The Cost of Borders
2025-01-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Borders, rather than markers of sovereign territory, are marketplaces comprised of always costly, and often deadly transactions. Moving from Lesbos, to Gaza, to Tijuana, the project shows how the costs of borders, patterned by inequalities of racism, sexism, and disability, fluctuate over time and space, and differ depending on who is attempting to cross.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Heba Gowayed (pronounced HEH-buh go-WAY-ed), is a writer and sociologist. She is an Associate Professor of Sociology at CUNY Hunter College & Graduate Center. Her research and writing centers the lives of people who migrate across borders and the unequal and often violent institutions they face.
Her award-winning book Refuge, published with Princeton University Press, takes readers into the lives of displaced Syrians who sought refuge in the US, Canada, and Germany. Their experiences reveal that these destination countries are not saviors; they can deny newcomers’ potential by failing to recognize their abilities and invest in the tools they need to prosper. She is currently working on a second book, The Cost of Borders that argues borders, rather than markers of sovereign territory, are marketplaces comprised of always costly, and often deadly transactions. Moving from Lesbos, to Gaza, to Tijuana, the project shows how the costs of borders, patterned by inequalities of racism, sexism, and disability, fluctuate over time and space, and differ depending on who is attempting to cross.
She has also been featured on NPR’s Code Switch (https://www.npr.org/2022/05/24/1101055230/how-we-decide-who-is-worthy-of-welcome), the podcast This is Hell! (https://thisishell.com/episodes/1770).
Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

Redlining is Only Part of the Story
2025-01-15 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Redlining, some scholars contend, has become a “narrative crutch” that obscures a much longer history of housing discrimination. Redlining didn’t create systemic racism in American housing patterns – it sanctioned it. Vulnerable communities still feel the impacts of this profitable disinvestment in vast and far-reaching ways. The perpetuation of racist residential patterns far exceeds the reach of government actors. Public and private actors are, in many ways, equally responsible for the spaces we do and do not inhabit to this day. This session will include a deep dive into new maps and resources added to “Mapping Inequality” and other related digital humanities projects
from the University of Richmond’s Digital Scholarship Lab and New American History. Participants will have an opportunity to unpack, understand, and explore OER resources designed to help seek solutions in the modern era.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Annie Evans is the Director of Education and Outreach for New American History at the University of Richmond. Annie is a National Geographic Society Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, a NatGeo Certified Educator and Trainer, and Co-Coordinator of the Virginia Geographic Alliance. With over 30 years of classroom and educational leadership experience, she designs digital humanities curricula, and facilitates professional learning for K-16 teachers and museum educators, focusing on Historical Thinking Skills, GeoLiteracy, Instructional Coaching, Project-Based Learning, and Performance Assessments. She hopes New American History will inspire the next generation of public historians, history educators, and civic leaders.
Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

GeoCircle: Spatial Patterns of Ethnicity – Exploring Neighborhoods and the Legacy of Redlining
2025-01-21 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Topics for discussion:
Bring your idea, applications and questions Mapping Tools: How can we use mapping tools like Google Maps and Mapping Inequality to better understand ethnic neighborhoods and the legacy of redlining? How can these tools support students in visualizing spatial patterns of ethnicity and migration? Redlining’s Impact: How do we effectively teach students about the history of redlining and its lasting effects on neighborhoods? How can we help students recognize these patterns in their own cities? Engaging with Real-World Issues: Redlining and migration are still significant issues today. How can we make these topics relevant for students, helping them connect past policies to current urban inequality? Teaching Migration and Urban Issues: Considering our various teaching contexts (AP Human Geography, IB Geography, middle school), what strategies have worked in your classrooms to address migration patterns, urban inequality, and the cultural aspects of ethnic neighborhoods?
About the Facilitator
Jaela Vazquez – As an AP Human Geography teacher at Coral Reef Senior High School in Miami, Florida, she brings over 20 years of experience, including 13 years in AP Human Geography. An AP Reader and member of the AP Human Geography Test Development Committee, she is committed to advancing geography education. As an AGS Teacher Fellow and professional development leader in Miami-Dade County, she supports teachers in delivering innovative curriculum.In her classroom, geography comes alive through real-world projects like mapping urban heat islands, fieldwork on gentrification, and managing initiatives such as Cuda Closet and a school pantry in a food desert. These hands-on experiences make geography relevant, encouraging students to think critically and engage with their community.
About GeoCircle and Join the Circle Session

Developing Religious Literacy in the Social Studies Classroom
2025-01-22 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Exposure to world religions is critical for students to become global citizens. This session explores legal foundations in the U.S. for teaching about religion, uses case studies to consider challenges involved in teaching this topic, and provides guidelines for classroom instruction.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Throughout her 28 years in education, Erika Lowery has taught MS/HS Geography, has been a Secondary Social Studies Supervisor, and is currently in her fourth year serving as a Regional Educator for the education non-profit, Institute for Curriculum Services. Erika was awarded the National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teaching Achievement award in 2013. She was President of TXCSS in 2018 and President of NSSSA in 2021. In 2021, Erika was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus from the College of Education at The Florida State University and in 2022 she was selected as the Texas Social Studies Supervisor of the Year. Also, in 2022, Erika was honored with the TXCSS Billy Sills Distinguished Service in Social Studies award.

Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

Teaching About the Cultural World Using Interactive Mapping Tools and Inquiry
2025-01-29 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Join Joseph Kerski, geographer and educator, for a lively hands-on workshop where we explore web based maps, layers, curricular resources, and strategies for you to more effectively and engagingly teach about demographic characteristics, population change, land use, human health, consumer behavior, business locations, and other themes in cultural geography.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Joseph Kerski is a geographer with a focus on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in education. He has served as the President of the National Council for Geographic Education and has given 2 TED Talks on “The Whys of Where”. He holds 3 degrees in geography (BA, MA, PhD) and has served as geographer in 4 major sectors of society, including government (NOAA, US Census Bureau, USGS), academia (University of Minnesota, Harrisburg Area Community College, Penn State University, Sinte Gleska University, University of Denver, others), private industry (as Education Manager for Esri), and nonprofit organizations (with roles in geography and education associations). Joseph has authored over 100 chapters and articles, and 200 podcasts on GIS, education, space, place, and related topics. He has visited over 350 schools and 400 universities around the world. He regularly conducts professional development for educators. He has created over 6,200 videos, 1,000 lessons, 1,000 blog essays, and authored 12 books, including Interpreting Our World, Spatial Thinking in Environmental Contexts, Essentials of the Environment, Spatial Mathematics, Tribal GIS, International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning, the GIS Guide to Public Domain Data, and others. But as a lifelong learner, he feels as though he’s just getting started and thus actively seeks mentors, partners, and collaborators.
Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

GeoCircle: Translate Your Travels to the Classroom
2025-02-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Overview
When geography educators travel, they embark on more than just a vacation. They are doing research! In this GeoCircles discussion, we explore methods for finding the teaching moments while “at-large.” We provide meaningful ways to organize and apply these lessons to the classroom.
About the Facilitator
Thomas Larsen is Past President of the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE). He serves as Co-Coordinator of the Geographic Alliance of Iowa (GAI) and teaches geography at the University of Northern Iowa.

Join the Session
About GeoCircles and Join the Session

Geographies of Genocide: Why Geography matters in conducting Genocidal Campaigns in the Modern Era
2025-02-05 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Geography education goes a long way in understanding why, where, and how genocides occur. In my teaching, I stress the geopolitical circumstances behind the occurrence of genocides and how the landscape adds to the uniqueness of each genocide. For this webinar, I discuss why and when to teach about genocides and human rights in Geography classrooms; demonstrate the teaching of genocides case study, regional, thematic, and other approaches; and offer lesson ideas, resources, and readings.
Audience Focus
High school/ post secondary
Meet the Presenter
Tracey H Norrell, PhD is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Geography and Sustainability Department at the University of Tennessee. She currently teaches courses in World Geography, Migration, Europe (including War and Society and Russia and its Neighbors) and two courses in Geography of Human Rights. This course over the years had to be split into two courses due to its popularity – the Americas and Africa and Europe and Asia. She is also the recipient of the 2022 National Council for Geographic Education Higher Ed Distinguished Teacher Award.
Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

Teaching About the physical World Using Interactive Mapping Tools and Inquiry
2025-02-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Join Joseph Kerski, geographer and educator, for a lively hands-on workshop where we explore web based maps, layers, curricular resources, and strategies for you to more effectively and engagingly teach about weather, climate, ocean chemistry, landforms, river systems, ecosystems, natural hazards, coastal processes, and other themes in physical geography.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Joseph Kerski is a geographer with a focus on the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in education. He has served as the President of the National Council for Geographic Education and has given 2 TED Talks on “The Whys of Where”. He holds 3 degrees in geography (BA, MA, PhD) and has served as geographer in 4 major sectors of society, including government (NOAA, US Census Bureau, USGS), academia (University of Minnesota, Harrisburg Area Community College, Penn State University, Sinte Gleska University, University of Denver, others), private industry (as Education Manager for Esri), and nonprofit organizations (with roles in geography and education associations). Joseph has authored over 100 chapters and articles, and 200 podcasts on GIS, education, space, place, and related topics. He has visited over 350 schools and 400 universities around the world. He regularly conducts professional development for educators. He has created over 6,200 videos, 1,000 lessons, 1,000 blog essays, and authored 12 books, including Interpreting Our World, Spatial Thinking in Environmental Contexts, Essentials of the Environment, Spatial Mathematics, Tribal GIS, International Perspectives on Teaching and Learning, the GIS Guide to Public Domain Data, and others. But as a lifelong learner, he feels as though he’s just getting started and thus actively seeks mentors, partners, and collaborators.
Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

