National Anthems and Their Geographic Implications

In 1931, the Star-Spangled Banner was signed into law as the official national anthem of the United States. While our national anthem is essentially a battle hymn (take a look at the lyrics here) that is not the case for many countries in the world. Israel and Palestine Take these translated lyrics of Israel’s national anthem: The hope of two thousand years,To be a free … Continue reading National Anthems and Their Geographic Implications

11 Things We Learned This Week

This week, we learned … … why people are moving to Chernobyl. Read of the week! Who else is moving to Chernobyl?     … teachers feel misunderstood, unheard, and disrespected.   We recognize the contributions teachers make every week!     … the U.S. is enduring worsening geographic inequality. Find three ways to help your students combat inequality.     … the most important … Continue reading 11 Things We Learned This Week

5 Ways to Celebrate National Pasta Day!

1) Pasta Origins The first two things that come to mind when most people think of pasta are spaghetti and Italians. But there are many different types of pasta, from acini to ziti. What’s more, pasta’s origins don’t lie in Italy. Pasta has its origins in China where it was allegedly “discovered” for Europeans by Marco Polo. Pasta quickly gained popularity and started evolving into different … Continue reading 5 Ways to Celebrate National Pasta Day!

Educator Spotlight: Empowering a School Community to Recycle

David Sweeney inspired his third-graders to advocate for recycling and trash pickup at their school and in their community. Students collected trash, classified it, and analyzed the results. They connected with school community members to share their learning about recycling. David moved to fourth grade with his students this year and continues to support them in caring for their school. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Empowering a School Community to Recycle

Comprehension is Knowledge with Stephanie Harvey and Explorer Magazine

Dear Educators, We’ve partnered with National Geographic Education Fellow and literacy expert Stephanie Harvey to review and improve Explorer magazine, our classroom resource for students grades K-5/6. In partnering with Stephanie, we’ve produced a four-part video series that takes a deep dive into Explorer and its supplementary features. The second video, linked below, offers insight into reading comprehension strategies that will deepen your students’ knowledge … Continue reading Comprehension is Knowledge with Stephanie Harvey and Explorer Magazine