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DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T150000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T152447Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T152447Z
UID:10000421-1792155600-1792162800@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Mental Maps & The Holocaust: Teaching Facts and Perspective Using Geo-Literacy Skills
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nExamining the Holocaust spatially positions students to think about genocide in new ways. In documenting the Holocaust following World War II\, war crimes investigators from the state and the Jewish community asked eyewitnesses to create mental maps of Treblinka. For human geographers\, mental mapping represents an opportunity to understand how people perceive a particular place\, capturing objective knowledge and subjective perceptions and impressions of a place (National Geographic Society\, 2024). In this session\, participants will grapple with the question: How do we teach the Holocaust with accuracy while also teaching the subjectivity of mental maps? Using war crime investigation maps of Treblinka\, we developed a lesson that requires students to (1) examine the topography surrounding Treblinka\, (2) compare maps for content and visualization\, (3) analyze how the depiction of Treblinka in Holocaust survivor memoirs compare to the maps\, (4) assess how the perspective of the witness influenced the mental map\, and (5) discuss the validity of the maps for use in postwar war crimes trials. Through this lesson\, students understand how maps can be representations of both data and perceptions and the role spatial thinking can play in documenting atrocities and holding perpetrators accountable. \nSession Focus\nAll Grade Levels| Human and Cultural Geography | World History \nConference Room\nLacy \nMeet the Presenters\nJeff Eargle is a clinical associate professor at the University of South Carolina where he serves as the Secondary Social Studies Program Coordinator in the College of Education. He is the coeditor of the forthcoming two-volume book Teaching Holocaust Geographies in Middle and High School from Palgrave Macmillan \n  \nChad Gibbs is an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Zucker/Goldberg Center for Holocaust Studies at the College of Charleston. His book\, Survival at Treblinka: Geography\, Gender\, and Social Networks in Jewish Resistance\, was recently published by the University of Wisconsin Press. \n  \nBethany M. Sanders is a doctoral student in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina and a high school social studies teacher in the South Carolina public school system. She received NCGE’s K–12 Distinguished Teaching Award in 2024\, and her doctoral studies focus on teaching geo-literacy in the secondary classroom. \n 
URL:https://ncge.org/event/mental-maps-the-holocaust-teaching-facts-and-perspective-using-geo-literacy-skills/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Lacy
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T134500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T141500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T161736Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T163018Z
UID:10000424-1792158300-1792160100@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Count Me In! Using Labs to Teach Population Geography
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nIn this session\, we will discuss how to use laboratory assignments to teach population geography. Population geography connects diverse topics including sustainability\, economics\, politics\, and culture. Using labs to teach this topic allows students to use real world data to deepen their understanding of population geography concepts. In this session\, we will begin with an overview of teaching population geography\, connecting it to geography and social studies standards. In the second part\, examples of labs will be introduced\, including the topics of international censuses\, population policy campaigns\, age specific fertility rates\, and migration patterns. While the session is geared toward the college classroom\, the content is easily adaptable to middle and high school grades. Lab assignments will be shared with attendees. \nSession Focus\nHigher Education | Human and Cultural Geography | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room\nHalsey Family Hall \nMeet the Presenters\nGillian Acheson is a professor in the Department of Geography & GIS at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She teaches a variety of courses including World Regions\, Human Geography\, Population Geography\, Spatial Thinking & Behavior\, Geography of Food\, and Geography and Social Justice. Her research interests are in geography education and the cultural landscape with publications ranging from map reading and comprehension to representation of women in introductory geography textbooks to the cultural landscape of cemeteries.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/count-me-in-using-labs-to-teach-population-geography-2/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Halsey Family Hall
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T143000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T162511Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T162744Z
UID:10000425-1792159200-1792161000@ncge.org
SUMMARY:From Trends to Teaching: Navigating Tensions and Charting a Future for Geography Education Research
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nAs instructional time for social studies continues to shrink in many K–12 settings\, geography educators face increasing pressure to demonstrate the relevance\, rigor\, and interdisciplinary potential of the discipline. This session invites participants into a discussion of current trends in geography education\, including effective teaching\, data-visualization\, geospatial technologies\, and STEM aligned inquiry that positions geography as essential to real world problem solving. Broader implications in the field of education and impacts of state policy changes are explored. Participants will consider actionable approaches for integrating geography into interdisciplinary instruction\, expanding its presence in the elementary and secondary curriculum\, and advocating for its continued visibility in the broader social studies landscape. \nSession Focus\nAll Grade Levels | Geography for Life | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room\nCullen \nMeet the Presenters\nDr. Mary D. Curtis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston-Clear Lake in the College of Education where she coordinates the Social Studies teacher preparation program. Dr. Curtis is a geography educator with over 20 years of experience and service from local to international levels. She currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Association of American Geographers Geography Education Specialty Group and as Associate Editor for the Journal of Geography. \n 
URL:https://ncge.org/event/from-trends-to-teaching-navigating-tensions-and-charting-a-future-for-geography-education-research/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Cullen
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T143000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T150000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T163419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T163419Z
UID:10000426-1792161000-1792162800@ncge.org
SUMMARY:International Efforts to Improve Geography Teaching and Learning
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nThis presentation focuses on an upcoming book – International Perspectives on Geography Education (Edward Elgar\, 2026) – that highlights the actions taken by geography educators who work to improve the teaching and learning of geographic content. Much that is published in geography education today is pessimistic and bemoans the status of the discipline compared to other academic areas\, the difficulty in training quality geography teachers\, and the poor performance of students with the subject’s content and skills (such as map reading\, analysis\, and construction). While these challenges are certainly present\, this book seeks to highlight the successes seen in three main areas: student learning\, teacher preparation\, and teacher professional development. The book is\, therefore\, one that is positive\, optimistic\, and showcases for the reader actions that are worth emulating in other places. The presenter will share the successes of authors representing Australia\, Belize\, Brazil\, Chile\, Czechia\, Germany\, South Africa\, Singapore\, and the United States \nSession Focus\nHigher Education | Geography for Life | World/International  \nConference Room\nHalsey Family Hall \nMeet the Presenters\nJerry Mitchell is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Geography at the University of South Carolina. He is a past president of the NCGE and a Fellow of the American Association of Geographers.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/international-efforts-to-improve-geography-teaching-and-learning/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Halsey Family Hall
