#ThatsGeography: How I use VR in Cross-Curricular Teaching (It’s Easier Than You Think!)

This post was written by educator Katie Harnish. Near the school where I teach, the kids live in a lot of high-density housing and have limited access to green space. My school sits on a big campus and I thought it was a real opportunity for students to go out and explore, take an explorer mindset, and make a guidebook to teach others about our … Continue reading #ThatsGeography: How I use VR in Cross-Curricular Teaching (It’s Easier Than You Think!)

Strategy Share: Environmental Stewardship Through Field-Guide Drawing

While on an expedition in southeast Alaska, I had the privilege of sharing the ship with several young naturalists. These enthusiastic participants in our expedition, ages 6-13, were especially passionate about identifying wildlife. I worked with them to observe, draw, and classify plankton captured with a small trawl net on one of our stops. In my own observations, I was also drawn to our shipboard Sibley’s Guide to Birds, an extraordinary resource for identifying various gulls, puffins, and other birds. Continue reading Strategy Share: Environmental Stewardship Through Field-Guide Drawing

Strategy Share: Using 360-Degree Technology to Engage Student Explorers

Immersive technology speaks to how my ninth-graders experience the world. Students drive their own learning, curiosity, and exploration. I can hear students yell with excitement as they discover new things and make connections to what they already know. Those who have a hard time sitting still can use motion as an asset to their learning. Continue reading Strategy Share: Using 360-Degree Technology to Engage Student Explorers

Educator Spotlight: Expanding Perspectives through Outdoor Exploration and Social Media

Sharon Davison emphasizes the importance of spending time in nature. For her National Geographic Educator Certification capstone project, her kindergarten students went on a nature walk, made observations, wrote in journals, and then communicated their findings to people around the world using social media platforms. Continue reading Educator Spotlight: Expanding Perspectives through Outdoor Exploration and Social Media