Summary
Imagine a free, comprehensive digital atlas designed specifically for K–12 educators — one that connects geography, history, science, ELA, and math in a single resource. The Virginia Geographic Alliance has built exactly that with An Atlas of Virginia, offering 40 full-page maps, interactive online resources, nonfiction text, charts, and a teacher guide aligned to state standards in one dynamic resource.
In this session, participants will explore the features and instructional potential of An Atlas of Virginia and discuss what it takes to build something similar in their own states. We’ll examine the components that make this atlas an effective classroom tool — from cross-curricular connections and literacy support to interactive maps and standards alignment — and brainstorm how state geographic alliances, university partners, and educators can collaborate to bring similar projects to life digitally.
Whether you teach in Virginia or anywhere across the country, you’ll leave with inspiration, a replicable model, and practical next steps for advocating for — or building — a state atlas resource your students deserve
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | America250 through a Geographic Lens | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Reynolds Leadership Center
Meet the Presenter
Annie Evans, Director of Education and Outreach, has spent over half her life teaching history and civics in Virginia’s K-12 public schools. She collaborates with a network of educators, museums, and cultural institutions nationwide to create learning resources that inspire the next generation of educators, public historians, and community leaders. Her work emphasizes inquiry-based and place-based learning, connecting local history to broader topics for secondary and post-secondary audiences while fostering vibrant communities among educational groups and institutions. Annie is the recipient of the National Council for History Education’s Sarah Drake Brown Leadership in History Award, recognizing her dedication to history education and collaborative approach to curriculum design.