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T151500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T154500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T164254Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T164254Z
UID:10000427-1792163700-1792165500@ncge.org
SUMMARY:The Geospatial Semester at 22: Tales from the Field
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nThe Geospatial Semester is a unique and innovative project that connects high school students and geospatial technologies to bolster their spatial problem solving and open them up to the myriad careers across the many industries that use these technologies. Students earn dual enrollment credit from JMU and are required to do an extensive project of their own choosing. Since its inception in 2005\, more than 10\,000 students have participated. We have done a wide array of research to identify the key cognitive and behavioral gains afforded to participating students. In this short presentation\, we’ll give a brief introduction to the Geospatial Semester\, share examples of student work and discuss the key research findings. Most importantly\, you’ll find out how you can bring this successful project to your school \nSession Focus\nSecondary/High School | Geospatial Technology | STEM \nConference Room\nReynolds Leadership Center \nMeet the Presenters\nBob Kolvoord is a professor at James Madison University (JMU)\, where he also serves as Interim Provost. Bob is the co-creator (with Kathryn Keranen) of the Geospatial Semester\, the award-winning dual enrollment program at JMU that brings GIS instruction and projects to students in Virginia. Bob is also the co-author of the Making Spatial Decisions series from ESRI Press. He is interested in how GIS use impacts students’ spatial thinking and problem solving abilities and has collaborated with colleagues at Northwestern\, Georgetown\, Dartmouth\, American and Gallaudet to study this question.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/the-geospatial-semester-at-22-tales-from-the-field/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Reynolds Leadership Circle
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T151500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T154500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T171929Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T171929Z
UID:10000430-1792163700-1792165500@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Stories of the Chesapeake
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nStories of the Chesapeake offers a compelling glimpse into the cultures\, communities\, and environmental challenges of America’s estuary\, the Chesapeake Bay. As one of the nation’s most important natural laboratories for geographic inquiry\, the region provides a powerful example of how physical landscapes and human systems interact across space and time. Stretching across six states and the District of Columbia\, the Bay’s vast watershed is shaped by rivers that meander toward the Atlantic\, carrying sediment\, nutrients\, and pollution. These waterways reveal critical connections among land use\, urban planning\, agriculture\, food systems\, water quality\, and climate change. \nThe Chesapeake Bay is also deeply connected to life along the Fall Line—the natural boundary where the Piedmont meets the Coastal Plain—where cities emerged and commerce flourished. From Old Point Comfort to pivotal moments such as the War of 1812\, the presentation highlights the Bay’s layered geography and enduring significance. Together\, these stories illuminate a dynamic system that continues to shape the environmental\, economic\, and cultural identity of the region. \nSession Focus\nAll Grade Levels | America250 through a Geographic Lens\, Physical & Environmental Geography\, Human and Cultural Geography | World/International \nConference Room\nCullen \nMeet the Presenters\nMichael Allen\, Ph.D.\, is an Associate Professor of Geography at Towson University\, 2023 U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Serbia\, and President-Elect of the International Society of Biometeorology. Prior\, he served as co-coordinator of the Virginia Geographic Alliance and Geography Program Director at Old Dominion University. Since 2019\, Michael has coordinated the Chesapeake Bay Climate Institute\, a hands-on professional development experience highlighting America’s Estuary\, drawing linkages between APHG and other disciplines to the issue of climate change and resilience.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/stories-of-the-chesapeake/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Cullen
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T151500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T160000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T165113Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T165113Z
UID:10000428-1792163700-1792166400@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Demarcation Demographics in East Asia
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nIn the late 20th and early 21st centuries\, a “fall line” was created on the coastal plain of China when Special Economic Zones were created by government fiat. This presentation will examine the demographic and lifestyle changes that ensued. It will also look at similar changes that occurred during the same time period in Japan. Teaching suggestions and resources will be introduced including award-winning young adult and children’s literature about East Asia focused on this topic. \nSession Focus\nSecondary/High School | Human and Cultural Geography | World/International \nConference Room\nByrd \nMeet the Presenters\nNancy Hope is Executive Director of the Freeman Book Awards. Formerly\, she was Associate Director of the Kansas Consortium for Teaching about Asia\, a line-officer in the U.S. Navy\, a textile designer and dyer of kimono in Japan where she lived for more than eight years\, and an educational media specialist at the Children’s Museum in Boston.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/demarcation-demographics-in-east-asia/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Byrd
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T151500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T160000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T170402Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T170402Z
UID:10000429-1792163700-1792166400@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Art\, Dance\, Theatre\, Oh My! Using Arts-Methodologies in the Geography Classroom
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nCome explore how art\, dance\, theatre\, and other creative methodologies can deepen student understanding of geography! In this session\, participants will engage in hands-on activities that bring historical narratives\, social movements\, and global issues to life through tableau theatre\, protest art\, and cartographic storytelling. Attendees will walk away with ready-to-use lesson ideas\, creative assessment strategies\, and a renewed vision for incorporating art into their classroom \nSession Focus\nAll Grade Levels | Human and Cultural Geography | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room\nLacy \nMeet the Presenters\nBethany M. Sanders is a doctoral student in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina and a high school social studies teacher in the South Carolina public school system. She received NCGE’s K–12 Distinguished Teaching Award in 2024\, and her doctoral studies focus on teaching geo-literacy in the secondary classroom. \n  \nJessica Flach
URL:https://ncge.org/event/art-dance-theatre-oh-my-using-arts-methodologies-in-the-geography-classroom-2/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Lacy
