The Newsletter of the Connecticut Geographic Alliance
Endowed by the National Geographic Society Education Foundation

Contacting CGA

Connecticut Geographic Alliance
University of Connecticut Geography Department
CLAS Building     U-4148 Storrs, Connecticut 06269-4148
Phone:  860-486-0374     Fax:  860-486-1348

Co-coordinators
William DeGrazia
Educator
203-375-8882
BDGeoTC@aol.com

Thomas Brodnitzki
Teacher, CREC Medical Professions & Teacher Preparation Academy,
Windsor Adjunct Instructor, Department of Geography, University of Connecticut
860-485-8105
TBrodnitzki@mlc.crec.org

Rita Courtois, Administrative Assistant
RitaCourtois@yahoo.com
Please contact Rita by email to update your email address or phone number or add them to our list.

CGA Website:  www.CTGeoAlliance.org

Newsletter Contributors
Thanks are extended to several CGA members who contributed information for this edition of On the Road including Bill DeGrazia, Joyce Crebase, Ed Argenta, Eve Pech, Thad Dymkowski, Kathleen Ryan, and Rita Courtois.

Become a Fan on Facebook!
Millions of people use the social networking site Facebook to reconnect with old friends, keep in touch with family members, and make connections with new people. The Connecticut Geographic Alliance now has its own Facebook page! Search for “Connecticut Geographic Alliance” and become a fan! Check the page often for updates, special events, and news from the CGA.

Mark Your Calendars!
April 1, 2011
Connecticut Geographic Bee, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain

April 11-13, 2011
Northeast Regional Conference (NERC), “Defining Moments:
People, Places and Events,” Sturbridge, Massachusetts

April 12-16, 2011
American Association of Geographers Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington

May 17, 2011
20th Annual High School Geographic Challenge, University of Connecticut, Storrs

May 24-25, 2011
National Geographic Bee, Washington, D.C.

July 5-10, 2011
PIER Summer Institutes, Yale University, New Haven

July 17-22, 2011
Advanced Placement Human Geography Summer Institute, Taft Educational Center, Watertown

August 1-7, 2011
NCGE National Conference on Geographic Education, Portland, Oregon

November 16, 2011
GIS Day, location to be announced

December 2-4, 2011
National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference, “Dimensions of Diversity,” Washington, D.C.

Connecticut Geographic Bee News
Contributed by Bill DeGrazia, CGA Co-Coordinator

The 23rd annual Connecticut Geographic Bee, a program of the National Geographic Society, sponsored by
Google® and Plum Creek Timber Company®, will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011, in the Herbert D. Welte Auditorium on the campus of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. One hundred of Connecticut’s brightest young minds from grades four through eight will compete for the title of Connecticut Bee Champion and the honor of representing the state in the 2011 National Geographic Bee in Washington, D.C. Preliminary rounds of the Connecticut competition will take place between 9:45 and 10:45 a.m. The final competition round will begin at 11:15 a.m. The State Champion will receive a $100 prize, geography books, and a trip to the nation’s capital to compete in the National Bee in late May with a chance at winning a $25,000 college scholarship. Each of the contestants at the state competition will have already won their school’s Bee and finished in the top 100 out of more than 225 school winners (100+ if there are ties) from across Connecticut in a written exam of geographic knowledge. Brad Drazen, morning news anchor for NBC30 and Emmy Award- winning reporter, will be the moderator for the 23rd annual Connecticut Bee. Brad’s interest in geography and education have been showcased in his award-winning reports including “Where in Connecticut,” “Connecticut Discoveries,” and “Destination Education.” For more information about the Bee, please contact State Coordinator William DeGrazia (203-375-8882 or BDGeoTC@aol.com). We wish all of Connecticut’s contestants the best of luck!

Support Geography Education
Contact Your Congressional Representative

Geography is recognized as a “core academic subject” in No Child Left Behind, but there is no dedicated federal funding to advance the discipline. The other eight core subjects all have received dedicated funding since the original No Child Left Behind legislation was signed into law in 2002. The National Geographic Society and the State Geography Alliances around the country support the Teaching Geography is Fundamental Act (TGIF). By building upon education programs funded by the National Geographic Society Education Foundation and implemented by the State Geography Alliances, TGIF would authorize grants to universities, nonprofit organizations, and state and local education agencies to support innovative programs to expand geographic/geospatial literacy among U.S. students and improve the teaching of geography at the K-12 level.

Major Features of the TGIF Bill

• The Department of Education would make a grant to a national nonprofit geographic education organization or consortium of organizations. The bulk of the funding then would be directed to sub grants for universities, nonprofit organizations, and state and local agencies to support innovative geography education programs at the state and local levels.
  
  
• In addition, the national nonprofit organizations would undertake geography education research and programs of national significance.
  
  
• The sub grants to the state and local level would specifically support:
• Teacher training programs;
• Application of Internet and other distance learning technology to the teaching of geography;
• Advancement of viable academic standards and assessment techniques to guide and measure student performance in geography;
• Research in geography education;
• Replication of best practices and model programs;
• Development and dissemination of effective classroom materials.

Funding Level
The bill authorizes $15 million per year for five years. At the same time, we will be working through the appropriations process to get start-up funding to pilot the program.

