Summary
U.S. history meets Human and Environmental Geography in this hands-on workshop that examines 250 years of America demography, land and natural resource use, and ecological milestones. After a brief introduction to the trends we’ll explore, participants will spend most of the workshop engaging in collaborative classroom activities. One activity is a full-group role-play that’s a vehicle for comparing different demographic and development data points across the decades. In another activity participants construct and interpret population pyramids for different historical eras. Using historical census data, participants will map U.S. population density and expansion across the country from eastern cities along the fall line (including Richmond) to metro areas in the West. We will also use archival census data to analyze connections between family size trends and a range of social and economic indicators. Our group will then create a timeline of environmental events that bridges physical and human geography. Lessons build skills in critical thinking, data analysis and visualization, using geographic tools and primary source documents. Participants will receive lesson plans and background readings in an electronic format, matched to state standards, the C3 Framework, and AP Human Geography..
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | America 250 Through a Geographic Lens | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Reynolds Leadership Center
Meet the Presenters
Carol Bliese is the Senior Director of Teacher Programs for the Population Education (PopEd) program at the non-profit organization Population Connection. The program provides teaching materials, professional development workshops, and ongoing support for current and future K-12 teachers that focuses on environmental topics around sustainability and societal topics around global citizenship. Carol manages the day-to-day functioning of PopEd’s workshop program, oversees the development of curriculum, and participates in short and long-term strategic planning. She facilitates teacher training workshops, in-person and online, throughout the U.S. and Canada and has led over 850 workshops in her almost 20 years with the program, including sessions for the National Council for the Social Studies, National Science Teaching Association, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the North American Association of Environmental Education, and the National Council of Geographic Education.
Cara Bora is an Education Program Associate with the Population Education (PopEd) program at the non-profit organization Population Connection. The program provides teaching materials, professional development workshops, and ongoing support for current and future K-12 teachers that focuses on environmental topics around sustainability and societal topics around global citizenship. She coordinates the Population Education workshops, staff trips, and program outreach in the northeastern part of the U.S. She also conducts workshops online and in-person across the country. Prior to joining PopEd, Cara served as a Science Specialist for elementary grades and taught Science classes to middle schoolers.
