Why Study Geography?

On top of the world on the "real" Mitad del Mundo

So why study geography?

First- let’s test your geography knowledge with this quick video.

How did you do? I got 2/3. I had no idea about the diameter of the Earth. It was way smaller than I was expecting!  But hey, you learn something new every day!

My students always want to know- why is it important to study geography?  When are we going to learn about wars and history and the interesting stuff? Why are we studying geography in social studies? We learn about the earth in science!

So why is it so important to have a strong foundation in geography? We have Google Maps and Google Earth at our fingertips. We can find locations easily enough. No one uses paper maps anymore; everyone uses a GPS or their phone via internet, data, or downloaded maps. They’ve removed the reference section from ITBS because the skills to use a printed thesaurus, encyclopedia, or dictionary are becoming obsolete. Is geography the next thing to go?

I remember sitting in one of my ESOC (social studies education) classes and us debating the purpose of geography as a course in middle and high school. Of course, we all thought it was needed, duh! Unfortunately, not many others find the importance of social studies in general to be equal to math or language arts let alone having an individual geography class. Geography gets lumped in to other classes which fall under the social studies umbrella. Then those classes get lumped together and voilà! Now you have the all-encompassing social studies, or social sciences, class.

These days I teach all the aspects of social studies: geography, culture, human geography, history, government, economics… I find my lesson very geography heavy. Why do I try so hard to push this field on my students? Am I going at my whole class wrong? I decided to, you guessed it, research! Here’s what I found about why we should be teaching geography.

Basically, geography is MORE than, “What is the capital of Turkey?” Geography breaks down into five basic themes: Location (where a place is), place (what a location is like), human-environment interaction (how humans impact the environment and vice-versa), movement (how people, ideas, and things get from one location to another), and regions (what places have in common). Geography connects us to our world and to one another. It provides a connection to the evolution of people’s cultures and ideas. Geography allows us to have spatial reasoning between people and places. (So it seems my geography-heavy curriculum is a strong approach to the content. Yay!)

The U.S.’s geographic knowledge is very low. I mean, we have all seen the clips from Jay Leno. Check out this compilation video. I’d be so embarrassed if that were me and even more embarrassed if this included one of my students. I would feel I had failed them.

I remember in high school reading the paper about the “War on Terror.” The beginning of the article was a blank political map of the Middle East and asked where Afghanistan was. Honestly, I had to look it up on a map. (This was before I could ask Siri or Google like my students do these days.) How sad is that? Our country was sending troops over, my own cousin lost his life in the conflict, and I couldn’t even tell you where it was. Recently with everything happening in Syria and the U.K. voting to leave or stay with the E.U., I strongly believe that knowing where these countries are (location), what they are like as far as human geography and climate (place), help students not only understand better what is happening but have a stronger connection to the people. That’s important in developing empathy and creating better global citizens of the future generations.

Are you still not convinced? You still need a reason or two to study geography? Here are 22.

• “Top 10 Reasons to Study Geography”
• “3 Reasons Why Learning Geography Is Important”
• “Why Is Geography Important”

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Summers in Boston: 2005 & 2016

beautiful Boston from the ferry

I love this city. I have only gotten to go once before with my aunt when I was a young teen. My aunt had lived there right after her college years so she and her old roommate showed me around one week in June. We did some “touristy” things like visit Harvard, walked through the Commons, went to Long Wharf, took a ferry to Georges Island to see Fort Warren which is a Civil War prison (very different story telling methods than what I grew up with in the South!), and enjoyed the city views from the 52^nd floor of Prudential Tower, aka the Pru. We walked some of the Freedom Trail and toured through John Adams’ and Louisa May Alcott’s homes. It was a major heat wave that week and those old, low-ceiling houses are definitely not built for those high temperatures. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. I mean, summer is supposed to be high 90s and humid, right? The three of us even hopped in the car one afternoon and drove up to Maine for a lobster dinner by the water and fresh blueberry pie. Maine was gorgeous as well! I have that on my list of domestic must-sees. Maybe via the AT?

Adams' home

the Pru- don't you love digital camera picture quality from early 2000s?

This summer Hubs and I are going back to Beantown. Well, it’ll be his first time there. This time we get to put together a slightly different itinerary than I did as a teen. We bought tickets to a Red Sox game! They are my favorite American League team. I have seen them play only once before, but not at Fenway! I've been advised by an MA native to try out Cask 'n Flagon. We are also looking forward to grabbing a beer at Cheers on Beacon Hill, previously known as the Bull & Finch Pub, where (obviously) Cheers was filmed! Very “touristy,” I know, but I’ll do my best to blend in with those damn yankees. :P We will only be in Boston for three nights total over an eleven day period because it’s our layover on the way to and from…. ICELAND! More on that trip coming up!

