This summer, a ship named after naval hero Oliver Hazard Perry will set sail

Oliver Hazard Perry, the U.S naval officer who won a decisive victory against the Royal Navy on Lake Erie during the War of 1812—“We have met the enemy and they are ours,” he declared—would have appreciated the irony. An extraordinary new sailing ship was supposed to be a replica of a British warship that his flotilla captured. But when the Canadian group behind the venture ran out of money, enthusiasts in Rhode Island bought the unfinished 138-foot-long steel hull and named it after Perry, an Ocean State native. Six years and more than $10 million later, the three-masted, 20-sail tall ship will launch this summer from the Newport Shipyard. And while it’s the first vessel of its kind to be built in the United States since 1903, it’s also fitted with 21st-century technology, such as twin six-cylinder backup engines.

See on www.smithsonianmag.com

“RIGEA will be sponsoring a follow-up workshop on how to use online mapping in the classroom (this time with step-by-step instructions to reference later). This computer lab-based professional development workshop is designed to train someone with LITTLE TO NO EXPERIENCE how to use free online mapping tools in a classroom setting. This is open to educators from all grade levels and subjects. “

See on rigea.org

Six schools were able to host the Giant Traveling map of Africa this March.  Here are some of the pictures of the Rhode Island College geography classes that participated in the event (you are never to old to take off your shoes and enjoy a giant map!!).  

See on rigea.org

More books have been written about Roger Williams than any other 17th-century American, but some of the facts attributed to Williams are simply fiction said Rhode Island historian J. Stanley Lemons, RIC emeritus professor of history.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Ridgway F. Shinn Jr. Study Abroad Fund at Rhode Island College, Lemons will present “In Search of Roger Williams,” a lecture, on Thursday, March 27, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Forman Center, Room C.

See on www.ric.edu

Who has the oil? http://pic.twitter.com/7Njc7OD8rw

Natural resources are not evenly distributed…this distribution pattern impacts global economics, industrialization, development and politics tremendously. 

See on www.energybulletin.net

The Giant Traveling Map of Africa is making its way across the state; I’m glad that many more decided to avail themselves of this opportunity than did last year.  For those that are not able to have the map come to your classroom, I would like to invite you to mine.  This next Thursday, March 20th, I will be sharing this map with my World Regional Geography class at Rhode Island College.  Students will be presenting short 5 minute lessons (on topics from mining in Central Africa to the historical/colonial influence of Portuguese in Sub-Saharan Africa) and if will be a chance to take of your shoes and get up and personal with this map.  The event will be held in the RIC Student Union Ballroom at 4pm, March 20.  I hope to see you there; as RIGEA is currently thinking about creating a Giant Traveling Map of Rhode Island (how cool would that be to have in your classroom!), you can see some of the resources that accompany this type of map.

See on rigea.org

Have you ever wanted to learn more about the National Weather Service and receive meteorological training?  NOAA works with volunteers that are trained severe weather spotters to help keep local communities safe with timely and accurate weather reports.  Training of this type will be freely offered at Rhode Island College on March 31st at 7pm in the GAIGE HALL AUDITORIUM (room 100–this is a change for earlier announcements). 

See on www.nws.noaa.gov