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T163000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T173358Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T173407Z
UID:10000431-1792166400-1792168200@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Myth\, Trolls\, and Tectonics: Using Storytelling to Teach Physical Geography
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nIceland’s dramatic landscapes are deeply intertwined with a rich tradition of storytelling\, where myths and folklore once served to explain the “unexplainable” in the physical world. This presentation demonstrates how geography educators can leverage such narratives to help K–12 students make sense of core physical geography processes\, from coastal erosion to volcanism and river flooding. Grounded in a constructivist and inquiry-based approach\, the lesson framework invites students to interpret stories\, question “why\,” and then connect folkloric explanations with scientific concepts. \nParticipants will experience a short-version lesson in which students are given a myth and asked to identify the underlying physical process and explain it scientifically. A longer version extends this work over one or more weeks by having students locate a myth from any culture\, analyze the physical geography embedded in the story\, and draw parallels between cultural and scientific explanations. Additional examples from other cultures illustrate how this approach can be adapted across regions and grade levels. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use lesson structures\, ideas for sourcing culturally diverse myths\, and strategies for fostering reflective\, interrogative classroom discussions that deepen students’ understanding of Earth’s dynamic systems while honoring multiple ways of knowing \nSession Focus\nAll Grade Levels | Physical & Environmental Geography | Inquiry \nConference Room\nReynolds Leadership Circle \nMeet the Presenters\nMayra Román-Rivera \n 
URL:https://ncge.org/event/myth-trolls-and-tectonics-using-storytelling-to-teach-physical-geography/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Reynolds Leadership Circle
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T161500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T164500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T173926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T173926Z
UID:10000432-1792167300-1792169100@ncge.org
SUMMARY:How Students Can Apply “The Ten Steps of Walkability” to Evaluate Any Downtown
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nIn his book\, Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America\, One Step at a Time (2012)\, Jeff Speck offers ten planning steps for creating American downtowns that are useful\, safe\, comfortable\, and interesting. While the ten steps emphasize walkability\, they include improvements to land use\, public transit\, bicycle use\, and traffic flow. In this presentation\, I demonstrate how to use Speck’s “Ten Steps” to design a downtown field exercise for university geography students. After reading and discussing the ten steps\, my students participated in a guided walk of downtown Edwardsville\, Illinois\, to collect notes and photos of their observations. They were instructed to answer two questions as they wrote up their results: (1) What does the city do well to promote walkability? and (2) How could walkability in downtown be improved? The assignment concluded with a short paper and an in-class discussion of their results. The surprising outcome of this discussion was students’ desire to learn more about the planning decisions behind what they saw in the field. Applying Speck’s “Ten Steps” gives students the structure to make sense of their field observations and draw meaningful conclusions. \nSession Focus\nHigher Education | Human and Cultural Geography | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room\nByrd \nMeet the Presenters\nDr. Susan Hume is a professor in the Department of Geography & GIS at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She believes in the power of field study in geographic education and has made field-based assignments an integral part of her urban geography and sustainable transportation courses. Susan is a lifetime member and past president of NCGE. \n 
URL:https://ncge.org/event/how-students-can-apply-the-ten-steps-of-walkability-to-evaluate-any-downtown/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Byrd
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T161500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261016T164500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T174442Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T174442Z
UID:10000433-1792167300-1792169100@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Resources for Teaching Political Geography
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nTeaching political geography can be an especially complicated task as foreign relations issues are now flash points for cultural and academic debate. This session is designed to connect educators with high-quality non-partisan materials to help teach foreign relations\, and how to connect to the content and practices of political geography. Using practice-based methodologies to engage students in “doing” geography\, one of the goals of this session is to give teachers ideas on how to get students working with geographic data to involve students in learning concepts while examining real-world situations. \nSession Focus\nSecondary/High School | Human and Cultural Geography & Geography for Life | Government and Civics \nConference Room\nLacy \nMeet the Presenters\nDr. Kyle Tredinnick \n 
URL:https://ncge.org/event/resources-for-teaching-political-geography/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Lacy
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261017
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261018
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T184641Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T184641Z
UID:10000434-1792195200-1792281599@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Poster Session: Using Extracurricular Programs to Further Geographic Education
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nThe International Scholars Program is an innovative\, student-centered initiative designed to extend geographic education beyond the traditional classroom. Grounded in inquiry-based and interdisciplinary learning\, the program immerses students in the study of global geographies\, cultures\, governments\, economies\, and histories through sustained\, experiential engagement. Participants engage in structured book studies\, cultural analyses\, collaborative inquiry sessions\, academic research projects\, and community presentations. The program also incorporates guest speakers and local partnerships to connect global themes to lived experiences. \nBy intentionally integrating academic rigor with experiential exploration\, the International Scholars Program cultivates geographic literacy\, critical thinking\, cultural competence\, and civic awareness. Students move beyond memorization of places and facts to develop spatial understanding\, global interdependence awareness\, and informed perspectives on contemporary international issues. \nThis poster will outline the program’s design framework\, implementation strategies\, and sample learning cycles. Attendees will gain practical tools for adapting the model to diverse educational settings. The International Scholars Program demonstrates how structured\, inquiry-driven enrichment can meaningfully advance geographic education and prepare students for engaged global citizenship. \nSession Focus\nAll Grade Levels | Human and Cultural Geography | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room/Area\nCommonwealth Hall \nMeet The Presenter\nJustin McCrackin \n 
URL:https://ncge.org/event/poster-session-using-extracurricular-programs-to-further-geographic-education/
LOCATION:Conference Area: Commonwealth Hall
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261017
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261018
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T185204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T185519Z
UID:10000435-1792195200-1792281599@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Poster Session: Assessing the landscape of introductory undergraduate courses in the U.S.