How Can I Help?
Contact your Representative to thank them for their past backing of this bill and to encourage their continued support this year. Please also contact Senators Blumenthal and Lieberman to ask for their endorsement. E-mail is the quickest, easiest, and most efficient means of contact. Visit these links to e-mail your requests:

Senator Richard Blumenthal – http://www.blumenthal.senate.gov
Senator Joe Lieberman – http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/
Representative Joe Courtney (2nd District) -- http://courtney.house.gov
Representative Rosa DeLauro (3rd District) – http://delauro.house.gov
Representative Jim Himes (4th District) – http://himes.house.gov
Representative John Larson (1st District) – http://larson.house.gov
Representative Chris Murphy (5th District) – http://chrismurphy.house.gov

Good to Know – Connecticut is Back on the Map!

Originally posted by Leanne Gendreau on www.nbcconnecticut.com (January 19, 2011)
Connecticut is no longer a white blob of space south of Massachusetts and to the west of Rhode Island. We actually exist. We’re back on the map and colored in orangey red -- all for $100,000. Discover New England, a regional tourism organization, kicked Connecticut off the map late last year because the state did not pay the group’s $100,000 in annual dues. It also removed Connecticut from its marketing materials and other efforts. Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy called the decision to drastically reduce tourism marketing funds “pennywise and pound foolish” and he’s directed “other funds within existing resources” to pay the dues immediately. “I’m pleased that we could release this money – which had already been allocated to the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism – so quickly and get the state back on the map with its New England neighbors,” Malloy said in a statement. “As I’ve said before, my overarching goal is to ensure people know Connecticut is open for business. With our inclusion once again in Discover New England, we’re sending that message loud and clear.”

CGA Members in the News

Kristie Blanchard, Social Studies Department Chair for Bacon Academy and AP Human Geography Teacher, was presented "The Outstanding Geography Teacher of 2010 for the New England Region of NESTVAL." NESTVAL is the New England-St. Lawrence Valley Geographers Association. Kristie received the award at the Annual Conference held October 29-30 at the University of Connecticut. She was chosen for the award for leadership in geoliteracy and working with students in and outside of the classroom. CGA Co-coordinator William DeGrazia had the privilege of presenting Kristie, one of his former CCSU graduate students, with this prestigious award.

Tracy DeGrazia, working for the City of New Britain, and her students at New Britain High School won Honorable Mention in the “Solving an Environmental Problem” category with their “New Britain 2010 Health Education Lead Poisoning Project.” The award was given by the Connecticut Governor’s Geospatial Information Systems Council Education and Outreach Working Group. Tracy has helped for the past seven years with the Connecticut Geographic Bee in a variety of capacities and she is a CGA Teaching Consultant.

Thad Dymkowski, who works for the City of Newington and is a member of the GIS Outreach Group, coordinated a very successful GIS Day on November 17 during Geography Awareness Week. More than 125 students, teachers, and geospatial technology leaders from across the state attended the event held at the Torp Theatre on the campus of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain.

Jason Hine, Maritime History and Social Studies teacher at East Lyme High School, is mapping the voyages of The Charles W. Morgan (whaleship), beginning with the first voyage (1841-1845) and tracing all of her steps. He has done this by going through the Morgan’s logbooks and creating an Excel spreadsheet with a variety of data fields, including latitude and longitude. The MAGIC staff at UConn is then creating Google Earth maps to go along with his project. Jason is in the process of becoming a CGA Teaching Consultant.

Coffee, Donuts, and GIS

Contributed by Thad Dymkowski, on behalf of The Connecticut GIS User to User Group The Connecticut GIS User to User group will host a half-day seminar to offer education and information on GIS on Saturday, April 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain. The workshop, entitled “Coffee, Donuts, and GIS,” will provide an introduction to GIS though educational presentations and breakout sessions with hands-on activities. Additional information will be made available as the date nears, but mark your calendars now! A registration webpage will be set up shortly, as space is limited to a maximum of 100 participants. Attendance will be FREE of charge. If you are interested in receiving additional information about the seminar, please email Thad Dymkowski at TDymkowski@NewingtonCT.gov.

“Teaching Geography” CD Now Available

The CD-ROM “Teaching Geography” normally accompanies Phil Gersmehl’s book Teaching Geography (Guilford Publications) but it may also be used as a completely independent resource for exciting, interactive classroom lessons and also units on broader topics. It is an interactive, multimedia CD containing geography lessons and teacher’s notes that use an inquiry-based approach to instruction using geographic questions. Examples include: “How did the terrain around Harper’s Ferry influence the outcome of the Civil War?” and “How can we estimate the local consequences of global climate change for a specific part of the world?” The CD contains eighty stand-alone lessons, a set of transparency masters promoting spatial thinking skills, multimedia presentations including numerous maps and diagrams, as well as many other useful teaching aids. The CD can be ordered online at www.aag.org/tgmg. The cost is $25.

World Youth Peace Summit Planned
for July 2011 in Connecticut

Excerpted from the WYPS’ Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/2011WYPS The World Youth Peace Summit's mission is to develop current and former scholar-athletes and scholar-artists from around the world into successful peace advocates. By providing the opportunity to study peace policies through a four-day, intensive series of lectures and workshops, the Summit will furnish participants with practical knowledge of how to develop and implement their own peace initiatives successfully in their home communities.

