Source: www.northeastarc.org

The GIS Educators day is always a treat–and it’s so close to home this year!!  I hope you all consider attending.  If you are interested in getting a “scholarship” for the conference attendance fee for GIS Educators Day, let me (Seth Dixon) know!  Email Lyn Malone (lmalone @ worldviewsgis.com) if you are interested in presenting.   

The smallest state seemed larger for students at Northern Lincoln Elementary School, after a giant, interactive map of Rhode Island, equipped with QR codes, was delivered to the school.

Margaret Rock, a 5th-grade teacher at Northern, explained that the map, which measures 16 feet by 24 feet, was loaned to the school by the Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance, and classes had the opportunity recently to use the “traveling map,” which makes its rounds through Rhode Island schools, for two weeks.

While Rhode Island is tiny, Rock explained, she hoped this map and associated QR codes showed students “there really is a lot outside Lincoln and Manville,” inspired them to travel and encouraged their families to travel with them to different areas of the state. Each grade was able to use the map, Rock explained, and teachers selected different instructional activities appropriate for their students’ ages.

The map came with a trunk of additional materials, she said, including copies of the book “Rhode Island – The Ocean State” by Donald D’Amato, inflatable globes, geography and social studies picture vocabulary cards, a Rhode Island flag and other items, such as small traffic cones, scavenger hunt cards, bingo chips and a binder with organized lesson plans and more information for teachers.  Having these visuals and hands-on experience, Rock said, will boost students’ understanding of not only their specific location, but where they are in relation to other regions of Rhode Island.

“Sometimes people think with GPS, you don’t need maps anymore, but you really do,” the 5th-grade teacher explained.

Students in her class dove into geography lessons, analyzing physical, political and cultural maps, as well as time zone maps and specific area charts that outline landmarks in Washington, D.C.

Source: www.valleybreeze.com

The Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance is very excited to announce that on Saturday, September 9th, 2017, we will be having a Fall GeoFest conference at the Whispering Pines Conference Center (an incredibly beautiful location!).

We are looking forward to a tremendous slate of speakers and presenters; featuring experts on the geography of coffee, veterans of AP Human Geography, and many more.  Alliance T-shirts, books, map giveaways, great dining—all in a beautiful location amidst great colleagues.  There will be more details forthcoming, but in the meantime, please mark your calendars and invite colleagues to join us!  REGISTER HERE to reserve your spot at the event.

Date: September 9, 2017
Time: 9am-3pm
Location: Whispering Pines Conference Center
URI W. Alton Jones Campus
401 Victory Highway
West Greenwich, RI  02817

Source: rigea.org

“The progress in Rhode Island toward clean water owes a lot to this federal law. Seeing urban rivers and the beaches and coves of the upper bay rediscovered as natural assets for wildlife and people to enjoy is one of the great successes of the Clean Water Act [of 1972].”

Source: www.rimonthly.com

This article from geographer Mary Grady shows a pleasant story in the human and environmental interaction.  The upper bay (that in-between place where the Providence River widens and becomes part of the Narragansett Bay) has been cleaned up and has ecologically been revitalized and is becoming an asset to the community again.  It is far from pristine, but it nice to read about encouraging signs on this front.  

Tags: urban, water, coastal, urban ecology, Rhode Island.

“Do You LOVE Maps? Or do you just need one – FAST? You have found the original amazing storeful (in Providence, RI) of maps, globes, atlases, charts, and accessories for travel, recreational, decorative, academic and business use.

We are best known nowadays for pinboard maps and magnetic maps that are attentively handcrafted from quality materials. Plus, we stock the greatest selection of map tacks and pins, plain and fancy.”

Source: mapcenter.com

Have you ever walked into this treasure on the East Side of Providence?  Giving the economic models today, a store specializing in paper maps is not destined to stick around forever and I recommend checking it out.  The alliance is working with them to find great local mapping resources into more schools. 

Basic Information about the NatGeo Summer Workshop
When: June 24-28
Where: Washington, DC
Who is eligible:
-teams of 2 middle school educators
-both must be from same school
-1 should be a science/social studies teacher and 1 should be in the role of a library, media, or technology specialist
-agree to 1 year commitment with Nat Geo with deliverables

Source: docs.google.com

The RI Geography Education Alliance is very excited to offer this opportunity to a team of middle school teachers to go to Washington D.C. and be at National Geographic headquarters (trust me, it’s an amazing experience being there–one I wish every teacher could have).  Please consider applying with someone else at your school.   

Each teacher will receive a $600 stipend for: participating in the summer institute; attending webinars during the 2017-18 academic year; working closely with the Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance to develop an in-state workshop to be held in 2017-2018; and presenting the Geo-Inquiry process at a conference or regional professional development event.

To apply, please complete linked application form below for your school-based team (2 educators).  Please submit your applications by Wednesday April 5th, 2017 and the selected teachers will be contacted by Monday April 10th.

The Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance will be selecting two middle school educators (Grades 6-8) to attend an all-expense paid summer workshop at National Geographic Society’s headquarters in Washington, DC, June 24-28, 2017.  Both educators should teach at the same school and apply as one team with one application.  One teacher must be science or social studies, the other must be the school librarian/media/technology specialist (this person must work with students on a regular basis).

The summer professional development institute focuses on the “Geo-Inquiry” Process and how to integrate this process in the teaching of middle school social studies or science.  Rhode Island will be sending a 2-person teacher team to attend the summer institute.  Each teacher will receive a $600 stipend for: participating in the summer institute; attending webinars during the 2017-18 academic year; working closely with the Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance to develop an in-state workshop to be held in 2017-2018; and presenting the Geo-Inquiry process at a conference or regional professional development event.

To apply, please complete linked application form below for your school-based team (2 educators).  Please submit your applications by Wednesday April 5th, 2017 and the selected teachers will be contacted by Monday April 10th.

Source: rigea.org