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nWith the support of an NSF IUSE: ITYC collaborative planning grant\, the presenters are looking to invigorate the teaching of undergraduate introductory geography courses\, which define the discipline for thousands of undergraduates. They can also be the spark to draw students to major in geography and related fields. We wonder whether the standard survey approach for teaching introductory courses effectively recruits students to further study in geography or does justice to the discipline of geography\, particularly newer branches of the field. \nOur first step is to assemble a picture of the current landscape of undergraduate introductory geography courses. In collaboration with the American Association of Geographers\, we are conducting a broad survey of our own of geography department heads\, program directors\, and instructors\, regarding which courses are taught\, the status of instructors who teach these courses\, the format and types of materials for these courses\, and enrollment data\, among other elements. This poster will display our findings to date and invite NCGE attendees to contribute to the data\, if they have not already\, and to join a growing community of practice of undergraduate introductory geography instructors. \nSession Focus\nHigher Education | Geography for Life | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room/Area\nCommonwealth Hall \nMeet The Presenter\nDr. Tamar Y. Rothenberg is Professor in the Department of History at Bronx Community College – City University of New York\, where she currently teaches World Regional Geography and History of the Modern World. Her publications include the book Presenting America’s World: Strategies of Innocence in National Geographic Magazine\, 1888-1945 (Ashgate/Routledge 2007); an article with Karen M. Morin\, “Our Theories\, Ourselves: Hierarchies of Place and Status in Academia\,” ACME 10(1)\, 2011; chapters in Geography and Empire\, ed. Godlewska and Smith (Blackwell 1994) and Mapping Desire\, ed. Bell and Valentine (Routledge 1995)\, and with Karen M. Morin and Mona Domosh\, co-edited a special section on feminist historical geography for Historical Geography (2016). She has a BA in History from Wesleyan University\, and MA and PhD in Geography from Rutgers University. \n  \nCadey Korson is Professor of Geography at St Clair County Community College in Michigan and Fellow of Advance HE. Her research focuses on place-based pedagogies\, Indigenous rights and digital storytelling/mapping. These interests have resulted in a variety of transdisciplinary projects\, including The Spatial Awareness Project short film and podcast series on land use classifications in Aotearoa New Zealand\, working with iwi to co-create digital storymaps that embed mātauranga Māori\, exploring perceptions of social license to operate in the agrifood sector\, and documenting the social impact of conservation volunteerism. Recently\, Cadey has been awarded a grant from the National Geographic Society to coordinate a student-led streambank restoration project along the Belle River in Columbus County Park\, USA\, as a National Geographic Explorer.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/poster-session-assessing-the-landscape-of-introductory-undergraduate-courses-in-the-u-s/
LOCATION:Conference Area: Commonwealth Hall
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261017
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261018
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T190247Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T190247Z
UID:10000436-1792195200-1792281599@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Poster Session: Revolutionary Crossroads
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nRevolutionary Crossroads is a poster session that shows how geography shaped key events of the American Revolution. Developed through the Revolutionary Crossroads field experience with the Virginia Geographic Alliance\, the presentation focuses on how rivers\, terrain\, and transportation routes in the Hudson and Mohawk River Valleys influenced movement\, settlement\, and military strategy. The poster provides simple\, classroom-ready ideas that help students understand why history happened where it did while supporting America250 instruction. \nSession Focus\nAll Grade Levels | America250 through a Geographic Lens | U.S. History \nConference Room/Area\nCommonwealth Hall \nMeet The Presenter\nTeaching in a rural\, former coal-mining and tobacco growing region\, Alex Long is both a History/Government/Appalachian History & folklore instructor\, as well as an English literature instructor in Virginia and East Tennessee; in high school\, and at two local universities. For the past twelve years\, he has brought both high school and university students out of their shells to share their stories and understand our local histories and culture; all to better inform those around them and around the world. Additionally\, he has been a guest lecturer for Eighteenth Century British Drama and Fiction at Oxford University for three years\, as well as a lecturer in Scots-Irish/Appalachian folklore at the University of Edinburgh. All these experiences combined have led him to working with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum-Bristol to help visitors\, students\, and educators dig deeper into the rich and diverse culture they have in Appalachia. He is furthering his research into his area\, along with the rest of Virginia\, to continue sharing the importance Virginia still is in the history of our nation; along with the vitality of the Appalachian region in the early history and growth of the state and nation. This is in conjunction with sharing the “true” story of Appalachia as not a region of disparity\, but of history which changed the world\, rich storytelling\, an Indigenous and European melting pot\, and the agricultural lifeblood for our early nation through the recent 21st century. \n \nSkyler Verloop teaches social studies and serves as the AVID Coordinator at Lewis High School in Springfield\, Virginia. He is an advocate for place-based learning and college access\, and has secured grants to provide students with experiential learning opportunities at colleges\, museums\, Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine\, Gettysburg National Military Park\, and Shenandoah National Park. Skyler is dedicated to fostering student success\, promoting critical thinking\, and preparing students to pursue higher education and lifelong learning. He also serves as the Social Media Coordinator and Secretary for the Virginia Geographic Alliance\, where he supports educators in advancing geographic literacy\, spatial thinking\, and community engagement.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/poster-session-revolutionary-crossroads/
LOCATION:Conference Area: Commonwealth Hall
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261017T082500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261017T085500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T191536Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T191536Z
UID:10000437-1792225500-1792227300@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Designing Flexible Learning Pathways: Implementing BLPL in a World Geography Classroom
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nThis case study investigates how a high school geography teacher implemented blended and personalized learning (BLPL) in a World Geography course to support student learning within a BLPL framework. The instructional design integrated structured classroom routines\, flexible pacing\, and digital supports\, including a progress-monitoring tool\, to create multiple pathways for student engagement with geographic content. Early in the semester\, instruction emphasized scaffolding classroom procedures and supporting students’ use of technology. Over time\, these supports shifted toward fostering greater student autonomy and sustained engagement. Findings illustrate how BLPL enables teachers to respond to learner variability\, balance instructional structure with student independence\, and design differentiated learning experiences that deepen geographic understanding. \nIn this session\, attendees will learn concrete instructional strategies and practitioner insights drawn from the case study. The presentation will highlight how BLPL structures can be designed and adapted to support learners in World Geography classrooms. Attendees will explore how BLPL structures can be designed and adapted for secondary geography classrooms and will gain access to a curated website featuring authentic BLPL case examples\, along with a printed resource guide. Whether new to BLPL or refining existing practices\, attendees will leave with actionable strategies applicable to their own instructional contexts. \nSession Focus\nAll Grade Levels | Geography for Life | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room\nReynolds Leadership Center \nMeet the Presenters\nSojung Huh is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Texas Tech University. Her research focuses on teacher education and technology integration in K–12 classrooms. She is particularly interested in how geography education and geospatial technologies can support inquiry-based learning\, as well as blended and personalized learning.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/designing-flexible-learning-pathways-implementing-blpl-in-a-world-geography-classroom/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Reynolds Leadership Circle