GeoCircle: Teaching Urban Geography, Urban Trends and Contemporary Urban Challenges
2025-02-18 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Overview
Join us for an informal conversation about teaching urban geography. Bring your questions, challenges, ideas and resources to share.
About the Facilitator(s):
Pamela Wolfe has been teaching for 44 years at the same school- Yeshiva of Greater Washington in Silver Spring MD. She started off teaching French and AP European History, took on AP Human Geography the first year it was offered, and fell in love with the course. She ran workshops and Summer Institutes for College Board for many years, still does the Reading, and works on textbooks, study guides and websites for various publishers.

Jay Bennish has been teaching geography and history for 25 years in the Cherry Creek Public School district, located in Metro Denver. After completing his undergraduate course work at Northern Arizona University, he attended The University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies, earning his Maters in Global Studies. He has been teaching AP Human Geography for 15 years and is a regular participant at the AP Reading.

About GeoCircle and Join the Session

Memory & Monuments Across the Contemporary Middle East: Empires, Nations, and Environments
2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
How can engagements with the past both consolidate and challenge the power of state authorities? This presentation answers that question through a survey of monuments and memory across the contemporary Middle East. Drawing on case studies from places including Turkey, Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia, this talk describes the many forms that memory can take. It argues that although some of these struggles over memory are specific to the region of the Middle East, many of the lessons they teach have much wider resonance in the context of global struggles over history, justice, and citizenship.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Timur Hammond is an associate professor in the Geography and the Environment Department at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. He received a Ph.D. and M.A. in geography from the University of California, Los Angeles (2016, 2010), and a B.A. in English/creative writing from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (2005). Prior to joining the faculty at Syracuse University, he worked in the Department of Geography at the University of Vermont. Trained as an urban and cultural geographer, his research draws on archival and ethnographic methods to explore the intersection between urban experience and cultural identity, with a particular focus on 20th century Turkey. He has published widely on a variety of topics, including his 2023 monograph Placing Islam: Geographies of Connection in 20th Century Istanbul, and articles on translation, the politics of memory, and the geographies of religion.
Access the Webinar
#Open access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

Importance of Narratives: Incorporating AAPI Voices into the Classroom
2025-03-12 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
According to the Pew Research Center, the Asian population in the United States nearly doubled from 2000 to 2019 and yet only about 24% of those surveyed felt well informed about AAPI history in this country. Many cite the internet or social media being the primary platform of information. Without a doubt, there is a need for more education on AAPI history in this country. This session will highlight the multiplicity and heterogeneity of “Asian American” as a social and political category through the use of maps. The maps will include specific information about populations identified as Indian, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese and how the geographic clustering of these groups changed over time as a result of social, economic, or political forces. The workshop will also incorporate use of the Galtung Triangle to provide educators a framework of how to discuss injustices that may occur over time.
Audience Focus
Middle School, High School, Advanced Placement, Higher Education
Meet the Presenter
Jeanne Shin-Cooper has been a public high school educator for twenty years. Over the course of her career, she has taught multiple disciplines in the social sciences in addition to work within the field of EL. She is currently a consultant and exam reader for AP Human Geography and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She received her Masters in Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University and her Masters in Geography through the EDGE Program at University of Oregon. Currently, she serves on the Educator Advisory Committee for Harvard’s Religion and Public Life in conjunction with teaching College World Religions Dual Credit. Most recently, she was invited as a keynote speaker for Harvard University’s Global Studies Outreach Workshop.

Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

GeoCircle: Interactive Mapping Technology to Use in the Classroom
2025-03-18 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Overview:
Join us for an information discussion and ideas about using interactive mapping technologies in all levels of Geography classes. Bring your ideas and questions. Everyone is welcome to join!

About the Facilitator
Celeste Reynolds has enjoyed a 23-year career in education at Mashpee Middle High School in Mashpee, MA. She currently teaches AP Human Geography and serves as the coordinator for Senior Seminar. Celeste is an Advanced Placement reader for College Board, an AP Consultant, and a member of the TeachOSM steering committee. She is also a co-founder and faculty member of TeenMaptivists, a Teacher Advisory Board member for the American Geographical Society, and serves on the Board of Directors for the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE), where she was recently elected President-Elect. Celeste is passionate about integrating new mapping technologies into her classroom, helping students explore geospatial tools that can shape their future careers.