The World Youth Peace Summit (WYPS) will be held at the University of Connecticut from July 1 to July 4, 2011. The Summit will include all participants of the World Scholar-Athlete Games (WSAG), an event beginning on June 26, 2011 (http://www.facebook.com/2011WSAG). Participants of any age may participate in the Summit but students in the WSAG must be ages 15-19.

Approximately 25,000 past participants of Scholar-Athlete Games and delegates nominated by the United Nations and other distinguished organizations will join the current scholar-athletes/artists to explore Pathways to Peace initiatives during an intensive academic program accompanied by cultural and athletic activities. Participants will receive leadership training and targeted assistance in social entrepreneurship and the development of community-based programs. Speeches by major world leaders and peace advocates, including former Vice President Al Gore, General Colin Powell and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, will be held each day around the Greater Hartford area, and will be augmented by small group discussions and workshops.

Connecticut Peace Walk – May 21, 2011
Grand Marshal Desmond Tutu

On May 21 and May 22, 2011, just over a month before the opening ceremonies of the World Scholar-Athlete Games and World Youth Peace Summit, the Peace Walks program will take place throughout the United States and in countries around the world. Thousands of individuals will organize walks ranging in size from small groups of friends to large community-wide events. This program aims to stimulate discussions on the peace process, to generate significant interest in the World Scholar-Athlete Games and World Youth Peace Summit, and to raise funds for these programs.

On Saturday, May 21, 2011, West Hartford and Hartford will host the centerpiece of the Peace Walks Program, the Connecticut Peace Walk. Thousands of individuals from across the state will convene to demonstrate their commitment to peace building on a local and global scale. The Archbishop Desmond Tutu will travel to Connecticut to serve as the Grand Marshal of the Peace Walks! The Archbishop will provide a blessing to kick- off the Connecticut Peace Walk and deliver a Peace Lecture at the conclusion of the event. Full details on Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s Peace Lecture will be available soon on the WYPS website (www.youthpeacesummit.org). Registration for the Connecticut Peace Walk will begin in January 2011.
For additional information on the Peace Walk and ways to get involved, please contact Kim Kennedy at kkennedy@internationalsport.com.

Test Your Geography Knowledge

“Test Your Geography Knowledge” is a great website with online geography quizzes. They range from the broad and basic (identifying the continents and oceans) to the specific (identifying the provinces of China). Visit http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/index.html.

Geospatial Careers Information
http://www.geospatialcareers.net

This website is for students and others interested in learning about careers in geospatial technologies. It features career information and profiles of people who use geospatial technologies. Since people with skills in geospatial technologies are needed in a wide variety of fields, this site was developed to encourage and assist those interested in exploring career options. It is sponsored by the NH Space Grant Consortium in partnership with NH GRANIT and the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. They have done a wonderful job with this and it will be an excellent addition to career presentations, GIS-based workshops, and more.

The Connecticut Geographic Alliance Is As Strong As Its Members
Submitted by William DeGrazia, Co-coordinator

What has CGA done for you? The CGA is an organization of dedicated educators, community leaders and teachers who have worked over the past twenty years to improve geographic literacy among the children of Connecticut. We are housed in the Department of Geography at the University of Connecticut. Our institutes, programs, and outreach have reached tens of thousands of students, parents and teachers across our state and enriched countless classrooms. We need your partnership and advocacy now more than ever.

How can you help? We have never collected annual dues from our membership and friends. However, in this extraordinary time we are calling on you to do your part in any way that you can. You can help us through this upcoming year in a number of ways. Contact your state legislator and the governor’s office and tell them that you want funding restored to the CGA so it can continue efforts for our children. Contact your Congressional members to pledge their support for the “Teaching Geography is Fundamental” legislation. Please consider a modest donation to our programs, and most importantly, get involved in quality geographic education in the classroom or as an active member of CGA.

Your tax deductible donation (CGA is a non-profit) will allow the CGA to continue its High School Geographic Challenge, the Family Geography Challenge, and get first class geographic materials and geospatial technologies into the hands of students in Connecticut.

Yes, the CGA can count on me!

Enclosed is my gift of $________ that should be directed to the Connecticut Geographic Alliance – Fund #21671 at the UConn Foundation.

Name_____________________________________________________
Street Address______________________________________________ City_______________________ State___________ Zip Code________ Phone______________________ Email_____________________

I/We wish this gift to be anonymous

Donations by check or money order:

Please mail your check or money order payable to the UConn Foundation (with a note in the memo line stating “Connecticut Geographic Alliance – Fund #21671”) with a copy of this form to:

Connecticut Geographic Alliance
Department of Geography
University of Connecticut
CLAS Building U-4148
Storrs, CT 06269-4148

Give now at: www.foundation.uconn.edu
Please type “Connecticut Geographic Alliance – Fund #21671” in the other box.

Thank you for your generosity and support of the Connecticut Geographic Alliance!

Connecticut High School Geographic Challenge
Contributed by Kathleen Ryan, High School Geographic Challenge Coordinator

The 20th annual High School Geographic Challenge is planned for Tuesday, May 17, 2011, at the University of Connecticut in Storrs. Sponsored by the Connecticut Geographic Alliance and the National Geographic Society Education Foundation, the Challenge is a day-long interscholastic academic competition for Connecticut high school students to test their geographic knowledge, understandings, and skills through a variety of team activities. Participants compete as a team against other teams from across the state in a series of events centered on this year’s theme of “Fresh Water” and will include such geographic issues as human history, human/environmental interaction, movement, and science.