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20261017T082500
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20261017T085500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T193253Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T193253Z
UID:10000438-1792225500-1792227300@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Teaching Teachers to ‘See’ Place: Integrating Geospatial Technology to Transform Elementary Teacher
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nThe editors of the two NCGE journals – the Geography Teacher and the Journal of Geography – invite you to learn about the publication process for the journals and how you can become a successful author. Take half an hour to learn about preparing and submitting manuscripts\, completing the publishing process as an author\, and supporting the discipline as a reviewer. Attendees will be able to ask questions and solicit publication advice for the rest of the session. \nSession Focus \nAll Grade Levels | Physical & Environmental Geography |  STEM \nConference Room\nByrd \nMeet the Presenters\nDr. Mary D. Curtis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Houston-Clear Lake in the College of Education where she coordinates the Social Studies teacher preparation program. Dr. Curtis is a geography educator with over 20 years of experience and service from local to international levels. She currently serves as the Vice Chair for the Association of American Geographers Geography Education Specialty Group and as Associate Editor for the Journal of Geography.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/teaching-teachers-to-see-place-integrating-geospatial-technology-to-transform-elementary-teacher/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Byrd
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T082500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T085500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T194026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T194026Z
UID:10000439-1792225500-1792227300@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Beyond the Textbook...Beyond the Exam: Bridging AP Human Geography Students to Geographic Practice
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nRecent calls from geographers\, including AAG President William Moseley—notably in his 2025 NCGE address—emphasize strengthening the vital bridge between K-12 and college geography educators. Despite robust AP Human Geography (APHG) enrollment\, geography remains a “discovery degree” with students rarely considering it beyond high school. This presentation addresses this pipeline challenge through a model for post-AP exam experiential outreach that engages students directly with geographic practice. Building effective bridges requires engagement from both sides: AP teachers willing to connect with college faculty\, and geography professors willing to reach beyond university walls. Drawing on our combined experience as an APHG teacher\, APHG reader\, and college geography professor\, this presentation describes designing a campus visit where post-AP exam students engage in hands-on geographic investigation using college-level tools and methods across multiple sub-disciplinary areas. The presentation will share the framework for designing meaningful experiential connections between APHG curriculum and college geography practice\, discuss findings from implementation\, and explore challenges in building these two-way relationships. Attendees will gain practical guidance for creating similar outreach initiatives adaptable to their institutional contexts\, whether as AP teachers seeking college partnerships or faculty engaging high school geography students. \nSession Focus \nAPHG Educators | Geography for Life | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room\nLacy \nMeet the Presenters\nDr. Thomas R. Craig is an Assistant Professor of Geography and Geographic Information Science in the Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences at South Dakota State University. With nearly two decades of experience as a geography educator spanning both secondary and higher education\, Dr. Craig brings a unique perspective to bridging these often-separate worlds. He has served as an Advanced Placement Human Geography exam reader for ten years and previously taught high school social studies for five years before completing his Ph.D. in Geography from Oklahoma State University. \nKim McCullough teaches AP Human Geography\, World Regional Geography\, Geography of Religion\, and AP European History at Brookings High School. She earned her Master’s degree in Geography from South Dakota State University in 2003. Before joining Brookings High School\, she taught at the Flandreau Indian School\, served as an instructor in SDSU’s Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences\, and taught at George S. Mickelson Middle School in Brookings.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/beyond-the-textbook-beyond-the-exam-bridging-ap-human-geography-students-to-geographic-practice/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Lacy
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T082500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T085500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T194721Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T194721Z
UID:10000440-1792225500-1792227300@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Map your World: Empowering Students with OpenStreetMap
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nOpenStreetMap is the world’s largest crowdsourced geospatial database\, powering thousands of applications across corporate\, government\, nonprofit\, and academic sectors. As a free and community-driven project\, anyone can contribute and anyone can use the data. As a tool for teaching geography\, OpenStreetMap (OSM) is unparalleled. Mapping\, as a classroom activity\, fosters spatial awareness and locational intelligence; open mapping helps students become active engaged citizens where they help others in their community and around the world. \nTeachOSM (A program of OpenStreetMap US) is an open resource hub and community network for students and educators to develop geospatial skills and increase civic engagement through project-based learning via OpenStreetMap. Through monthly Working Group meetings and asynchronous collaboration\, TeachOSM members maintain a central repository of learning materials & resources designed for educators\, facilitate a community of practice by networking educators and hosting mentors\, and maintain or advocate for tools that improve the ability for educators to integrate OpenStreetMap into their classrooms and curriculum. Learn about the work of TeachOSM\, the OpenStreetMap project\, and see case studies of how OSM has been utilized in the classroom. \nSession Focus \nAll Grade Levels | Geospatial Technology | Open Data \nConference Room\nCullen \nMeet the Presenters\nAlyssa Castronuovo is the Program Coordinator at OpenStreetMap US\, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting OpenStreetMap and its community of mappers. In her role she supports the TeachOSM program\, which connects educators interested in implementing OSM in their classrooms to educational materials\, shared resources\, and the wider OSM community. She loves exploring the beautifully mapped bike and pedestrian infrastructure in her home of Richmond\, Virginia. 
