New Culminating activities are posted

Check out the Blog for a few new Culminating Activities that have been posted. Have a wonderful holiday and let the Doing of Geography be your own and exploriory in Nature .

Here is a true British Geography geek Christmas Quiz

Download Geography 2012 Christmas Quiz here (animated to lead you through the activity from start to finish - the answers are in the ppt notes if you need them!)

Download accompanying resources here.

Merry Christmas

Mark

Mark Lowry

Geography and Geotechnologies Instructional Leader

Social World Studies and Humanities

Toronto District School Board

1 Civic Centre Court

Toronto , On ,M9C 2B3

Tel; (416) 394-7269

Cell; (416) 576-4515

Fax; (416) 394-6420

http://tdsbweb/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=63&menuid=63&pageid=63

http://geographysites.blogspot.ca/

twitter @geogmark

Some Geography resources for the Holiday Break

Here are a few resources to peruse any enjoy over our well-deserved break. Be safe everyone.

Useless Northwest Christmas Geography

Useless regional trivia that you can use to annoy your friends and family this weekend. Below, you'll find all the geographic place names in the Northwest that include the word Christmas.

http://daily.sightline.org/2011/12/21/useless-northwest-christmas-geography/

Track Santa on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is just around the corner and I want to make you aware of a very FUN way to spend the evening. Instead of imagining Santa flying on his sleigh along his route, this Christmas Eve you can watch Santa fly around the world by using the Google Earth Plug-in. It's super easy. To get ready download the Google Earth Plug-in:

http://www.google.com/earth/explore/products/plugin.html

Start the countdown to Christmas Eve at http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

On the NORAD website, kids can play holiday-themed games (a new one is released each day) and get updates from the North Pole as Santa prepares for his big sleigh ride.

On Christmas Eve, return to the NORAD website to track Santa using the Google Earth Plug-in.

6 GREAT VIDEOS ON TEACHING CRITICAL THINKING

Critical thinking is a skill that we can teach to our students through exercise and practice. It is particularly a skill that contains a plethora of other skills inside it. Critical thinking in its basic definition refers"  to a diverse range of intellectual skills and activities concerned with evaluating information as well as evaluating our thought in a disciplined way ". All of our students think in a way or another but the question  is , do they really think critically ? are they able to evaluate the information they come across ? are they capable of going beyond the surface thinking layer ? Can they make connections between what they learn and the outer world? Can they question the status quo of their knowledge ?

Critical thinking is part and parcel of what is called critical theory and hence critical literacy. We have posted several articles on this topic and we invite you to have a look at the following links for further information :

1- A Quick Guide to 21st Century Critical Thinking Skills for Teachers
2- What Does Critical Thinking Mean in Education
3- Great Critical Thinking Poster for your Class
4- 7 Great iPad Apps to Improve Kids Critical Thinking
5- A Clever Tip to Easily Develop Students Critical Thinking


What we have for you today is a great series of videos on critical thinking. As a teacher, you can use these videos with your students to start a discussion on what it means to think critically and introduce them to the concept of logical fallacies. The videos are animated in such a way that your students will find it easy to grasp  hard concepts .Enjoy

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/12/6-great-videos-on-teaching-critical.html

Port of Cleveland readies to welcome the new generation of Great Lakes freighters

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2012/12/port_of_cleveland_welcomes_the.html

A sense of place

Geography matters as much as ever, despite the digital revolution, says Patrick Lane

This is one article within an Economist report on the relationship between Technology and Geography

http://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21565007-geography-matters-much-ever-despite-digital-revolution-says-patrick-lane?fsrc=scn/tw_ec/a_sense_of_place

Great cartoon

http://greenmonk.net/2010/01/07/what-if-we-create-a-better-world-for-nothing/

Climate change and the end of pasta 

The supposed debate among scientists over climate change has melted faster than the polar ice caps. National Science Board member James Lawrence Powell looked at all the related peer-reviewed scientific papers over the last several years. Twenty-four of those articles rejected the notion of climate change. Out of 14,000.

So let this be clear: There is no scientific controversy over this. Climate change denial is purely, 100 percent made-up political and corporate-sponsored crap.

It's still easy for many of us to ignore the issue of climate change, but every now and then a headline makes us take notice. This one did it for me: The End of Pasta.

http://kottke.org/12/12/climate-change-and-the-end-of-pasta

Who Coined the Phrase Geographic Information Systems?

Roger Tomlinson, also known as the Father of GIS, is famed for being a pioneer in the field of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). A great Canadian Story

http://gislounge.com/phrase-geographic-information-systems/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gislounge+%28GIS+Lounge%

How Fast Could You Travel Across the USA in the 1800s? (Check Out These Old Maps)

http://www.treehugger.com/slideshows/public-transportation/how-fast-could-you-travel-across-usa-1800s/

WALL OF FILMS

Thanks to an OAGEE Member from Ottawa Erin Levy French and Geography Teacher

Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School

Nepean, ON 

TONS of great social science videos we tend to use or may want to??? free and in full length online!

Check them out

http://www.filmsforaction.org/walloffilms/

Overeating Now Poses a Bigger Global Health Threat Than Hunger

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/technology/2012/12/overeating-now-poses-bigger-global-health-threat-hunger/59967/?utm_term=alew

Landfill Harmonic film teaser

from Landfill Harmonic PLUS 1 month ago

Landfill Harmonic is an upcoming feature-length documentary about a remarkable musical orchestra in Paraguay, where young musicians play instruments made from trash. For more information about the film, please visit facebook.com/landfillharmonicmovie.

http://vimeo.com/52711779

25 rules of social media netiquette

by ALEX in ETIQUETTE | NETIQUETTE | USENET

http://coolcatteacher.visibli.com/share/mfSEgn

A map of environmental threats to the Great Lakes

Read more: http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/12/17/Map-shows-threats-stress-on-Great-Lakes/UPI-78191355788012/#ixzz2FPtiTV6B

The Toronto Park Lot Project
an exploration of the earliest days of the TOWN OF YORK, founded 1793 by John Graves Simcoe, first Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada (The Town of York was incorporated 1834 as the City of Toronto.)