Jessica Flaich is a former APHG teacher, now-turned graduate student at the University of South Carolina, where she works with the South Carolina Geographic Alliance in providing engaging and relevant professional development to SC K-12 geography teachers. In her free time, Jessica enjoys a slew of textile art related hobbies and is current working on an embroidered quilt map.

Join
About GeoCircles and Join the Session

Climate & Community: How Local Knowledge and Power Asymmetries Influence Climate Adaptations in Sudan and the American Southwest
2025-03-19 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Many communities across the globe are facing severe disruptions from climate-change. Large-scale projects like solar farms and seawalls often dominate the headlines, but bottom-up, community-based adaptations to climate emergencies are just as critical. Local mobilizations drawing on traditional knowledge and bonds of solidarity can help populations across the globe to mitigate the harsh consequences of climate change. Drawing on their research in Sudan and in the American Southwest, these scholars examine how power relations, local knowledge, communal ties, and legacies of violence shape and inform responses to climate emergencies.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Malathe Ahmed, Ph.D., will shed light on the traditional flood management system used by the community of Tuti Island in Khartoum, Sudan, known as the Taya system. This traditional approach plays a crucial role in minimizing vulnerabilities and enhancing the community’s ability to manage the impacts of climate change, as well as to cope with other crises, including armed conflict.
Lucas Belury will focus on the Rio Grande Valley at the southern tip of the Texas-Mexico border. The Rio Grande Valley is a cultural heartland that contains thousands of informal colonia communities vulnerable to flooding. This presentation will explore how colonia communities come together to survive through collaboration, neighborliness, and generosity.
Access the Webinar
#Open access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

Experiential Learning
2025-03-25 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
In this webinar we will travel through time and understanding to examine the ideas of Experiential Learning: What is it? Who defined it? Where do I find it? How do I apply it in my teaching? We will examine two examples that the speaker has been involved in and how they might help you develop Experiential Learning in your classrooms. The speaker will share a little bit about his two books on Experiential Learning in Geography, and finally we wrap things up with a Q/A time.
Audience Focus
All Grade Levels
Meet the Presenter

Jonathan Wessell
Grand Valley State University
MA in Geography, Western Michigan University

Jonathan Wessell is an instructor of Geography for the past 26 years. He is currently at Grand Valley State University and Glen Oaks Community College in Michigan. Mr. Wessell has been actively involved over the past 12 years with the AAG and served his colleagues for a decade in the Geography Education Specialty Group on the executive committee for the past 8 years. He was active in starting a poster competition and advanced the connection with AP Human Geography teacher by providing a day long PD opportunity during the AAG Annual Meetings. For several years he has remained active in chairing sessions on professional development in Geography and Experiential Learning in Geography. These activities have led Mr. Wessell to being the Chief editor of two books with his colleagues on Experiential Learning in Geography (2021 and 2025). Mr. Wessell has also served as a reviewer for the journals: Professional Geographer and The Geography Teacher. Recently, He was elected to the Board of Directors foe NCGE, and is currently working on a Young Scholar Research Symposium. Mr. Wessell plans to continue his research efforts in Experiential Learning and his work with pre-service teachers. He will do this through teaching and leading experiential opportunities around the world.
Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

GeoCircle: Teaching Geography to Young People: Tips and Resources for K12 Pre-service Teachers and Teacher Educators
2025-04-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Overview
Are you a future K12 teacher or teacher educator who is interested in advancing the teaching of geography? If so, this GeoCircles conversation is for you! We will discuss the significance of geographic thinking in the social studies, the importance of place connection, active involvement in stewardship, and the role geography can play in students’ understanding of, and action in, their local communities. Resources for improving your knowledge of geography and ideas for geographic-oriented projects at all grade levels will be showcased, so come prepared to share your favorites.
About the Facilitators
Kelly León is an Assistant Professor of Social Studies Education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay (UWGB). Prior to moving to UWGB, she worked for nineteen years as a social studies teacher in a large urban school district in southern California. She led efforts to reconceptualize and update her district’s required 9th grade human geography course and also taught human geography for many years. Kelly completed her undergraduate degree, bilingual teaching credential, and M.E.d in Policy Studies in Language & Cross-Cultural Education at San Diego State University and is finishing her PhD in Education for Social Justice at the University of San Diego. Kelly is passionate about the role geography can play in a young person’s education and issues related to educational justice.
Thomas Herman is a Research Fellow in the Geography Department at San Diego State University, Director of the California Geographic Alliance, and Program Director for the California Global Education Project. In addition to 16 years of teaching at the University level, he has experience designing and leading teacher professional learning programs, developing curriculum resources, and advocating for geography education in K12 at local, state, and federal levels.

