World History
Thanks to Byzantium's Shores for leading me towards two fun geography games. Both are simple. Type in as many American states or UN member nations as you can in ten minutes. Spelling counts! The American states game is here and the UN nation one is here.
I fear many of my students would not do to well with either. Geography seems to be lost on many of them. I once had a girl in class who was convinced that Canada was in Europe. (Well, she did reason it out. She had got on a plane, flown over water, and when she landed everyone was speaking French...)
When I was in Alaska last year, I overheard a tourist ask a cashier, "Do you accept American money in Alaska?" I often hear sports announcers covering an event in Hawaii who refer to their US mainland studios as being "back in the states." If you are in Hawaii, you are in the states. I do not think the sports announcers or the misguided tourist were making statements in favor of the Alaskan or Hawaiian separatist communities. They were all just being geographically illiterate.
I hope everyone does well on the two quizzes I linked to above. I would imagine most people who take the time to read a history blog have a high degree of geography knowledge.
- The Nature Of Geographic Literacy
The ERIC Digest The Nature of Geographic Literacy is by Alan Backler and Joseph Stoltman. It is from 1986. Despite the age of the article, it is still an interesting read. Students do not understand geography and this directly hinders their ability to...
- Geography Greek To Young Americans
Geography Greek to Young Americans. I sadly point out this report from CNN. It notes, "The study, which surveyed 510 young Americans from December 17 to January 20, showed that 88 percent of those questioned could not find Afghanistan on a map of Asia...
- Hohokam Ballplayers Made The Bleachers At Yankee Stadium Seem Tame By Comparison
Hohokam Ballplayers Made The Bleachers At Yankee Stadium Seem Tame By Comparison - An article from the Tucson Weekly on ancient Hohokam sports. The Hohokam were a Native American culture that existed in Arizona from 250 AD to about 1450 AD. They left...
- Wacky American Separatists
The world is full of regions and ethnic groups clamoring for independence. Some have valid causes, most do not. Just because you have your own administrative region or history as a people going back thousands of years does not mean you get your own nation...
- Meeting Of Frontiers: Alaska
Meeting of Frontiers: Alaska - Offers timelines, pictures, and articles relating to Alaska as being a frontier where Russia and America met in the 18th and 19th centuries. The site is available in both English and Russian. Article topics include the Russian...
World History
Fun Geography Games
Thanks to Byzantium's Shores for leading me towards two fun geography games. Both are simple. Type in as many American states or UN member nations as you can in ten minutes. Spelling counts! The American states game is here and the UN nation one is here.
I fear many of my students would not do to well with either. Geography seems to be lost on many of them. I once had a girl in class who was convinced that Canada was in Europe. (Well, she did reason it out. She had got on a plane, flown over water, and when she landed everyone was speaking French...)
When I was in Alaska last year, I overheard a tourist ask a cashier, "Do you accept American money in Alaska?" I often hear sports announcers covering an event in Hawaii who refer to their US mainland studios as being "back in the states." If you are in Hawaii, you are in the states. I do not think the sports announcers or the misguided tourist were making statements in favor of the Alaskan or Hawaiian separatist communities. They were all just being geographically illiterate.
I hope everyone does well on the two quizzes I linked to above. I would imagine most people who take the time to read a history blog have a high degree of geography knowledge.
- The Nature Of Geographic Literacy
The ERIC Digest The Nature of Geographic Literacy is by Alan Backler and Joseph Stoltman. It is from 1986. Despite the age of the article, it is still an interesting read. Students do not understand geography and this directly hinders their ability to...
- Geography Greek To Young Americans
Geography Greek to Young Americans. I sadly point out this report from CNN. It notes, "The study, which surveyed 510 young Americans from December 17 to January 20, showed that 88 percent of those questioned could not find Afghanistan on a map of Asia...
- Hohokam Ballplayers Made The Bleachers At Yankee Stadium Seem Tame By Comparison
Hohokam Ballplayers Made The Bleachers At Yankee Stadium Seem Tame By Comparison - An article from the Tucson Weekly on ancient Hohokam sports. The Hohokam were a Native American culture that existed in Arizona from 250 AD to about 1450 AD. They left...
- Wacky American Separatists
The world is full of regions and ethnic groups clamoring for independence. Some have valid causes, most do not. Just because you have your own administrative region or history as a people going back thousands of years does not mean you get your own nation...
- Meeting Of Frontiers: Alaska
Meeting of Frontiers: Alaska - Offers timelines, pictures, and articles relating to Alaska as being a frontier where Russia and America met in the 18th and 19th centuries. The site is available in both English and Russian. Article topics include the Russian...