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.
Check out our Pinterest board for additional resources!
Tuesday, March 20
Photograph by W. Robert Moore, National Geographic
TDIGH 1991: World Storytelling Day
Storytelling is one of the oldest forms of communication, vital to preserving the culture and traditions of communities as diverse as Aboriginal Australians and ancient Greeks. Storytellers often re-tell familiar stories, but adapt them for a specific audience—making them funnier or shorter for a younger audience, or more complex for older listeners. It is a way to convey history, culture, language, spirituality, and identity. This year’s theme is “Wise Fools.” Do you know any?
Media: Watch and listen to 10 storytellers from all over the world share stories of “Wise Fools.”
Background: Investigate this terrific collection of story-related activities, projects, and games developed by storyteller/author Heather Forest for her storytelling workshops with students, teachers, and librarians. We’re intrigued by the great ideas for “storytelling across the curriculum“—science, math and social studies.
Activity: Use our activity to help students understand the power of images in storytelling.
Wednesday, March 21
Photograph by James P. Blair, National Geographic
TDIGH 2012: International Day of Forests
Created by the United Nations, this day acknowledges the critical role forests play in providing clean air and protecting biodiversity around the world.
Map: Take a look at our “land cover” map layer to find forests around the world.
Background: Use our reference resources to learn more about rain forests and biodiversity.
Activity: Investigate our suite of classroom activities on human activity, biodiversity, habitat loss, and deforestation in the Amazon rain forest.
Wednesday, March 21
Illustration courtesy Library of Congress
TDIGH 1859: First U.S. Zoological Society Formed
Zoos work to help people learn about animals, climates, and habitats in other countries and continents.
Activity: A zoo is a great place to start learning about map grids! Use our activity to get started.
Thursday, March 22
TDIGH 1985: UN Agrees to Protect Ozone Layer
The agreement to protect the ozone paved the way for the Montreal Protocol, which restricted ozone-depleting substances.
Visual: What would the ozone layer look like if CFCs had not been regulated?
Background: What is the ozone layer?
Saturday, March 24
TDIGH 1989: Exxon Valdez Crashes
Many species still have not recovered from the 1989 oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Map: Take a look at the impacted area and trajectory with these maps of the Exxon Valdez oil spill
Background: Use our collection of maps and classroom activities to learn more about oil spills.
Activity: Use these excellent, standards-aligned STEM activities to help students use the engineering process to better understand oil-spill clean-up technologies and methods.