Join the Session
About GeoCircles and Join the Session

The AP Exam: Tips and Tricks to Prepare Students
2025-06-03 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
In partnership with College Board, this webinar will provide strategies and ideas to help prepare your students for the AP exam. There will be McQ strategies, review of the FRQ task verbs and an overview of the exam itself.
Audience Focus
AP Human Geography and High School
Meet the Presenter
Charlotte Haney has been teaching AP Human Geography at the #1 Ranked high school in Texas. She serves as Human Geography District Lead for Houston Independent School District, the 4th largest district in the United States. She has had the pleasure of working with the team developing a project based curriculum for AP Human Geography and is always excited to work with teachers to support their students’ success.
Laura Massa was born and raised in Argentina where she got her university degree in Geography from the University of Buenos Aires. She worked at the United Nations Development Program assisting the Project Director in research and data analysis, and taught at the University of Buenos Aires and at many private schools. In 2002 she earned a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies at FIU/LACC. She teaches World History, AP Human Geography and Women’s Studies at Palmer Trinity School where she also taught Latin American History.
Access the Webinar
#Open access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

APHG Bellringers: How to Apply in the Classroom
2025-08-14 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Summary
Tips and Tricks from classroom teachers on how to use the Bell Ringers in your AP Human Geography class. Bellringers can also be used in any on-level World Geography course.
About the Presenters
Laura Kmetz teaches APHG in Dallas, TX at Booker T. Washington High School, where she is the Social Studies Department Chair. She is the author of the NCGE Bellringers, a consultant for College Board, and a leader at the AP Reading. Laura loves engaging students in exploring our complex world and helping them figure out what they can do to make the world a better place.

Ryan Conway teaches at Glen Allen High School in Richmond, VA and is starting his 24th year as a classroom teacher. He is also the Director of the Center for Education and Human Development, a specialty center/magnet program within Henrico County. He has taught World History, US History, AP Government, AP Psychology, and for the first time last year AP Human Geography. Ryan loves to learn and teach new content and was excited about the opportunity to teach 9th graders APHG. It was a challenging but rewarding year of learning together with his students!

Carla Ingram teaches AP Human Geography, AP World History, and Honors/Standard World History at South Caldwell High School in Hudson, NC. She loves reading and traveling both of which help her liven up her classroom! Just this summer she made it to her 50th state, Rhode Island!

Webinar Access
#open access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

GeoCircle: Teaching Geography - A Spatial Science
2025-08-19 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Overview
How is Geography different than other Social Studies? The spatial perspective of geographic thinking is what makes it unique. Come join the discussion about what spatial thinking is and how to help the students understand. Bring your best classroom ideas to share!
About the Moderator
Julie Wakefield is dedicated to providing relevant professional development opportunities for the members of NCGE. She has been the Professional Development Coordinator since 2022. After teaching high school geography for 25 years, Julie’s semi-retired life allows her to continue her passion of geography education, being a literacy advocate through various volunteer positions and teaching at the University of Nevada, Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College. Outside of work, Julie enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family, usually outdoors!
Join the Session
About GeoCircles and Join the Session

GeoCircle: Teaching Population and Demographics
2025-09-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Join us for conversation about teaching population and demographics. This topic is a great opportunity to begin building geographic skills and analysis. Join in the conversation. Bring your questions and resources to share!
About the Facilitators
Tracy Edwards has taught Geography and Sustainability Studies in Higher Education for more than two decades. She currently serves on the NCGE Board. Every year at the AP Reading, Tracy is responsible for the Geographers Give Back campaign.

Michelle Albahae has been a teacher for 19 years, 15 of which she had the pleasure of teaching AP Human Geography. Currently, Albahae teaches at North Broward Preparatory School in Coconut Creek, Florida, and she also tutor students specifically in APHG content. She has had the privilege of attending the AP Reading since 2014, and has been a reader, table leader, and early table leader.
Join the Session
About GeoCircles and Join the Session

Population: What charts, Graphs, and Diagrams can tell us!
2025-09-17 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
In this webinar you will be introduced to four charts, graphs and diagrams to discuss the majority of population content. Jonathan Wessell will apply his 27 years experience at the college level in Cultural and World Regional Geography when discussing POPULATION. His favorite, which you will find-out, is the Demographic Transition. His students always gasp when they learn that he experienced a 16 week course on just this diagram. There will be time for questions and you are encouraged to bring questions.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Jonathan Wessell is an instructor of Geography for the past 26 years. He is currently at Grand Valley State University and Glen Oaks Community College in Michigan. Mr. Wessell has been actively involved over the past 12 years with the AAG and served his colleagues for a decade in the Geography Education Specialty Group on the executive committee for the past 8 years. He was active in starting a poster competition and advanced the connection with AP Human Geography teacher by providing a day long PD opportunity during the AAG Annual Meetings. For several years he has remained active in chairing sessions on professional development in Geography and Experiential Learning in Geography. These activities have led Mr. Wessell to being the Chief editor of two books with his colleagues on Experiential Learning in Geography (2021 and 2025). Mr. Wessell has also served as a reviewer for the journals: Professional Geographer and The Geography Teacher. Recently, He was elected to the Board of Directors foe NCGE, and is currently working on a Young Scholar Research Symposium. Mr. Wessell plans to continue his research efforts in Experiential Learning and his work with pre-service teachers. He will do this through teaching and leading experiential opportunities around the world.
Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

