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.
Tuesday, March 21
TDIGH: International Day of Forests
Created by the UN in 2012, this day acknowledges the critical role forests play in providing clean air and protecting biodiversity around the world.
Background: Info about rain forests and biodiversity
Activity: Read and discuss this Q&A with forest biodiversity expert Dr. Lovejoy.
Wednesday, March 22
TDIGH: UN Agrees to Protect Ozone Layer
The 1985 agreement to protect the ozone paved the way for the later Montreal Protocol which restricted ozone-depleting substances.
Visual: What the ozone layer would look like if CFCs had not been regulated
Background: What is the ozone layer?
Activity: Watch this video about changes in the ozone layer.
Friday, March 24
Many species still have not recovered from the 1989 oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Background: Collection of resources about oil spills
Activity: Using this timeline of recovery for species affected by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, discuss how the Prince William Sound ecosystem was damaged.
Saturday, March 25
TDIGH: Part of Wilkins Ice Shelf Collapses
A major ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula collapsed in 2008, providing clear evidence of global warming.
Map: Antarctica
Background: Photos, facts, and information about ice sheets
Activity: Climate Change and Rising Seas
Sunday, March 26
TDIGH: Egypt-Israeli Peace Treaty
Relations between Egypt and Israel have remained peaceful since the 1979 treaty which forced Israel to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula.
Background: Division of Palestine and The Six-Day War