Touring ≠ Tourist

It's a traveler's fear: being mistaken for a typical tourist. White socks, sandals, khaki shorts, fanny pack, Hawaiian shirt, map in hand, all topped off with a bucket hat. So how can you avoid becoming this stereotype? Simple: do your research. Not only will these tips help you blend in, but they can also help you avoid some major blunders.

• Learn the Language

Even if foreign languages are not your forte, learning how to properly pronounce certain phrases and place names helps locals understand you. Nothing reads tourist as much as assuming every other country speaks English.
This can also be helpful when you are trying to understand others. We had to take a subway in Russia across St. Petersburg. Since Russian not only sounds different, but is also written in Cyrillic, we could have gotten very lost very easily while traveling without a translator. Fortunately, my parents had taken a few Russian lessons so they could recognize the alphabet. We also all rehearsed our destination name again and again so that way when we heard it announced over the loudspeaker we'd know that was our stop.
Anywhere you go knowing how to properly say please and thank you can go a long way.

• Learn Cultural Norms and Faux Pas

In Russia I learned that when walking down the street eye contact is usually avoided. If it does happen then it's not followed by an awkward yet polite smile like in the U.S. Russians also don't typically smile in photographs. There was a lot of not smiling actually. I also learned to not photograph the government buildings. That was very different from my previous trips to D.C.
In Ecuador when women greet others they do one cheek kiss on the right. That took a minute to adjust to since I'm used to the handshake or just a smile and a nod.
Learning these little things about a country help you feel more at ease and help you blend in.

• Know What to Expect with the Climate

Please research your destinations typical climate. I have failed on this front a couple of times and regretted it.

Please learn from my mistake.

On our of our summer family trips to Colorado we drove to the summit of Mt. Evans which is about 14,000 feet. My aunt warned me to bring a jacket, but it was mid-July! I was 16 and knew better. Well, we arrive at the top, me in my Soffe shorts and t-shirt, to rocks covered in snow. Let's just say, the pictures look ridiculous.
My trip to Ecuador I did some research beforehand. I was, however, in complete denial. I mean, Ecuador, equator, it's warm year round, right? It is but not in Quito where I spent most of my time. Fortunately I had packed a light jacket, a hoodie, and my stepmom lent me her nice rain jacket. Without those I would have been very unprepared.
Some places you go you have to pack for the unexpected. Soon I plan on going to Iceland and the weather there is supposedly very temperamental, even in summer.

• Learn the Locations of Places

Know where places are. Walking around a city holding a map looking lost is not the best impression for locals to see. This can even be dangerous because it puts a big target on your back. Go into a coffee shop or restaurant and map out your route there. Depending on the country or city where you are even this could be too out in the open. If at all possible, learn the locations of places you want to go beforehand. Or use the privacy of your hotel room or vehicle to map it out. If this isn't possible, use your phone. I suppose that's what most people use nowadays anyway. You can always take a picture of the tourist map and refer to it that way. It will at least make you appear as less of a target which is worst to be thought of as than a tourist in my opinion.

• Be Willing to Try Local Foods

Eating locro (potato soup) outside of Quito.

"When in Rome do as the Romans do." Don't be too quick to snub local cuisine and head for the McDonald's nearby. Sometimes the best things you eat are things you might never consider at home. Through this I've learned cuy is not for me, but roasted grub, alpaca, and borscht are delicious.

• Learn Local Places and Do Your Best to Avoid Typical Tourist Traps

Let's face it, pretty much no matter how hard you try you are going to stick out a bit. Unless you are a real chameleon. If you are one please let me know your secret. But if you want to experience a country, I highly suggest going where the locals go. The tourist traps are appealing and may be the reason why you are even there. But those places tend to get pricey quick. Plus, they also get a bit kitschy or completely water down the culture. Don't get too comfortable too fast, especially if you don't know the language.
While in the Dominican Republic we only left the resort twice. Once to go on a zip-lining excursion and again to go back to the airport.
Cuzco we walked around the city and ate at local restaurants without the tour guide. Cuzco felt safe and we didn't stray too far from the hotel. Plus I felt my Spanish was strong enough, Hubs's sense of direction is great, and Cuzco is used to foreigners walking around. I would have never done something like that in Russia without a local or translator. Trust your instincts.

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Please do your research and travel safely. A big part of that is blending in. Please don't completely let your guard down, especially when traveling alone. Being a traveler, a smart traveler, does not have to convert you into a stereotypical tourist.

