How to Use a Monument to Build a Legacy

WORLD The Great Zimbabwe has long been one of Africa’s fiercest archaeological battlegrounds. How have current and former leaders used the monument as a symbol of power? (New York Times) Where is Great Zimbabwe? Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources, including today’s simple locator map. Discussion Ideas The great article from the New York Times discusses how political leaders have used … Continue reading How to Use a Monument to Build a Legacy

How Climate Change is Affecting World Heritage Sites

ENVIRONMENT A report released last month evokes some Hollywood-style climate imagery. Although the Statue of Liberty is not yet being pummeled with waves as in the movie The Day After Tomorrow, the report does cite Hurricane Sandy’s damage to the iconic symbol and the danger of future hurricanes to it. Other World Heritage Sites also face threats from climate change. (The New York Times) Use … Continue reading How Climate Change is Affecting World Heritage Sites

Can Palmyra Be Repaired in Five Years?

WORLD The damage ISIS inflicted on some of Palmyra’s most revered treasures could take about five years to repair, Syria’s antiquities chief has said. (Wall Street Journal) Why would ISIS target humanity’s shared history? Use our resources to find out. Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit, including today’s MapMaker Interactive map of Palmyra’s archaeological sites. Discussion Ideas … Continue reading Can Palmyra Be Repaired in Five Years?

Race to Save Ancient Human Secrets

WORLD Archaeologists enlist UNESCO’s help to protect prehistoric sites threatened by karst quarrying. (Nat Geo News) What is karst? Find out here! Teachers, scroll down for a quick list of key resources in our Teachers’ Toolkit. Discussion Ideas The Nat Geo News article outlines threats faced by Borneo’s karst landscape. What is karst? Read through our super-short encyclopedic entry to find out. Karst is an … Continue reading Race to Save Ancient Human Secrets

Weekly Warm-Up: What is World Heritage?

Your students know intuitively that places can carry meanings. Whether they’ve visited the Grand Canyon, the Eiffel Tower, or the place their parents met, they’ve undoubtedly felt the significance of standing in a particular spot. What are some places that carry meaning? Why? Challenge your students to consider places that are important to them as individuals, as members of their community, and as citizens of … Continue reading Weekly Warm-Up: What is World Heritage?