU BRING IN THE RELEVANT ARTS TEACHER?
WHAT WORKED? WHAT DIDN'T?
A4: I'm going to answer this one twice. We also updated the Mona Lisa for 2018. My favorite ones had her in football jerseys, with tattoos, and at a Starbucks! #worldgeochat
A4 my cooperating teacher did salt and flour maps of South America so they could sculpt the differences in elevation and then paint it with a legend/key for elevation. I haven’t done it since but it was cool #worldgeochat
A4 Music is a great connection. Our chorus students use a couple of Anti- Apartheid songs. Our orchestra teacher used some pieces from Hamilton. Having students explore the history behind those songs is a natural connection. #worldgeochat
I would often use art projects as a way to scaffold student learning and allow some students demonstrate understanding in a different/simplified way. #worldgeochat
A4: I actually have Ss working on art & film pieces that examine the impact of media on protest mvmts around the world ... some interesting pieces are being designed rn #worldgeochat
A4 Music is a great connection. Our chorus students use a couple of Anti- Apartheid songs. Our orchestra teacher used some pieces from Hamilton. Having students explore the history behind those songs is a natural connection. #worldgeochat
A4: Under the guidance of @BoylanJohnICW (greatest English teacher of all time), students published graphic novels on fracking, conflict minerals, and fair trade.
#worldgeochat
A4 Music is a great connection. Our chorus students use a couple of Anti- Apartheid songs. Our orchestra teacher used some pieces from Hamilton. Having students explore the history behind those songs is a natural connection. #worldgeochat
A4 Music is a great connection. Our chorus students use a couple of Anti- Apartheid songs. Our orchestra teacher used some pieces from Hamilton. Having students explore the history behind those songs is a natural connection. #worldgeochat
a S is working on a parody of Call Me, Maybe dealing with student walkouts around the world ... I'll definitely post the finished product! #worldgeochat
So many great #resources from #worldgeochat on "Teaching with Sports and the Olympics" last night!
@GeoPenny You earned the @playfanschool 🏅 for best links! Well played 🏆
In this thread are the best links from the chat...
#worldgeochat Question 5:
ELA!!!
SINCE ELA OFTEN LENDS ITSELF TO INTERESTING CROSS-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES, SHARE A LINK, PICTURE, OR STORY OF YOUR FAVORITE ELA-MOMENT IN GEOGRAPHY AND WHY IT WAS SO AWESOME.
TELL US A COOL STORY!
We would do something similar but with the tops of paper boxes and recycled materials to build geographic features #worldgeochat The custodian did not like my room for two weeks every September.
A4: Haven't worked with the art teacher yet, but I do lots of arts and crafts type projects in my classroom. The favorite this year was creating their own Von Thünen models to explain agriculture sysytens. Simple but effective. #worldgeochat
A5: we read various novels in our World Geo sections, but I loved when several Ss told me that I am Malala was the first book they read cover to cover #worldgeochat
A4) Students in my U.S. History class analyzed Hamilton lyrics and looked for various geographic elements & maneuvers used during the American Rev. They illustrated the lyrics with a simple picture retell. Fun results! #worldgeochat
A4- you can always give the Ss he option of showing their learning by creating a song, poem, book, comic strip, or anything else in the arts. #worldgeochat
A5 At @ncss17 last November, I set in on a terrific presentation by two MA middle school teachers (one social studies and one ELA) on their use of A Long Walk to Water in a collaborative unit. https://t.co/0Ipw1LDPz8#worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 5:
ELA!!!
SINCE ELA OFTEN LENDS ITSELF TO INTERESTING CROSS-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES, SHARE A LINK, PICTURE, OR STORY OF YOUR FAVORITE ELA-MOMENT IN GEOGRAPHY AND WHY IT WAS SO AWESOME.
TELL US A COOL STORY!
A5: I actually NEED to incorporate more books and such into my teaching. @Jim_dEntremont just held a "Book Buffet" with his students. They choose books such as Year With No Rain #worldgeochat
World Geo - I am Malala & Lord of the Flies
Tech Academy - Ready Player One, 1984 & I, Robot
Med Academy - Blood & Guts, They Spirit Catches You & World War Z
#worldgeochat
A5: Beowulf unit combined the ELA study of the hero's journey and dual reading in geography as a study of migration, evolution of language, poetry (scops), and how to identify the traits of an ancient culture if you only have text. #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 5:
ELA!!!
SINCE ELA OFTEN LENDS ITSELF TO INTERESTING CROSS-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES, SHARE A LINK, PICTURE, OR STORY OF YOUR FAVORITE ELA-MOMENT IN GEOGRAPHY AND WHY IT WAS SO AWESOME.
TELL US A COOL STORY!
