GEOGRAPHY EDUCATION

Just because we build retaining walls, fences, storm drains and other features, it doesn’t mean that erosion will stop being a major and consistent force shaping the landscape.   I don’t think they got their money’s worth on there environmental impact statement, but I’m sure the real estate agent really sold them on the beautiful view.  

Questions to Ponder: Why do we build homes where we do?  How is this different across cultures (hint-Brazil)?

Tags: physical, geomorphology, erosion, landforms.

The source of migrants today has changed the cultural composition of the United States from what is was 100 years ago.  Cultures are not static and migration is one of the key drivers of change. These maps produced by the Pew Research Center. Despite what media reports would have you believe, immigration into the United States is not on the rise, but maps such as these can be construed to imagine that there is a flow of immigrant coming from south of the border.  The reality is that migration from Mexico to the United States has steadily dropped since 1999.  

Tags: migration, historical, USA, mapping, census, ethnicity.

Occasionally these lists that say something like “40 maps that…” end up being an odd assortment of trivia that is interesting but not very instructive.  Not so with this list that has carefully curated these maps and graphs in a sequential order that will enrich students’ understanding of food production and consumption in the United States.

Tags: agriculture, food production, food distribution, locavore, agribusiness, USA. 

I’m sure a few of you have already seen this viral video and it should be intriguing to geographers for a variety of reasons (and not just because we love hexagons). Solar Roadways is a project in its infancy, but they have broad ambitions that would be revolutionary.  Roads that would produce energy?  The idea would have staggering results, but there are some practical reasons why this hasn’t already been implemented.  A geographic perspective is critical as we plan for the future.   

Questions to Ponder: How would the full implementation of this idea restructure the cultural landscape, urban environments and our cultural ecology?  What would some advantages be?  This video is a promotional video that emphasizes the positive; what drawbacks, limitations and obstacles are there to solar roadways in the future?  

Tags: transportation, technology, energy,  sustainability, planning, video.

I’ve had a wonderful week in Cincinnati at the APHG reading.  Teachers love to share ideas and resources when we gather together and we’ve compiled 4 pages of links, books, websites and other resources that APHG readers have suggested for classroom use.  Here is a 4-page compilation of APHG reader-suggested resources. Additionally, here is the final newsletter (earlier editions of the newsletter archived here).   I’ll miss the friendliness and professional expertise of this fantastic network of geography educators.  See you next year!

This set of 12 graphics all show a particular facet on the topic of global poverty.  I’ve shared some of this before, but the compilation is definitely helpful.  In the graphic above, the connection between low female literacy rates and poverty is demonstrated quite powerfully.    

Tags: poverty, development, economic, visualization.

Extreme poverty is defined by the World Bank living on under $1.25 per day.  The geography of of extreme poverty highly uneven–two thirds of the extremely poor live in just 5 countries (India, China, Nigeria, Bangladesh and DR Congo).  This photogallery seeks to to show the daily life and realities of those living in extreme poverty.  This article from the Guardian argues that development should measured in human rights gains more than economic advancements. 

Tags: poverty, images, development, economic, perspective.