QGIS - An Online Mapping Option For All
2025-10-01 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
QGIS is a free open-source mapping tool. This webinar will dive into its key elements and how to apply it in a geography classroom.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Jen Mapes is Assistant Professor of Geography at Kent State University, where she directs the Community Geography Lab, which makes maps for and with the local community. She’s the author of The New American Small Town: Lessons for Sustainable Urban Futures. Jen is a former (& future?) APHG reader.

Access the Webinar
#member only access | Join Webinar Here
Not yet a member? More info and Join today!

Addressing Individual Needs to Learning: Blended Personalized Learning in Secondary Geography Course
2025-10-17 13:00 - 13:45 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Iowa
Summary
Ninth-grade World Geography is often students’ first formal exposure to geography, leading to varying levels of prior knowledge and learning gaps. Geography teachers must address these differences within limited instructional time and resources. Blended and Personalized Learning (BLPL) offers a flexible, student-centered approach that integrates digital tools with face-to-face instruction, allowing teachers to tailor content, pacing, and strategies to individual student needs. The purpose of this study is to examine a high school geography teacher’s professional knowledge, skills, and pedagogical reasoning in implementing BLPL to address students’ diverse learning needs. Using a single-case study of a World Geography course, data was collected through pre- and post-interviews and classroom observation videos over a semester. The anticipated findings will identify key factors influencing instructional decision making, including curriculum design, student backgrounds, and technology integration.
The study also aims to uncover specific instructional strategies—both planned and impromptu—that teachers employ to meet individual student needs in their classroom within the BLPL framework. By analyzing these pedagogical decisions, this research will clarify the underlying rationale for how BLPL enhances personalized learning in geography classroom. In the NCGE 2025 conference, this presentation will provide attendees with actionable insights into implementing BLPL in the secondary geography classrooms. Attendees will gain hands-on access to a curated website showcasing real-world BLPL case studies from K-12 classrooms, along with a printed resource.Through interactive discussions and practical recommendations, we will explore how BLPL can bridge learning gaps, foster student engagement, and create more inclusive geography classrooms. Whether the audience are new to BLPL or looking to refine your approach, this session will equip them with tangible strategies to enhance their teaching practice.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Curriculum and Instruction | Blended and Personalized Learning, AP Human Geography, Differentiated
Learning
Conference Room
Iowa
Meet the Presenter
Sojung Huh

Geography: The Key to Our Global System of Agriculture
2025-10-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Lewis
Summary
This workshop explores the critical role of geography in shaping agricultural production and its impact on food, clothing, and shelter. Participants will connect these concepts to the Big Ideas of AP Human Geography (APHG)—Patterns and Spatial Organization, Impacts and Interactions, and Spatial Process and Societal Change—and gain strategies for engaging students in analyzing geographic influences on agriculture. The session introduces the SPEED model (Social, Political, Economic, Environmental, Demographic) as a framework for understanding these impacts. Attendees will also explore strategies for facilitating student discussions and conducting risk assessments on bioengineered foods, organic vs. conventional farming, food sustainability, and antibiotic use in dairy production.
Presenters will share free, standard-aligned lesson plans linked to the National Geography Standards, Common Core, and National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Curriculum and Instruction | Agriculture, APHG, Population
Conference Room
Lewis
Meet the Presenters
Brooke Carpenter serves as the Director of Education for the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation, where she leads a team of educators, oversees the development of educational programs, and coordinates statewide initiatives aimed at advancing agricultural literacy among students and teachers. She also represents Nebraska as the State Contact for the National Agriculture in the Classroom program. Brooke holds a B.S. in Agricultural Education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Nurturing Curiosity with Earth Observation Day Games
2025-10-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Winnebago
Summary
Earth Observation Day (EOD) is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and outreach event AmericaView participates in annually to celebrate the Landsat program. Since 1972 the Landsat program has maintained a collection of satellites that provide a continuous space-based record of the Earth’s surface and its changes. Scientists, researchers, farmers, forest managers, policy makers, and many others utilize Landsat satellite imagery to help make wise decisions about how to utilize precious natural resources and how to better manage our physical environment. AmericaView is a nationwide, university-based, and state-implemented network that advances Earth observation education. As part of the annual EOD celebrations, held annually as part of Earth Science Week (October), AmericaView develops engaging new tools to teach students about the beauty and power of satellite imagery.
Join representatives from DelawareView and IowaView as they bring a selection of these games to NCGE Conference attendees. After ‘testing’ several of the games, workshop participants will be given one of the game posters to take back to their classroom and ideas of integrating in classroom lessons.
Session Focus
Middle School/Junior High| STEM | Earth Processes, Satellite Imagery, Critical Thinking
Conference Room
Winnebago
Meet the Presenters
Dr. Tracy DeLiberty and Amy Logan

