Here’s an advance look at some of the “This Day in Geographic History” (TDIGH) events coming up this week. For each date, we’ve matched it with a map or visual, background information, and a classroom activity so you can plan ahead.
Monday, January 23
TDIGH: Piccard and Walsh Go Deep
In 1960, explorers Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh traveled to the deepest point on Earth: the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench.
Map: Photos, maps, and more info about ocean trenches
Background: Collection of resources about the Mariana Trench and a short video
Tuesday, January 24
TDIGH: Caliph Ali Assassinated
The assassination of Muhammad’s relative, Caliph Ali, in 661 ignited a debate over the leadership of Islam, dividing followers into two sects: Sunni and Shia.
Map: 1,200 Years of Iraq’s Turbulent History
Background: AStudy Guide about how Sunni and Shia Islam differ
TDIGH: California Gold Rush Begins
James Marshall’s discovery of gold in the American river in 1848 sparked a mass migration to California.
Map: California’s historic gold mines
Background: The discovery of gold in California
Activity: Read this article. What were the long-term effects of the California Gold Rush?
Friday, January 27
TDIGH: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
The UN created this day in 2006 to honor the victims and survivors of the genocide carried out by the Nazis during the 1930s and 1940s.
Visual: Timeline and photos from U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
Background: Wannsee Conference outlines the “Final Solution”
Saturday, January 28
All seven crew members were lost in the 1986 Challenger explosion, which resulted in a temporary suspension of NASA’s space shuttle program.
Background: The first space shuttle and more info about NASA’s space shuttle program
Activity: Read this reflection on the Challenger disaster and discuss why failure is “part of the process of exploration and discovery.”