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Teach Your Travels!

This post is for all those educators out there, especially my fellow social studies teachers! I cannot tell you how often I am somewhere and get so excited and tell Hubs, "I teach that!" Or, "This would be so cool to show my kids!" Yes, I call my students my kids. So, through various conferences and ideas from fellow teachers I have compiled a list of my favorite ways to bring my travels, and my students' travels, into the classroom.

1) Google Earth Tour 

This tool needs a Google account login and needs to be done and viewed on a computer with Google Earth as opposed to a mobile device, but it is worth it! I have used this tool two ways. The first was students wrote about a city and then share to me via Google Docs. I then copied and pasted their work, including images, into a tour which took us all around the U.S. and Canada. Later, I made a web quest assignment and had them read through the information and play around on the Google Earth portion of the virtual tour. The other way I used it was as a way to present my own tour. I made one about my hike on the Inca Trail and the other I plan to make for next school year will be about my trip to Iceland this summer.

2) Picture/Postcard Wall

I got this idea from my mentor teacher in Ecuador. He had just been on a tour with his wife from Ireland to Kenya. I loved getting to see pictures from his experiences. It made me respect even more how much he knows about different places, made me feel like I knew a little more about him (which also adds to the respect element), and it made me think, "Ooh, I want to go there..." I use this in my classroom to inspire my kids to go places. I see it in their writings. Here's an example from a student about the Great Lakes. "I didn't think they were so big in the [beginning]. Until, I saw that picture in [my teacher's] classroom. I thought it was cool that it looked like an ocean."

I also use this technique for the kids. I ask them, or they volunteer, pictures from their own adventures, This way they get a sense of belonging in the classroom and I get to learn more about them. One year a student came back from vacation and brought me a postcard from New York. This past summer I received a postcard from another student from Yellowstone National  Park. What made it even better was that this student wrote on the card about how he was applying what he had learned in my class to his real life.

3) Prezi

Went to some amazing ruins lately? Present in a way that's not your typical slideshow. You can design your own template or use one that has been created for you. There are maps, bulletin boards, circuit boards, and way too many other choices to list.

4) Cultures and Stereotypes Discussions

Often times, talking about my own stereotypes and experiences helps students realize how misguided and uninformed stereotypes can be. Talking about your own learning experiences helps students open up to the world and understand that it is okay when things are different than from what they know.

5) Where in the World is my Teacher?

Remember "Where in the World in Carmen Sandiego"? Make your experiences into a game for your kids! See if they can locate where you are based on geography, history, or cool facts! How much more fun would it be to find your lost teacher using latitude and longitude than merely using coordinates to locate a random city? Take a silly selfie with your best "where am I?" expression and write up a few clues and let the students figure it out. Maybe the first person.group to answer correctly wins a souvenir from that place. Key chain? Left over currency? Candy?  I wonder where Ron Clark would get lost...

6) Guest Speaker

Have a travel buddy, native from a recent destination, or even a tour guide come speak to your class! Now, I realize they may not be able to come all the way from where they are. Good thing there are programs like Skype out there! This is a great tool for a virtual tour or interview session. Skype is a great tool for class pen pals. I attempted to set that up one year with my mentor teacher back in Ecuador, but the scheduling never matched up. Other years I have had parents come to speak. One was an art collector and had pieces from Maya and Aztec. Another parent was from the Caribbean and talked about life on her home island. One of coworker's parent is from Cuba and actually came to the U.S. during their revolution. I know a teacher at my school who got a friend to come speak to her class because that friend had just returned from a visit to Antarctica!

7) Global Trek 

If you don't have access to Google Earth or you don't have a Google account, you can try Global Trek from Scholastic News. This allows students to tie in dream destinations, historical backgrounds, current events, and cultures from around the world. It even allows students to start a travel journal. Students will need Flash to operate this tool. Mapman quizzes are fun from Scholastic News as well.




There are so many other ways to make your own experiences come alive for your students. There are more than that to make your students' own experiences come into play in the classroom! Whether you  teach lower grades and use Flat Stanley or slightly older students and use some of the technological tools I mentioned above, it doesn't matter as long as the students are engaged and learning. On top of that, hopefully you are inspiring them to get out and see this big, beautiful world we live in!

Family Vacations pt II: Russia & Germany 2007

Россия!

