This Week in Geographic History, May 7-13

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 more resources to support teaching these topics!

Monday, May 7

A cloud of snow blows from the summit of Mt. Everest, the highest of the “Seven Summits.”
Photograph by Jodi Cobb, National Geographic

TDIGH 1986: Mountaineer Reaches All ‘Seven Summits’

The Canadian mountaineer Patrick Morrow became the first person to reach the summits of the tallest mountains on each continent.

Maps: Take a look at the Seven Summits (or the Nine Summits, depending on the definition), and compare their elevations with this terrific graphic.

Background: Download this free poster and booklets for teaching about the Seven Summits.

Activity: Read about Wasfia Nazreen, a National Geographic explorer who became the first Bangladeshi to climb the Seven Summits.

Tuesday, May 8

Londoners celebrate the end of the war in Europe on V-E Day.
Photograph courtesy the Imperial War Museums. IWM Non Commercial Licence

TDIGH 1945: V-E Day

The day Nazi Germany surrendered is known as Victory in Europe (V-E) Day (since WWII did not end until Japan surrendered months later).

Maps: Get an overview of the major battles in the European Theatre of WWII, and then browse and download these fantastic maps of the conflict.

Background: Navigate the war with this interactive timeline of WWII in Europe.

Activity: Read this article about the end of WWII in Europe and discuss the “connect to today” question at the end.

Wednesday, May 9

Despite the cartoonish poster, “Buffalo Bill” became a strong supporter of Native American rights.
Illustration courtesy Library of Congress

TDIGH 1887: ‘Buffalo Bill’s Wild West’ Comes to London

The show, developed by former Army scout “Buffalo” Bill Cody, was a circus-like extravaganza depicting an exciting, romantic fable of life in America’s “Wild West.”

Maps: Take a look at this lovely map of Buffalo Bill’s tour of Western Europe. Have students think about the logistics of travel in the 19th century: How did the show transport bison, horses, and hundreds of performers?

Background: Have students read a fan’s account of how Buffalo Bill “conquered” Europe. Do students agree with the author that the Wild West is no longer American, but “belongs to the world”?

Activity: Bring Buffalo Bill to your classroom! The Buffalo Bill Center for the American West offers a terrific Skype in the Classroom program! We love the “Do You See Me Like I See Me? Cultural Perspectives in Western American Art” lesson.

Thursday, May 10