Teaching the Middle East and Global Migration Through Graphic Novels
2025-10-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Clark
Summary
This interactive workshop introduces secondary geography educators to graphic novels as powerful pedagogical tools for teaching spatial concepts related to human migration, geopolitical borders, and transnational movement. Drawing on GW’s Middle East Studies research collection curated by Dr. Amal Cavender, participants will explore how graphic narratives can transform complex geographic theories into accessible spatial stories. Dr. Cavender will highlight works like “Baddawi,” “Hakim’s Odyssey,” “The Arab of the Future,” “Persepolis,” and “Arab in America” that effectively visualize human mobility, cultural landscapes, and territorial conflict. These narratives provide geography teachers with compelling resources to illustrate concepts of place, space, and human-environment interaction through the lens of Middle Eastern experiences. Participants will receive a comprehensive research guide for integrating graphic novels into geography curricula, with attention to migration patterns, boarder politics and spatial perspectives.
Through guided activities, geography teachers will develop lesson plans that enhance students’ spatial thinking while fostering cross-cultural understanding, helping students recognize geographic patterns in human movement and develop nuanced perspectives on how geopolitical forces shape migration experiences locally and globally.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | World/International | Human Migration, Geopolitical Borders, Graphic Novels in Education
Conference Room
Clark
Meet the Presenter
Dr. Amal Cavender, is a Middle East Studies research librarian in the Global Resource Center at George Washington University’s Gelman Library. Amal has a background in Arabic and Turkish languages, Islamic Art and architecture, and Middle East and North Africa research. She earned her Ph.D. in Global History from Purdue University and has worked in the US and abroad, teaching global history, religious studies, and Arabic and Turkish languages. Amal is fluent in five languages and focuses on collection development for Arabic, Turkish, and Persian languages, as well as literature, history, and religion. As a Middle East and North Africa area studies specialist with an academic teaching background, she is dedicated to enriching educational resources and promoting global understanding through her scholarly work and community engagement.

Inquiry into Pre-War Jewish Life as a Study in Cultural Geography
2025-10-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Nebraska
Summary
This session will focus on the outcomes shared in the forthcoming chapter, “Inquiry into Pre-War Jewish Life as a Study in Cultural Geography,” that is part of the University of South Carolina’s release, Teaching Holocaust Geographies in Middle and Secondary Schools. Participants will hear about approaches to this topic and experience hands-on activities that can be replicated in their own classrooms/schools.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels| Curriculum and Instruction| Holocaust, Pedagogy, Cultural
Conference Room
Nebraska
Meet the Presenters
Jennifer Gross

If You Give a Teen a Nuke...Geographic Scenario Gameplay in the Classroom
2025-10-17 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Flannigan
Summary
Inspired by our favorite educational philosopher, Ms. Frizzle, I sought an immersive way to engage my teenage students in the global issues we explore in class. Simply showing pictures of immigration, war, or international relations can only go so far before these topics begin to feel distant and abstract. Enter Geo-Strat!, an online strategy game I designed for classroom
integration. This game places students in national leadership roles, challenging them to navigate complex global issues and discover how geography shapes our world. As their nations face refugee crises, natural resource depletion, and political conflicts, students actively engage with geographic concepts, asking “where?” and “why?”, fostering critical thinking. Join us for a fast-paced play through of Geo-Strat, where you will take on a national role and explore how this interactive tool brings geography to life. Participants will leave with practical strategies for incorporating the game into their curriculum—and a FREE join code!
In order to get the full benefits from this workshop, your personal laptop is required.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Global Issues| World/International
Conference Room
Flannigan
Meet the Presenters
Hello! I’m Dr. Ashley Penir, a geography and teacher educator out of California. I have a passion for teaching the power of geography and building geographic thinkers. With over 16 years of teaching geography in high school and at CSU, Fresno, I am convinced geography is essential to our curriculum and have dedicated my studies to exploring ways to understand and teach geography’s use and purpose. Geography is alive and I endeavor to teach it that way! I can’t wait to think through exciting ideas in geography education with everyone here at the NCGE!

