GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

“Why Republicans Can’t Afford to Concede the City Vote Ever Again.”

Short and simple: the United States is an urban country and any political party hoping to win a national election must capture at least some of the major metropolitan areas of the country. That isn’t ideological; that’s simple urban geography and demographics making it’s way into national politics.  “The math of assuming that the cities will go to Democrats is just a losing game forward for Republicans.” 

See on www.theatlanticcities.com

At the dacha, the soul of Russia–and its cultural divide–is on display. In vacation cottages the women are in housedresses. The men, Speedos and rubber boots. They brood, plant, party, and restore their souls.

See on ngm.nationalgeographic.com

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Ricans faced a fundamental question on Election Day: Should they change their ties with the United States?

Lost in the election day enthusiasm throught much of the United Statees was coverage about Puerto Rico.  A ‘non-binding referendum’ was on the ballot to reconsider the 114-relationship with the United States as a territory.  54% voted for a change, while 46% favored the status quo.  The second question was asking how to change that relationship: 61% voted for statehood, 33% endorsed a sovereign free association, and 5% for independence.  President Obama has gone on record stating that he’ll support the will of a clear majority.  We’ll see what this means, but we are a lot closer to 51 states than we’ve ever been before. 

Tags: USA, political, states, autonomy. 

See on www.washingtonpost.com

Some buildings and features are so well known they have become icons of place.

This is a great collection of important world landmarks including the pictured Potala Palace in the Tibetan city of Lhasa.  Who wouldn’t like to see some of these places?   

Tags: geo-inspiration, tourism, images.

See on matadornetwork.com

See how much voter groups have shifted in the 2012 exit polls, compared to 2008. Early numbers are preliminary and may change significantly until midday Wednesday, when poll results are finalized.

The 2012 election mostly went as predicted (given Virginia and Florida’s voting pattern, I’d invite you to re-think the “Where Does the South Begin” or at least to contextualize the political and cultural implications for the defining the vernacular region of “the South”).  I’m sure we’ve all seen the electoral college map, but this great graphic shows the demographic groups voting patterns that produced that map. 

See on www.washingtonpost.com

Roads? Religion? Accent? Food? Which factor dictates where the North ends?

This is a great intellectual expercise to help student think about regions and how we define them.  The article can help also inform some of their thinking since one of the main problems for students in drawing regional boundaries is lack of place-based knowledge.   

Tags: regions, USA.

See on www.theatlantic.com

Brown University’s Choices Program has many excellent resources for social studies teachers including “Teaching with the News.”  Many teachers are seeing the importance of Syria, but might lack the regional expertise to put it in context or to the time to link it with the curriculum.  If that is the case (and even if it is not), this is the perfect place to find lesson plans on the ongoing Syrian conflict. 

Tags: political, MiddleEast, conflict, war.

See on www.choices.edu

Topography and elevation matters.  We can dry to make water dry ground (and vice versa), but not without future consequences.   

See on www.manhattanpast.com