URL:https://ncge.org/event/map-your-world-empowering-students-with-openstreetmap/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Cullen
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T082500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T085500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T195948Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T195948Z
UID:10000441-1792225500-1792227300@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Mapping the Professional Fall Line: A Grades 4-12 Geospatial Careers & GIS Curriculum
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nHow do we find tomorrow’s geospatial professionals today? The answer lies in “backwards mapping” industry requirements directly into our K-12 classrooms. \nJoin the author and presenter for a deep dive into Geospatial Approaches and Careers\, a curriculum passion project designed to bridge the gap between foundational education and professional practice. This session demonstrates how to scaffold high-level GIS workforce standards—such as executive briefing and professional data evaluation—into developmentally appropriate experiences for students starting as early as 4th grade. \nBy integrating interdisciplinary standards with geospatial thinking\, technology\, and advocacy\, this framework prepares students to move from classroom learners to industry-ready analysts. Attendees will explore a 4-12 pipeline that connects NGSS\, C3 Framework\, and AP Human Geography skills to the missions of agencies like the Department of Homeland Security. \nWhether you are a classroom teacher\, a school leader\, or a policy broker\, you are invited to explore these possibilities and discuss strategies for implementation in your own learning community. \nAttendee Take-away: Participants will receive a digital “Geospatial Career Readiness Toolkit\,” featuring the full curriculum draft\, the Parkdale GIS Graphic Organizer\, and the Professional Executive Brief Rubric. \nHow can we bridge the gap between classroom geography and the high-demand geospatial workforce? This session introduces a modular consultancy model derived from the Geospatial Approaches and Careers project. Rather than a “one-size-fits-all” curriculum\, this model offers a “backwards-mapped” framework that allows educational leaders to implement geospatial career pathways in part or in whole\, depending on their local resources and goals. \nThe presenter will demonstrate how to adapt industry-standard requirements—such as Executive Briefing and GIS Data Evaluation—for diverse settings\, including elementary enrichment\, middle school STEM modules\, and high school CTE programs. We will explore how these “pluggable” units align with NGSS\, C3\, and APHG standards to create a professional pipeline that is both developmentally appropriate and industry-aligned. \nSession Focus \nAll Grade Levels  | Geospatial Technology\, Human and Cultural Geography\,  & Geography for Life| Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room\nRobins Family Forum Theater \nMeet the Presenter\nDaniel Joseph Whalen is an educational leader with a 22-year career dedicated to fostering student engagement and spatial literacy. Currently serving as an Assistant Principal in Las Vegas\, New Mexico\, his passion for geography is deeply rooted in his own diverse geographic upbringing—from the industrial heart of Pittsburgh to the close-knit\, multi-generational farming villages of upstate New York. Holding a BA in History from SUNY Albany and an MA in Educational Leadership from The George Washington University\, Daniel brings a profound understanding of how community\, environment\, and a “sense of place” shape student identity and achievement. \nOver his 18-year tenure with Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland\, Daniel became a driving force in geographic and spatial science education. He spent a decade in the classroom teaching AP Human Geography and was instrumental in shaping the district’s instructional framework\, including co-authoring the AP Human Geography elective curriculum. Recognizing the critical importance of geospatial technologies\, he later transitioned into Career and Technical Education (CTE). In this capacity\, he pioneered pathways for students by developing and teaching comprehensive curricula for Homeland Security Science\, Digital Cartography\, and Advanced Geographic Information Systems (GIS). \nA dedicated advocate for geographic education at the national level\, Daniel is thrilled to connect with fellow educators and leaders at the National Council for Geographic Education annual conference. He brings a wealth of assessment and mentorship experience to the geography community\, having served as an AP Human Geography Reader since 2009 and a College Board Table Leader since 2023. As a Certified Geospatial Educator (GeoEdC) and a 2018-2019 American Geographic Society Fellow\, Daniel has consistently championed spatial education\, supported by his leadership as Treasurer of the Maryland Geographic Alliance and his history of presenting on GIS integration at previous NCGE and Towson University conferences. \nToday\, Daniel applies his geographer’s lens to school-wide administration\, guiding educators to build innovative CTE pathways to graduation. In his administrative roles\, he integrates character education and community-specific values into the curriculum—equipping students not just for the global workforce\, but to lead and serve locally in Meadow City. Whether developing school-wide instructional strategies or serving as the energetic “SportsCenter” voice celebrating student milestones\, Daniel remains fiercely committed to elevating expectations\, celebrating student success\, and expanding access to high-quality geographic education.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/mapping-the-professional-fall-line-a-grades-4-12-geospatial-careers-gis-curriculum/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Robins Family Forum Theater
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T091000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T095000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T200859Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T200859Z
UID:10000442-1792228200-1792230600@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Learning Along the Fall Line: Building an OER State Atlas for All Learners
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nImagine 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. \nIn 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.\nWhether 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 \nSession Focus\nAll Grade Levels | America250 through a Geographic Lens | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room\nReynolds Leadership Center \nMeet the Presenter\nAnnie 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.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/learning-along-the-fall-line-building-an-oer-state-atlas-for-all-learners/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Reynolds Leadership Circle
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T091000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T095000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T201449Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T201449Z