The Challenge offers students the opportunity to develop and test their geography knowledge, understanding, and skills. The activities, questions, and challenges require thinking and problem-solving skills similar to those found on standardized tests. Students have the opportunity to test these skills in a fun and exciting environment on a university campus. It is the only statewide geography competition for high school students. Students who were involved in the middle school Geographic Bee find the Challenge an exciting way to keep up their interest in geography.

Registration forms for the Challenge were mailed to the Social Studies departments of all Connecticut high schools in mid-January. Additional information about the theme will be available on the CGA website soon. Teams will consist of up to five students in grades 9 through 12 and winning teams will receive prizes for themselves and their schools. The registration deadline is April 1. The entry fee is $50 for a school’s first team and $35 for a second team from the same school. For additional information about the Challenge, contact Kathleen Ryan at Ryanzenko@aol.com. For registration information, contact Rita Courtois at RitaCourtois@yahoo.com.
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2011 High School Geographic Challenge
Registration Form

School: _____________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Phone: ______________________________ Fax: ______________________________
Coach: ________________________________________________
Email for Coach: _________________________________________

Method of payment: ____ Check ____ Purchase Order (add $15 processing fee)

__________________________________
Signature of P.O. Authorizing Agent

Schools may enter up to two teams of up to 5 students each (Grades 9-12).

The competition will consist of up to fifteen (15) teams.

Mail the registration form and the registration fee(s) (payable to “Connecticut Geographic Alliance”) to:

Rita Courtois, Administrative Assistant
Connecticut Geographic Alliance
P.O. Box 275
Vernon, CT 06066-0275

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Teaching & Learning with Monarch Butterflies
Contributed by Joyce Crebase, CGA Teaching Consultant

After all of the recent snow and ice, are you thinking about summer? Now is the time to plan ahead! The
Monarch Butterfly Institute offers an exciting opportunity for educators in all areas – grades K – 12, Girl Scouts, nature centers, etc. This two-day institute offers participants information on Monarchs and their life cycle, lesson plans, a curriculum guide, posters, DVDs, outdoor games, skits, crafts, and more. Participants are encouraged to raise Monarchs from egg or caterpillar to adult. Students (and adults) of all ages love this. They then can participate in interdisciplinary activities and lessons that help connect all of North America. Geography, math, science, literature, and writing all become more meaningful in connection with the Monarchs. Get your students involved in learning. What a wonderful way to start the new school year with your students.

Early registration is recommended. Dates have not yet been established for summer 2011, but you can find dates and locations in Connecticut as they become available at http://www.monarchteachernetwork.org/ (click on Workshop Registration). A limited number of grants may be available for Connecticut teachers from the Connecticut Geographic Alliance (CGA). For questions, email Joyce Crebase at crebase@sbcglobal.net. Joyce has been a workshop member at the Institute for many years and is a CGA Teacher Consultant.

Summer Advanced Placement Human Geography Institute

Teachers who wish to explore the possibility of teaching the Advanced Placement Human Geography course are encouraged to attend a College Board-sponsored workshop this summer. Ken Keller, Danbury High School APHG teacher, will lead this workshop at the Taft Educational Center in Watertown from July 17 through July 22, 2011. The registration deadline is June 1.

APHG is a high school course equivalent to a one-semester introductory college course in Human Geography. Topics to be discussed during the summer institute include the nature and perspectives of geography, population, cultural geography, industrialization and economic geography, agriculture and rural land use, urban geography, and political geography. During the workshop, participants will be exposed to content information. Participants will be expected to discuss content and develop lessons, activities, and testing items. Suggested teaching materials and techniques will be reviewed. This includes syllabi, texts, videos/DVDs, computer software, web sites, and other ancillaries. It is hoped that all participants will come away from the experience with materials that can be taken back to their schools and used in the AP Human Geography classroom.

Additional information regarding the workshop, tuition, and registration can be found online at http://www.taftschool.org/tec/ (Week D).

Giant Traveling Map of the Pacific Ocean Available Soon

The vast blue depths of the Pacific Ocean await students’ inquiring minds and adventurous spirits! Beginning in October 2011, this new Giant Traveling Map will introduce students to the marvels of the planet’s largest ocean, which occupies over one third of Earth’s surface. Students will learn how the Pacific has been both a barrier and a highway throughout human history. They will explore the deepest place on earth - the Mariana Trench - as well as the world's tallest mountain (measured from the seabed), Hawai'i's Mauna Kea. Most of all, students will experience the Pacific as a living thing: active volcanoes giving birth to new islands, deep-sea vents supporting unique life forms, phytoplankton blooms providing over half of the planet’s fresh air, and the Great Barrier Reef – the largest living structure in the world.

Accompanying the Giant Traveling Pacific Ocean map are activities and props for teachers to lead students in kindergarten through grade 8 on enriching and fun explorations. Whether they are tracking a whale migration, acting out the movement of El Niño, tracing the routes of Polynesian seafarers, or circling the “Ring of Fire,” students will be supplied with accurate and compelling information cards, lavish photography, as well as several props, including cultural artifacts, geological models, large foam dice, colored cones, and colored hoops. The map measures approximately 26’ x 35’ and will be available starting October 3, 2011.

Also available are Giant Traveling Maps of Africa, Asia, North America, and South America. Maps book quickly, so it is recommended that you submit a request early. To request a map and find more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/giantmaps.