A5 Although more of a foreign-language resource than ELA, this illustration gallery is a nice resource for learning Spanish vocabulary, as well as marine ecosystems. #worldgeochathttps://t.co/lLkilKouvy
A5: Enjoyable to discuss books about food - Mark Kurlansky’s Salt, Cod for example. Find that these catch interest of some Ss who don’t usually like to read #worldgeochat
A5 our amazon land use debate gets bigger every year. Kid in first photo got standing ovation with passionate argument for using rainforest for oil exploration, even though he doesn’t personally agree with it! #worldgeochat
It was often since to come back to an ELA connection right after I'd just pushed my limits with something sciency/math (my interest but not expertise..lol) #worldgeochat
A5: No pics, but we used Google Earth to track the travels of the main character from our novel study. We did virtual field trips to all the villages and cities he visited - really made the book come alive for my kids! #worldgeochat
A5 our amazon land use debate gets bigger every year. Kid in first photo got standing ovation with passionate argument for using rainforest for oil exploration, even though he doesn’t personally agree with it! #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 6:
Potpourri!
WHAT SUBJECTS OR INTERDISCIPLINARY OPPORTUNITIES DID WE LEAVE OUT THAT YOU'D LIKE 2 HIGHLIGHT OR GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO?
HELP US BRAINSTORM NEW DIRECTIONS 2 TAKE OUR INSTRUCTION!
PS: I purposely left Social Studies/History off this list, why?
A5: Here is a @RudyFrancisco poem I like to use to start of our study of urban geography. It’s a great hook to set the historical context of discriminatory housing policies...and connect it to relevant ongoing issues today. #worldgeochat
My good friend has been teaching RP1 in his high school ELA classes for the past three or four years #worldgeochat I'll reach out to him (not on twitter)
In reply to
@jmgarner2003, @LFU_MissCox, @ms_hansen
A5) Cross curricular unit with SS and ELA, "How do people survive injustice throughout US history?" In both classes we tie in geography with the Triangule of Trade/Slavery and cover historic geo. locations up through the Civil Rights Movement. #worldgeochat
A6: I would definitely love to incorporate more STEAM into my classroom. I have many students that love coding, creating, and solving problems. What can we create with the global issues that we have? #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 6:
Potpourri!
WHAT SUBJECTS OR INTERDISCIPLINARY OPPORTUNITIES DID WE LEAVE OUT THAT YOU'D LIKE 2 HIGHLIGHT OR GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO?
HELP US BRAINSTORM NEW DIRECTIONS 2 TAKE OUR INSTRUCTION!
PS: I purposely left Social Studies/History off this list, why?
A6 i liked doing a joint lesson with my Eng 9 neighbor when we mapped Odysseus' trip when they read the Odyssey!! very fun and kids made their own map of the Med #worldgeochat
#worldgeochat Question 6:
Potpourri!
WHAT SUBJECTS OR INTERDISCIPLINARY OPPORTUNITIES DID WE LEAVE OUT THAT YOU'D LIKE 2 HIGHLIGHT OR GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO?
HELP US BRAINSTORM NEW DIRECTIONS 2 TAKE OUR INSTRUCTION!
PS: I purposely left Social Studies/History off this list, why?
A6: I want to get the tech classes more involved with my class! I assist with our coding club and want to find a way to infuse it into my classes ASAP. #goals, right? #worldgeochat
A6 Foreign language makes the most sense to me. It helps to explain to many concepts in geography: diffusion, culture preferences, religion. #worldgeochat
A5) Cross curricular unit with SS and ELA, "How do people survive injustice throughout US history?" In both classes we tie in geography with the Triangle of Trade/Slavery and cover historic geo. locations up through the Civil Rights Movement. #worldgeochat
Yes! I think generating an App brings in so many great connections. And there are a few good challenges out there to get students hooked (with or without the technical know-how). #worldgeochat
A6: I use #gamification with my 4th-6th graders in a world travel themed game called Globetrotters. Each month we focus on a different country in my PE classes. #worldgeochat
Fantastic. Responsive poems are powerful. One of our readers contributed a spectacular reflection on the Khyber Pass in response to Rudyard Kipling here. #worldgeochathttps://t.co/aIQkqAh50a
As we begin to wind down #worldgeochat tonight, a BIG thanks to @GeoSpiegs for moderating and guiding us through an AWESOME conversation! So many tabs open! Also, happy birthday to moderator @cheffernan75 🎂🎂
Thank you so much @GeoSpiegs for taking the lead on this chat! Thank you to everyone that participated! There are so many ways that we can make these connections for students! I can't wait to try these new ideas out! #worldgeochat
As we wind down, I'd like to express my gratitude to this group of amazing educators. Lots of great ideas traded tonight. Lots to think on. #worldgeochat