UID:10000443-1792228200-1792230600@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Crossing the Conceptual Fall Line: Scaffolding AP Human Geography FRQs
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nAP Human Geography students often possess strong content knowledge but struggle to translate that understanding into effective Free-Response Question (FRQ) responses. This interactive workshop focuses on practical\, classroom-tested strategies for scaffolding FRQs while maintaining AP-level rigor and alignment with the APHG Course and Exam Description. \nParticipants will analyze common student breakdown points\, unpack FRQ task verbs\, and practice using scaffolds that support geographic reasoning\, vocabulary\, and evidence-based explanation. Emphasis will be placed on helping students move from description to analysis across human and cultural geography topics such as population\, migration\, urbanization\, and development. \nAttendees will actively engage with and share a variety of strategies and will leave with adaptable resources that can be implemented immediately. This session is designed for APHG educators seeking to improve student writing\, equity of access\, and confidence with FRQs while strengthening core geographic thinking skills. \nSession Focus\nAPHG Educators | Human and Cultural Geography | Curriculum and Instruction \nConference Room\nLacy \nMeet the Presenter\nAllison Cecil is a National Board Certified Teacher and social studies educator at duPont Manual High School in Louisville\, where she teaches AP Human Geography and Dual Credit courses in business and personal finance. She serves as an Assistant Chief Reader for the College Board AP Human Geography Exam. Allison develops inquiry-based curriculum and professional development focused on strengthening students’ geographic reasoning and evidence-based writing. Her recent projects include contributing as an author to History of Korea: Course Companion for IB History Paper 3 and leading classroom and community-based initiatives through the Korean War Legacy Foundation Veterans Legacy Project.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/crossing-the-conceptual-fall-line-scaffolding-ap-human-geography-frqs/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Lacy
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T091000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T095000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T202634Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T202634Z
UID:10000445-1792228200-1792230600@ncge.org
SUMMARY:From Rapids to Rivets: Mapping the Fall Line as the Strategic Backbone of the Arsenal of Democracy
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nWhile World War II is often taught through the lens of distant battlefields\, the domestic war of mobilization was won through a landscape shaped millions of years prior. This presentation demonstrates how the Fall Line—the geomorphologic boundary between the Piedmont and the Coastal Plain—served as the primary spatial determinant for American mobilization in the 1940s. \nBy analyzing historical cartography and industrial density maps\, we explore how the Fall Line’s “break-of-bulk” points evolved from 18th-century trading posts into the 20th century’s most vital logistics hubs. This session will provide educators with a framework for using primary sources\, including maps\, to show students that the locations of WWII-era munitions plants\, shipyards\, and embarkation points in cities like Richmond\, Baltimore\, and Philadelphia were not coincidental. They were the direct result of a geological transition that provided the hydropower\, rail connectivity\, and deep-water access necessary for total war. Attendees will leave with access to FREE high-quality resources from the National World War II Museum\, including a lesson plan on the Arsenal of Democracy that uses primary sources to bridge the gap between physical geography and global conflict\, proving that the road to Berlin and Tokyo began at the waterfalls of the Eastern Seaboard. \nSession Focus\nSecondary/High School | Human and Cultural Geography | U.S. History \nConference Room\nCullen \nMeet the Presenter\nJosie Perry is a National Board certified teacher in Social Studies-History. She teaches US History\, Contemporary World Studies\, and Advanced Placement Human Geography at Rising Sun High School in Maryland. She is a Teaching Ambassador for the National World War II Museum and leads professional development sessions for the museum around the country. She was a co-host of the Museum’s Electronic Field Trip World War II: Legacy\, which explored the end of the war and the postwar period\, and a lesson contributor to the new Holocaust Curriculum Guide. She is a 2026 Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial Foundation Fellow. In 2024\, she completed a fellowship with the Genocide Education Project\, including a field experience in Armenia and led multiple professional development sessions on the Armenian Genocide and its lasting impact. She has participated in the Choices Program Fellowship at Brown University with a focus on human rights\, Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellowship\, the NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellowship\, and the National World War II Museum Liberation and Legacy Fellowship.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/from-rapids-to-rivets-mapping-the-fall-line-as-the-strategic-backbone-of-the-arsenal-of-democracy/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Cullen
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T091000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T095000
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T203354Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T203354Z
UID:10000446-1792228200-1792230600@ncge.org
SUMMARY:The Unruly Rio Grande: How A Meandering River Re-shaped the US-Mexico Line
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nRivers flood and change over time which can cause major issues regarding political boundaries between nations. What happens when this directly impacts people’s homes\, cultural beliefs\, and economic zones. This session focuses on the shifting Rio Grande border with Mexico due to significant flooding in the 19th century and the changes that resulted in a 100 year dispute over a stretch of land in El Paso\, Texas. During a time period of heightened Cold War tensions\, a peaceful negotiation was reached that ended the dispute and permanently altered the course of the Rio Grande River in this area. Various materials and resources will be provided along with lessons that can be used in U.S. History courses or AP Human Geography classes. \nSession Focus\nHigher Education | Physical & Environmental Geography | U.S. History \nConference Room\nRobins Family Forum Theater \nMeet the Presenter\nDawn Schmidt teaches in Tempe\, Arizona at Corona del Sol High School. This is her 30th year and she is teaching Honors World Geography to 9th graders\, AP Human Geography\, an elective for 10th-12th graders\, and Honors United States History to 11th graders. Schmidt currently serves as a board member of the Arizona Council for Social Studies and she is also Teacher Consultant for the Arizona Geographic Alliance. She was awarded the K-12 Distinguished Teaching Award by NCGE in 2021\, the Isidore Starr Outstanding Social Studies Teacher by ACSS in 2016\, and the Flinn Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award in 2013 and 2008. Schmidt has had the opportunity to participate in educational study tours in Taiwan\, Japan\, Tajikistan\, Honduras\, Germany\, and the United Arab Emirates.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/the-unruly-rio-grande-how-a-meandering-river-re-shaped-the-us-mexico-line/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Robins Family Forum Theater