Yale MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies Summer Institutes
Contributed by Minjin Hashbat. PIER Outreach Director

The Yale University Programs in International Educational Resources (PIER) institutes are intensive,
interdisciplinary programs which include lectures and seminars by leading scholars and experts from Yale and other institutions, films, workshops, field trips and site visits, hands-on cultural activities, teaching resource and strategy sessions, and sessions on technological resources for teaching about different areas of the world.

Diverse Landscapes: Exploring the Environment of Silk Road Regions in China
July 5 – July 10, 2011 Council on East Asian Studies

For more information, contact Abbey Newman (CEAS Executive Director) at abbey.newman@yale.edu.

The geography of Silk Road networks showcases a complex interaction between mountains, grasslands, river valleys, oases and deserts. Such varied ecological zones are a critical determinant of where and how people live, move, and interact. This intensive six-day Institute explores both the historical relationships of diverse Silk Road populations to the land, as well as the current environmental challenges China faces today. Topics include trade and travelers on the Silk Road; the role of nature in the arts and religions of the Silk Road; use of geographic mapping technologies in the classroom; and modern concerns about development, land use, pollution, and natural resources. The Institute is designed to help K-16 educators enhance curricula and access unique teaching resources about China. The program also provides the opportunity to meet scholars from a wide range of disciplines who concentrate on China, the Silk Road, and Environmental Studies. This Institute is sponsored by PIER and the Council on East Asian Studies at Yale University (CEAS) with generous support from the CEAS Title VI National Resource Center Grant from the United States Department of Education.

Religion and Politics in the Middle East
July 5 – July 10, 2011 Council on Middle East Studies

For more information, contact Bonnie Rose Schulman at bonnie.rose.schulman@yale.edu.

Located at the crossroads of three continents, the Middle East is one of the most intensely discussed regions in the world. Spend four days in an intensive study program, learning about the many dimensions of religion and politics in the Middle East. Work with Yale faculty and others, and connect with local colleagues who share your interest in the region. In addition to lectures and discussions, the seminar will include cuisine and films from the Middle East as well as field trips designed to familiarize you and your students with local resources.

The Changing Face of a Continent: Democracy and Development in Modern Africa (tentative title)
July 5 – July 10, 2011 Council on African Studies

For more information contact Aidan Kwame Ahaligah at aidan.ahaligah@yale.edu.

Immigration in Europe: Historical Trends and New Challenges (tentative title)
July 5 – July 10, 2011 Council on European Studies

For more information, contact Minjin Hashbat at minjin.hashbat@yale.edu.

Colonial Latin America: A Summer Institute for Educators
Council on Latin American and Iberian Studies

For more information, contact Julianne Baker at julianne.bakergallegos@yale.edu.

July 4 – July 8, 2011 at Yale University Cost $150 (includes all materials)

This Summer Institute will explore the theme of Colonial Latin America to understand the ways in which the colonial period contributed to the modern Latin American identity. K-12 and postsecondary educators will participate in a dynamic and intensive week-long workshop that will build upon the expertise of scholars from diverse disciplines specializing in Latin America.

July 9 – July 16, 2011 – Optional Field Trip: Dominican Republic Cost TBD

The weeklong field trip will provide the opportunity to deepen educators’ knowledge about Colonial Latin America as they participate in lectures, discussions, architectural tours, and guided visits with experts to archeological sites, art museums, architectural sites, local communities and plantation zones.

Spread the Word about Geography in Your School

Do you have a great geography program in your school? Are you running Geo Clubs, GeoLiteracy nights, or did you have an amazing Geography Awareness Week celebration? Did you face any challenges or difficulties in executing these clubs or events? We want to hear about it! We'd love to hear about your experiences, and also would like to know if there are ways we can help to support your programs. Send your news to CGA Co- coordinator William DeGrazia at BDGeoTC@aol.com.

World Affairs Council of Connecticut News

Submitted by Eve Pech, Director of Educational Programs, World Affairs Council Students from twenty-six high schools throughout Connecticut will gather at Hartford Public High School on Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12 to participate in the annual Model United Nations Plenary Session. The Model U.N., sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Connecticut, is a simulated meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in which student teams, each representing a member nation, meet and discuss the most pressing issues that are occurring around the world and discuss ways resolve those issues. “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with the World Affairs Council of Connecticut in hosting the Model U.N.,” said Hartford Public Schools Superintendent Steven J. Adamowski. “It is one of the best ways of widening our students’ perspective on the world.” Participants in the session research a country, take on roles as diplomats of that country, investigate international issues, debate within parliamentary rules and procedures, consult and then develop solutions to world problems. Among Hartford public schools, for example, a team from the Law and Government Academy will represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Bulkeley High School team will represent Vietnam. “Part of our mission in presenting the Model U.N. is to educate students about global affairs, current events, effective communication and multilateral diplomacy,” said Felicity Harley, executive director of the World Affairs Council. “The Model U.N. is also lots of fun and offers participants an opportunity to meet hundreds of other high school students who share the same interests.”

Preparations for the Model U.N. begin in late September, when representatives from the participating schools meet to choose the topics that could be discussed. A variety of topics are designated to one of four committees: the political committee, the economic committee, the environmental committee and the humanitarian committee. Student delegates in each committee then choose a topic that will engender debate and foster increased understanding of each committee focus. Once the committees have selected their topics, the school teams pick the countries they will represent by lot and begin researching their country’s geography, history, economy and political structure as well as its position on issues.

