Island of No Return. Literally.

ENVIRONMENT Thousands of South Pacific islanders will leave for permanent resettlement as one of the most active volcanoes in the world gets ready to rumble. (Guardian) Why is the South Pacific erupting? Use our resource to learn a little about the Ring of Fire. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources, including today’s MapMaker Interactive map. Discussion Ideas Manaro Voui is a … Continue reading Island of No Return. Literally.

How a Roman ‘Gate to Hell’ Actually Worked

WORLD Is it possible to walk through the gates of hell and live? Ancient Romans thought so, and they staged elaborate sacrifices at what they believed were entrances to the underworld. How did that work? (Science) Learn a little about Ancient Rome, and why “gates to hell” are still deadly today. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit, … Continue reading How a Roman ‘Gate to Hell’ Actually Worked

Deadliest Earthquake of the Year Strikes Iran

WORLD The deadliest earthquake of 2017 struck Iran and Iraq late Sunday evening, rocking the two countries and killing more than 400 people. (National Geographic) Use our video to better understand earthquakes. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit, including today’s simple MapMaker Interactive map.   Discussion Ideas In our video “Earthquakes 101,” we learn that most earthquakes … Continue reading Deadliest Earthquake of the Year Strikes Iran

Quake and Tsunami Strike New Zealand

WORLD A magnitude 7.8 quake struck New Zealand’s South Island, and a tsunami followed. (BBC) Use or video to better understand earthquakes. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit, including today’s simple MapMaker Interactive map. Discussion Ideas In our video “Earthquakes 101,” we learn that most earthquakes are caused by the movement of tectonic plates far below Earth’s … Continue reading Quake and Tsunami Strike New Zealand

This Week in Geographic History, October 31 – November 6

Here’s an advance look at a 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. Monday, October 31 TDIGH: Day of 7 Billion In 2011 the UN recognized that the worldwide population had reached 7 billion; it is … Continue reading This Week in Geographic History, October 31 – November 6