A terrific interactive mapping site on the history of York

http://wendysmithtoronto.com/parklotproject/

PhysicalGeography.net | Physical Geography

A E- book on Physical Geography that is very searchable . Good for senior students and as a research tool.

http://www.physicalgeography.net/

Mark Lowry

Geography and Geotechnologies Instructional Leader

Social World Studies and Humanities

Toronto District School Board

1 Civic Centre Court

Toronto , On ,M9C 2B3

Tel; (416) 394-7269

Cell; (416) 576-4515

Fax; (416) 394-6420

http://tdsbweb/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=63&menuid=63&pageid=63

http://geographysites.blogspot.ca/

twitter @geogmark

some December Resources

Some resources for Grey December Days

Thanks to All that have identified the New York Times learning Blog article

All Over the Map: 10 Ways to Teach About Geography

Geography frequently takes a back seat to history in the social studies classroom, but teaching geographic literacy is essential if students are going to understanding the challenges and opportunities of our complex world.

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

Has Geography Become Geosophy?

Interesting Discussion on what is happening to geography in many universities. Also why we need to be careful about the def. of stating that geography is everything.

http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/events/department-news/1005/has-geography-become-geosophy/

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Google Earth A to Z: The full list- Very useful for teachers using Google earth

It's been fun going through every aspect of Google Earth over the past few months. If you've missed any of the entries, here is the entire list from A to Z:

http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2012/12/google_earth_a_to_z_the_full_list.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

Google Maps team goes to Canada’s Far North

Published on Wednesday November 28, 2012.

http://www.thestar.com/living/technology/article/1294132--google-map-maker-goes-to-canada-s-far-north

Adapting to a warmer world: No going back

With nations doing little to slow climate change, many people are ramping up plans to adapt to the inevitable.

http://www.nature.com/news/adapting-to-a-warmer-world-no-going-back-1.11906

National Geographic Photo Contest 2012, Part II- Great minds on for us all.

The deadline to enter this year's National Geographic photo contest is coming up -- this Friday, November 30. Back in September, the society started gathering and presenting galleries of submissions, encouraging readers to vote for them as well. Winners will be chosen on or around December 15, 2012. National Geographic was once more kind enough to let me choose some of its entries for 2012 to feature here on In Focus. Gathered below are 50 images from the three categories of People, Places, and Nature, with captions written by the individual photographers. Be sure to also see Part I on In Focus, from September. [50 photos]

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/11/national-geographic-photo-contest-2012-part-ii/100414/

A Great Ongoing Source of Geographic Education – Worth Revisiting

Global news with a spatial perspective: resources for educators and the inherently inquisitive. http://geographyeducation.org ”

Curated by Seth Dixon, Ph.D.

http://www.scoop.it/t/geography-education

Interesting Map and Data  Resource  sent along by Richard Coram (TDSB)

His quote “I want to warn you about this website... don't open it if you don't have an hour or two to spend asking the questions "What's where?" and "Why is it there?".

It is so true !!

http://show.mappingworlds.com//world/?lang=EN

thanks All for your ongoing sharing and continue to check out the culminating activities Google site for constantly updated Lessons, and activities for secondary .

https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0Bw5rEekBMuWvbnd5eDZFckozVDg/edit

Also do not forget to revisit the Geography Financial literacy lessons and resources on the OAGEE site

 http://www.oagee.org/curriculum/financial-literacy

Cheers

Mark Lowry

Geography and Geotechnologies Instructional Leader

Social World Studies and Humanities

Toronto District School Board

1 Civic Centre Court

Toronto , On ,M9C 2B3

Tel; (416) 394-7269

Cell; (416) 576-4515

Fax; (416) 394-6420

http://tdsbweb/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=63&menuid=63&pageid=63

http://geographysites.blogspot.ca/

twitter @geogmark

culminating activities

Hi All: I am very pleased with the initial response of Toronto and Ontario teachers to the call for culminating activities. I realize that now is the time of year that many of you are starting to focus on culminating activities so I thank you all for starting this sharing portal . These lessons and activities have not any external vetting and it is hoped that you will sort through them and use portions or complete activities to support students DOING geography in all classes and destinations .

I compliment all the work done by both individual and collaborative teams of teachers . Any activity that we do is a process and we all add value to the activities as the move from class to class or year to year. Also it is part of a teacher culture to share and borrow from each other. However it is important that we give credit to those teachers who have taken the time and effort to create these activities and accompanying assessments. Please let us give credit where we can . Many of you will in-fact add value to these activities and I hope that you will reciprocate and send me any additions, modifications,  or changes so that they can also be posted.

This is very much a process and hopefully this is just a start and through this portal we can build a true repository for Geography activities in Ontario.

https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0Bw5rEekBMuWvbnd5eDZFckozVDg/edit

Cheers Mark

Mark Lowry

Geography and Geotechnologies Instructional Leader

Social World Studies and Humanities

Toronto District School Board

1 Civic Centre Court

Toronto , On ,M9C 2B3

Tel; (416) 394-7269

Cell; (416) 576-4515

Fax; (416) 394-6420

http://tdsbweb/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=63&menuid=63&pageid=63

http://geographysites.blogspot.ca/

twitter @geogmark