This year, the political committee will debate the topic of information as a public right; the economic committee will discuss the issue of oil in Sudan, Africa; the environmental committee will discuss ocean pollution, urban growth and environmental sustainability; and the humanitarian committee will talk about refugee camps in Darfur, Somalia, and Congo.

The World Affairs Council of Connecticut has a full schedule of events this spring: foreign affairs monthly discussions, a forum on women and war in Afghanistan, a discussion with General Chiarelli on global engagement and a luncheon discussion on trade in China. For more information on these events and others, please visit the World Affairs Council of Connecticut online at http://www.ctwac.org/ and join the email list.

Earth Day 2011

April 22, 2011 marks the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. Founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and organized by Denis Hayes, Earth Day was initially celebrated in 1970 and has become an annual event for people around the world to celebrate the Earth and renew the commitment to building a safer, healthier, and cleaner world. Earth Day Network, a worldwide environmental organization, was founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day and continues to coordinate events and activities around the globe each year. The global network includes environmental advocates, community leaders, Earth Day event organizers, businesses, city and local governments, parents, teachers, and students. The group’s website (www.earthday.net) includes free resources to help organize an Earth Day event and help combat climate change. Visit the site, plan an event, and get involved!

Connecticut Envirothon

The 20th year of the Connecticut Envirothon is underway. It is a natural resource based education program begun in 1992 by the state’s Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Training sessions in the Envirothon Study Areas of Soils, Aquatics, Forestry, and Wildlife, along with 2011’s current issue “Salt and Fresh Water Estuaries,” are underway. On May 19, teams will meet for a field competition at Rocky Neck State Park in East Lyme. Students will be challenged to work together to answer questions and conduct hands-on investigations. Each team will also prepare a short oral presentation on a real life environmental problem to present to a panel of experts. The day includes a picnic lunch, time to meet new friends, and an awards ceremony. The winning team will earn the chance to represent Connecticut at the Canon Envirothon, a weeklong event at Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada in July, competing against approximately sixty other teams from across the United States and Canada for scholarships and other prizes. Many Envirothon alumni go on to further study leading to environmental careers and become eligible for special scholarships. Visit www.ctenvirothon.org to view the workshop schedule or contact Barb Kelly at ctenvirothon@snet.net or Chris Sullivan (Chairman) at christopher.sullivan@ct.gov for additional information about the 2011 contest.

NERC 2011 News
“Defining Moments: People, Places and Events”
Excerpted from the NERC 2011 Preview Booklet

As historians and advocates of the social sciences, we all remember pivotal events and people in our lives, those of our country, and of the world, that have helped shape us and our beliefs. All of you remember where you were, what you were doing, how you felt and, many of you, even what you were wearing when you heard about the destruction of the Twin Towers on 9/11/01. Some of us can recall the same details when we learned that JFK had been assassinated. In short, many of us became interested in the social studies as we reflected on the defining moments that we had witnessed in our lives.

With school districts eroding the study of social studies in the lower grades, eliminating high school electives to save money, asking teachers of other disciplines to teach one or more social studies classes, our society is in danger of losing that connection to our past and missing the significances of events occurring around us. Many of us had defining moments, people, places and events that pointed us to this profession. This conference should help to remind you of those moments and reinvigorate you for the challenges that we face as we continue the struggle to keep social studies relevant. Inspire and be inspired! ~Robert Koskta, Chair NERC 42, Bridgewater Raynham High School (Retired), Bridgewater, MA

The Massachusetts Council for the Social Studies will host the 42nd Northeast Regional Conference on the Social Studies at the Sturbridge (MA) Host Hotel and Conference Center from Monday, April 11 through Wednesday, April 13, 2011. The planned schedule is an exciting one with something that is sure to appeal to everyone. Speakers include Michael Tougias (co-author of The Finest Hours), Jack Levin (co-director of the Northeastern University Center on Violence and Conflict), and Eric Alterman (author and columnist for The Nation).

This annual conference is co-sponsored by the Councils for the Social Studies from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York as well as the New England History Teachers’ Association, the Northeast Regional Geographic Alliances, and the New England, New York, and New Jersey State Departments of Education. It is sanctioned by the National Council for the Social Studies. Join educators from throughout the Northeast at this informative conference. More specific information about registration and the schedule for NERC 2011 can be found online at www.masscouncil.org.

World of 7 Billion Student Video Contest

Did you know that the world population is set to hit seven billion people by the end of 2011? How will this affect you, your neighborhood, and the global community? How will it impact our environment now and in the future? Population Connection is hosting a video contest for high school students that challenges them to create a thirty-second public service announcement (PSA) that illustrates the impacts of a large and growing human population as it relates to one of the following: Energy, Water, Land Use, Public Health, or Economics. All high school students are eligible to enter to win cash prizes of up to $1,000. The deadline for entries is March 1, 2011. And, there's something in it for the teacher as well! If at least ten students submit videos, the teacher will receive a set of free classroom resources from Population Connection. This is a teachable moment that should not be missed! Contest information and forms are available at www.Worldof7Billion.org. A printable flyer about the contest is available at http://www.populationeducation.org/docs/7_billion_contest_flyer.pdf. Questions can be directed to Worldof7Billion@populationconnection.org or 1-800-767-1956.