Why Are There So Few Black Farmers in America? A Look At The History Of Racism In Rural Land Use
2025-10-17 15:15 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Clark
Summary
Participants in this session will examine the history of racism in US rural land use and farm systems, attempting to answer the question, “Why are there so few Black farmers in America today?” It wasn’t always this way, so how did we arrive here? This session aims to develop educators’ content area knowledge and is suitable for all grade levels but best applies to secondary school US History or AP Human Geography teachers. Participants will leave the session with a grab-and-go unit plan that is ready to use directly with students.
Session Focus
Secondary/ High School | U.S. History/Human Geography | Diversity in agriculture
Conference Room
Clark
Meet the Presenters
Leah Hood (she/her) grew up the sixth generation of Hoods on R. G. Hood Family Farms Inc. in NE Iowa. After earning her B.A. in Geography & History from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, she began teaching secondary social studies in 2008. Leah completed her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2013 from Hamline University (St. Paul, MN). She has spent the last 18 years teaching middle school and high school social studies & adult basic education in the Twin Cities, as well as undergraduates at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN. Leah is passionate about turning a spotlight on the history of the intersections between US agricultural systems and civil rights movements, and takes very seriously her responsibility as a farm owner and an educator to act with social responsibility to support diverse and emerging farmers.

Mundane Magnificence: Artifacts, Food, and Everyday Objects in Geography!
2025-10-17 15:15 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Iowa
Summary
Mundane Magnificence: Artifacts, Food, and Everyday Objects!! Get ready for this fast-paced and engaging session. Leave with ready-to-use strategies and resources for your K-12 Geography classroom. This session is designed to engage and challenge participants by exposing them to out-of-the-box teaching strategies for teaching both physical and human geography.
During this session, participants will learn how to use everyday materials to engage students and learn geography through a new lens by using artifacts. Through experiential activities, participants will learn how to engage not only the mind but also the senses while learning how food and geography go hand in hand. Participants will leave with actionable activities for their classroom.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Inquiry | Engaging, Strategies, Resources
Conference Room
Iowa
Meet the Presenters
Nathan McAlister is the Humanities Program Manager – History, Government, and Social Studies, Library, World Languages, Indigenous Education, and Financial Literacy for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). Prior to his time with KSDE, Nathan taught middle and high school social studies for 24 years. In the classroom, his students created and led several civic and historical preservation projects. These include three pieces of Kansas Legislation, an African American Civil War mural, and multiple National History Day and Lowell Milken for Unsung Heroes projects.
In 2010, Nathan was named Kansas and National History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History. Nathan has also been named a Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Master Teacher Fellow, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Fellow, and a George Washington Library, Lifeguard Teacher Fellow. He currently serves on the boards of several state and national organizations, including the Kansas Council for History Education, Council of State Social Studies Specialists, Council on Foreign Relations, and the iCivics National Educators Network.
Co-Presenter, Amy Walker

Empowering Geo-Inquiry: How the Science of Reading Can Strengthen Secondary Student Participation
2025-10-17 15:15 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Nebraska
Summary
In 2022, our nation’s 8th graders scored at mere 29% proficient readers. 71% of our 8th grade students are below reading level and yet we know as Educators that a strong Geography based curriculum revolves around the ability for students to learn to independently access knowledge. Geo-Inquiry not only opens students to the possibilities of the World, it allows them to think
critically about the knowledge they acquire both in and out of the classroom. But how can we expect our students to reach these levels with only 29% able to read at proficient levels in the 8th grade. Participants will be spurred to action with simple, research based strategies that will teach them how to bring basic literacy skills into the Geography classroom. This session will introduce participants to Scarbourgh’s Reading Rope along with the Simple View of Reading.
Together the session leader and participants will engage with the basics of reading instruction focusing on how to build background knowledge, vocabulary, and literacy knowledge that will allow them to enhance their students reading skills during geography lessons, resulting in students who are confident in their ability to read texts and maps for a greater understanding of how geography impacts their lives and those around them. This session will focus on participants to discuss, analyze and determine how to enhance their lessons with the strategies presented in their own Geo-Inquiry lessons.
Each participant will walk away with tips and tricks, along with a Google drive folder of lesson plans designed by the presenter to guide them through the process of teaching students reading comprehension through geographical inquiry.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Inquiry | Geo-Literacy, Geo-Inquiry
Conference Room
Nebraska
Meet the Presenters
Kendra Miller is an experienced educator, curriculum designer, and speaker based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She has a strong background in teaching history at various levels, from middle school to advanced placement, and has also worked extensively in curriculum design. Kendra holds a Master’s in Curriculum and Instructional Design and is currently pursuing a PhD in Literacy Studies, Literacy Instruction and Staff Development Concentration.She has received several awards for her research on improving reading in the content areas and is actively involved on the Executive Board for the Tennessee Council of Social Studies.