In July of 2007, my family and I went on a mission trip to Russia. There, we were able to tour around St. Petersburg for a few days. Our mission took place in a small town about 2 hours south of St. Pete called Luga. We stayed in Russia for a week. On our way back we were able to turn a layover into a mini-vacation in Germany. We flew into Frankfort and then stayed in a city called Wiesbaden.
What can I say about a trip nearly 10 years ago? My memories of it have faded. Here's some of what I do remember:

• wanting to learn Russian
• the gorgeous weather, even with the afternoon showers
• how green all the plants were
• the potholes in the road
• how everything looked like a bad 90's movie
• all the USSR (CCCP) merchandise for sale
• Catherine the Great's Palace
• pondering with Pushkin
• the Eastern Orthodox churches
• experiencing public restrooms in Europe (tip: the t.p. is before you go inside)
• the borscht
• eating pizza in Germany
• boating down the Rhine
• drinking beer with my stepbrother (legally!)

Since pictures are worth 1,000 words, here are a few I took.

common sight driving down the Nevsky Prospekt

St. Isaac's & the typical cloud cover we experienced. St. Petersburg, Russia

St. Petersburg Square

road in Luga, Russia

with Pushkin

Street in Germany; in or near Wiesbaden I believe

"If you really want to do it, you do it. There are no excuses." Bruce Nauman

A lot of times I get asked how my husband and I have the opportunities to travel so much. We make it happen because it's important to us. You can travel, too. It doesn't have to be this big hassle people make it out to be. Since we have gotten to travel quite a bit, near and far, we have picked up a few tricks on how to make a memorable trip for all the right reasons. In this post I will be sharing three easy ways to add (more) travel into your life.

1) Fly Cheap

This is the easiest way to get the most distance in the shortest amount of time. I know what you're thinking, "easier said than done." Am I right? Well, it is as easy as it sounds. You just have to be flexible with your travel dates. My husband and I got to visit Minnesota, Colorado, and Pennsylvania within nine months by finding cheap flights. Granted, with his work he gets a total of three weeks vacation and wit my teaching career I get a lot more time off work than other professions. This has allowed us to be pretty flexible with our travel dates. We'd find $50-$100 tickets to different places, pack a carry-on, pick where we'd like to visit the most, rent an inexpensive car, and book an inexpensive hotel (or airbnb!). Or, better yet, we would crash with family or friends. The most expensive aspects of the trip, if you broke down the costs per day, would be dinners or certain tourist attractions. Also, the hubs and I are pretty low maintenance when it comes to flight quality. I mean, who needs pretzels or leg room anyway? Hubs compares airline fees via sites like Priceline, Expedia, cheapOair, etc. Kayak is an easy comparing site. Be sure to look for sales and try to avoid flying on actual weekend days and during prime hours. Don't be afraid of layovers. Actually, we are extending our layover in Boston for a day so we can see a Red Sox game. Back in 2007 my family and I got to spend our last few days of vacation in Germany on an extended layover from Russia. An extra hour or two at the airport isn't the worst thing, either. It gives you more time to eat and pick up last minute souvenirs. 

2) Drive There

Enjoying the sunrise over the Rockies outside Denver, CO

Road trips can be the best with the right company, snacks, and music/audio book. You (most likely) own a car, so you've already got the most important part! If you're worried about wear and tear on your car or need more space, rent a car with unlimited miles. We had to rent a truck for a couple of days to haul some stuff to Indiana. It was fun getting to see the different landscapes and crossing the Ohio River. I wish we had had more time, but riding around in a "new" vehicle was nice! A major plus to driving is the low cost of gasoline, especially right now. Where I live it's currently less than $1.60 a gallon! Remember when it was around $4 a gallon? Driving may take longer than flying to reach your destination, but it can be more cost efficient. And besides, what's that quote? The journey is more valuable than the destination? I'll look it up later.

3) Day Trips

Find a place you have never been before that's nearby. There's surely a park, attraction, historic site, or some hidden gem within a few hours of you! Living in the South, we have numerous Civil War locations to check out. Hubs and I try to find new adventures less than a few hours away. We love looking for new hiking trails, restaurants, museums, breweries, and spa retreats. Being a tourist in and around your hometown is fun and gives you a sense of pride. Plus, it helps you find great places to show off when out of town visitors crash at your place! My mom and I live a few hours apart, so we compromise and meet in the middle once a month for lunch. It gives us an excuse to check out new restaurants and shops we may now have in our own towns. Extra bonus to day trips, at night you get to curl up in your own bed.

Don't let expenses or lack of vacation time hold you back. All you need to explore new places is some time and a mode of transportation! There are plenty of ways to get out there, somewhere, anywhere! So stop making excuses and GO!

Here are my keys to easy travels:

be flexible

be optimistic

shop around for deals

be ready to explore

think outside of the box

pack light

Buen Viaje!