“21st Century China: Global Issues, Classroom Application”
Program for Teaching East Asia 2011 Summer Institute
Excerpted from Program for Teaching East Asia Website (www.colorado.edu/CAS/TEA)

U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman often cites the U.S.-China relationship as the most important bilateral relationship in the world today. As Huntsman notes, leaders in both China and the United States recognize that, as the world’s two largest economies, with two of the world’s largest populations, militaries, and energy demands, we share a responsibility to work together to find creative solutions to contemporary problems. At the same time, American perceptions and knowledge of China have not kept pace with the realities of the U.S.- China relationship today. As the imperative for U.S.-China understanding and cooperation grows, it is essential that educators understand and teach about China, including its domestic issues and policies and its global role and relationships. Designed for secondary social studies teachers, this summer institute will explore 21st- century China through an examination of key domestic and international issues and global relationships. The one-week program offers teachers a unique opportunity to consider how and what to teach about contemporary China, informed by lectures and discussions with specialists who will share diverse perspectives on China in the 21st century.

Teachers will be selected for the program on a rolling-admission basis from early January through March 4, 2011. Costs of the residential one-week program, including dormitory lodging, university meal package, books, and materials, are underwritten by the National Consortium for Teaching about Asia at TEA, through funding from the Freeman Foundation. Participants are responsible for travel to and from the summer institute in Boulder, Colorado; however, a $150 stipend will be provided to defray these travel costs. For additional information contact Lynn Parisi or Jon Zeljo at 303-735-5121, or Jon.Zeljo@colorado.edu. More information about TEA is available at www.colorado.edu/CAS/TEA.

2011 National Conference on Geography Education

The National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) will hold its annual National Conference on Geography Education from August 1 through August 7, 2011, in Portland, Oregon. The meeting brings geography educators from across the country and around the world together to exchange ideas, research, resources, and best practices in geography education. The conference is filled with opportunities for participants to attend workshops, paper sessions, poster sessions, field trips, etc. For more information about the 2011 event, visit the NCGE website at www.ncge.org.

Summer 2011 Professional Development Travel Programs

Global Exploration for Educators Organization (GEEO) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that runs professional development travel programs designed for teachers. GEEO is offering thirteen different travel programs for the summer of 2011: India, China, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey/Syria/Jordan/Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa/Mozambique/ Zimbabwe/Botswana, Morocco, Argentina/Uruguay/Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Costa Rica and Guatemala/Belize/ Mexico.

Educators have the option to earn three graduate school credits through Indiana University and professional development credit while seeing the world. The trips are designed and discounted to be interesting and affordable for teachers. The trips are open to all K-12 and University educators and administrators, as well as retired educators. Educators are also permitted to bring along a non-educator guest.

Detailed information about each trip, including itineraries, costs, travel dates, and more can be found at www.geeo.org. GEEO can also be reached seven days a week (toll free) at 1-877-600-0105 between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. EST.

NCSS Annual Conference
Excerpted from the NCSS website (www.ncss.org)

The National Council for the Social Studies will hold its 91st annual conference from December 2 through
December 4, 2011, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. With the theme Dimensions of Diversity, the 2011 Annual Conference will bring together top professionals in social studies education and highlight the central role of social studies in our schools -- preparing 21st century citizens who have learned from the voices of the past to envision an interdependent global society of the future. A diverse and beautiful world capital, Washington, D.C. is a treasure trove for any social studies educator, from the resources of the National Archives and Library of Congress to the many educational opportunities at the Smithsonian Institution’s fifteen area facilities to the living democratic laboratories of the United States Congress and Supreme Court. And, best of all, they are all free! The conference includes hundreds of sessions, workshops, poster presentations, clinics, tours, speakers and panels, and social events. Conference strands include Past-Present-Future; The World Around Us; Keeping Current; Closing the Achievement Gap; and Who? What? How?. More information about the conference and lodging can be found on the NCSS website (www.ncss.org).

Lending Library Available for Educators

Yale University’s Programs in International Educational Resources (PIER) has a collection of international books, DVDs, VHS tapes, etc. available to Connecticut educators. It is free of charge but may, in some cases, require the borrower to pay for return shipping if the item is being mailed rather than returned in person. For information, visit http://www.yale.edu/macmillan/pier/resourcecenter.htm and follow the appropriate links. To browse holdings online, please visit http://pier-lib.ycias.yale.edu/wx/s.exe.

Science and Global Awareness Conference

The sixth annual Celebration of Teaching and Learning, a two-day professional development conference for K-12 educators, will be held on March 18 and March 19, 2011, at the Hilton New York at 1335 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan. This premier professional development conference will bring together global experts, activists, academics, and thinkers that will stimulate creativity in PreK-12 classrooms. Educators can hear from Dr. Oliver Sacks, the noted physician, best-selling author, and professor of neurology and psychiatry, and from Leymah Gbowee, the woman who led the revolution that ended the Liberian Civil War whose story was told in Abby Disney’s award-winning film “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”, and continues in the new PBS series, “Women, War, and Peace.” There will also be presentations by the nation’s leading educator/authors such as Diane Ravitch, Milton Chen, Kathleen Cushman, Barnett Berry, Scott Noppe-Brandon, Brian Greene, and Pedro Noguera. For the most complete list of confirmed speakers and session descriptions for the Celebration 2011, as well as video from prior events, please visit the event website: thirteencelebration.org.

American Association of Geographers’ Project GeoSTART
Excerpted from the AGG website (http://www.aag.org/)

GeoSTART materials will help middle and high school students learn state-of-the-art approaches to geography, earth science, and spatial thinking using NASA Earth Observing Missions remote sensing imagery and related data. Each activity is designed to engage one of the eight major modes of spatial thinking that are the focus of this NASA-funded curriculum project. The activities use this approach to study hurricanes. The activities contain all of the background information, instructions, satellite imagery, and other materials needed to support a short but tightly focused inquiry that can fit into a larger unit on hurricanes or natural hazards in many ways. The materials are available for free download in a total package format or by individual activities. If activities are downloaded separately, it is still recommended to download the Teacher’s Guide for instructional suggestions and answer keys to each activity. Activities include: Hurricane Shapes, Hurricane Frequency, Hurricane Paths, Hurricane Stories, Hurricane Winds, Hurricane Strength, Hurricane Influence, and Hurricane Impact. Visit http://www.aag.org/cs/education/teaching_and_learning_materials/geostart_teaching_earth_science to download one or all of these informative activities for use in your classroom this year.

Ecology Kits Available

Teachers! Looking for a way to blend mapping, computer, and other technology skills with environmental studies? CGA has five ecology kits available for loan to Connecticut schools. Two are Amphibian Kits, two are Terrestrial Kits, and one is a Water Kit. Each kit has equipment for collecting and observing samples, performing various tests, and books for identifying specimens. These kits are valued at up to $600 but CGA requests only that borrowers cover the shipping and handling costs along with a security deposit (which will be refunded after the kits are returned in good condition). For additional information on these kits, please contact the Connecticut Geographic Alliance’s office at 860-486-0374.

DVDs Available for Loan from the CGA

The Alliance has copies of two DVDs produced by the Arizona Geographic Alliance: “Integrating Geography with Reading and Writing” and “Integrating Geography with Mathematics.” In addition, we also have a copy of a DVD about the Peters Map Projection. If you are interested in borrowing one of these DVDs, please email CGA Co-coordinator William DeGrazia at BDGeoTC@aol.com and we will ship them to you as soon as possible.

GeoMentor Program Available for Teachers
Excerpted from the ESRI Education Community website (http://edcommunity.esri.com/)

What is a GeoMentor?
GIS users can help educators and youth see the world in new ways. GeoMentors work with a teacher
or youth club leader to help kids see, use, and do more geography in their activities!

What does a GeoMentor do?
A GeoMentor "adopts" a school, class, or club and supports the educator/s in working with youth. Using tools of geography (such as maps and globes, atlases, charts, imagery, and field work), the GeoMentor helps the educator and youth develop skills in geographic thinking.

How can an educator benefit?
A classroom teacher or leader of an informal education group can benefit by developing his or her own skills, getting support problems solved, and providing youth with powerful new opportunities that foster long-term skills. And everyone will benefit from a more engaged citizenry.

Visit www.geomentor.org to register and benefit from the expertise of a GeoMentor today!

Climate Change Kids Site

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Change Kids Site is a website designed to educate children about climate change and global warming (http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/). The site presents the potential causes and effects of climate change along with explanations of the greenhouse effect and the global climate system. In addition, the website describes several methods for reducing global warming and includes a glossary of relevant terms, online games, and links to other websites designed to inform children about global warming and other environmental issues.

Glossopedia – Online Research Library

Online research libraries are very valuable tools for Internet users of all ages. However, much of the current Internet data is geared toward adults and very little has been appropriately written and illustrated for children. Glossopedia is an investigative learning resource – a digital encyclopedia of cultural and biological diversity. Designed for children 8 to 12 years old, it enables exploration of subjects and includes video animation, text, mapping, and audio to stimulate children’s thinking. All content has been aligned with education standards for earth science, biology, geography, cultural studies, and language and it is complementary to any curriculum. Glossopedia is free, safe, and child-specific. Visit http://globio.org to explore its many features.

“Geography for Life” Back in Stock through NCGE

Examine the National Standards and discover what every student should know and be able to accomplish in geography. Clearly written and superbly illustrated, “Geography for Life” is a blueprint for grades K-12 that specifies the essential geography knowledge, skills and perspectives that students should have in order to be informed, effective and responsible citizens. The cost is $6 for NCGE members or $10 for non-members. As of the printing of this newsletter, the NCGE Store had 300 copies in stock. Visit www.ncge.org and click on the Store link at the top of the website to see information on this and other geography education publications and to place your order.

National Geographic Websites
Visit these websites for great interactive features, lessons, and other resources for your classrooms.

National Geographic Bee
www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee

GeoBee Challenge
www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee
Students can quiz themselves and learn great geographic facts. Easily completed by independent small groups and perfect for a classroom center.

Map Machine
www.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine
A dynamic atlas that allows exploration of hundreds of maps and satellite images.

Xpeditions Atlas
www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions
Need a map? Free, high quality and easy to print – perfect for handouts, homework, or quizzes.

Lesson Plans
www.nationalgeographic.com/education/lesson_plans
If you have the subject, this site has the lesson!

Visit CGA on the Web
The website for the Connecticut Geographic Alliance is www.CTGeoAlliance.org. Visit the site for information regarding workshops and summer institutes for educators as well as useful classroom lesson plans and a calendar of important upcoming CGA events.