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T100500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T104500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T210911Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T210911Z
UID:10000447-1792231500-1792233900@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Reawakening the Stealth Geography Approach in a Persistent Battleground: Elementary Education
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nIn the early 2000s\, integrating geography and literacy at the elementary level garnered attention (Gandy\, 2006; Holloway\, 2015) in the wake of NCLB and the College and Career Readiness Standards. The need for such calls further intensified in the wake of recent nationwide science of reading initiatives and persistent standardized testing. Consequently\, elementary teachers’ time constraints further marginalize elementary-level geography. As a result\, a stealth approach that integrates Geography with literacy is required to provide meaningful geography instruction in elementary grades (Sekeres & Gregg\, 2008). As noted in the Road Map for 21st Century Geography Education\, “Geography should be taught wherever it is found – whether in math\, science\, social studies\, literature\, technology\, or the arts” (Bednarz et al. 2013\, p. 10) \nThis presentation will provide a threefold approach to address marginalization in elementary-level geography. First\, reviewing previous scholarly advances in integrating geography and children’s literature offers a clear way forward. Second\, examples of effective integration of literature with the Geography for Life Six Essential Elements will be demonstrated. Third\, participants will receive an introductory list of elementary geography children’s books and additional resources to empower teachers and teacher educators to integrate elementary geography into quality children’s literature. \nSession Focus\nEarly Childhood/Elementary | Geography for Life | Literacy \nConference Room\nByrd \nMeet the Presenter\nJayson Evaniuck \n 
URL:https://ncge.org/event/reawakening-the-stealth-geography-approach-in-a-persistent-battleground-elementary-education/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Byrd
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T100500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T104500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T211226Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T211226Z
UID:10000448-1792231500-1792233900@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Places of Service and Sacrifice: Teaching Through National Cemeteries
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nAP Human Geography students often possess strong content knowledge but struggle to translate that understanding into effective Free-Response Question (FRQ) responses. This interactive workshop focuses on practical\, classroom-tested strategies for scaffolding FRQs while maintaining AP-level rigor and alignment with the APHG Course and Exam Description. \nParticipants will analyze common student breakdown points\, unpack FRQ task verbs\, and practice using scaffolds that support geographic reasoning\, vocabulary\, and evidence-based explanation. Emphasis will be placed on helping students move from description to analysis across human and cultural geography topics such as population\, migration\, urbanization\, and development. \nAttendees will actively engage with and share a variety of strategies and will leave with adaptable resources that can be implemented immediately. This session is designed for APHG educators seeking to improve student writing\, equity of access\, and confidence with FRQs while strengthening core geographic thinking skills. \nSession Focus\nSecondary/High School | America250 through a Geographic Lens | U.S. History \nConference Room\nLacy \nMeet the Presenter\nAllison Cecil is a National Board Certified Teacher and social studies educator at duPont Manual High School in Louisville\, where she teaches AP Human Geography and Dual Credit courses in business and personal finance. She serves as an Assistant Chief Reader for the College Board AP Human Geography Exam. Allison develops inquiry-based curriculum and professional development focused on strengthening students’ geographic reasoning and evidence-based writing. Her recent projects include contributing as an author to History of Korea: Course Companion for IB History Paper 3 and leading classroom and community-based initiatives through the Korean War Legacy Foundation Veterans Legacy Project.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/places-of-service-and-sacrifice-teaching-through-national-cemeteries/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Lacy
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T100500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T104500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T211919Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T211919Z
UID:10000449-1792231500-1792233900@ncge.org
SUMMARY:From Maps to Mandates: Teaching the Arab-Israeli Conflict with Primary Sources
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nExplore the history and background of the Arab-Israeli conflict through primary source documents and teaching strategies that support critical analysis of texts. Major historical developments in the Arab-Israeli conflict will be discussed. Participants will develop content knowledge\, experience student activities\, and receive ready-to-use resources and links to digital resources with detailed lesson plans including primary source documents\, maps\, and all necessary student materials. Curricular resources emphasize informational texts with text-dependent and document-based questions to support close\, analytic reading and evidence-based responses\, new literacy strategies\, and best practices in the use of technology in the classroom. Participants will be able to deliver rigorous\, standards-based instruction\, meeting state social studies content standards. High School World History and Global Politics teachers\, and their colleagues who seek to enrich their general content knowledge\, will benefit from this workshop. \nSession Focus\nSecondary/High School | Human and Cultural Geography | World/International \nConference Room\nCullen \nMeet the Presenter\nCasey Finch is an Educator for Institute for Curriculum Services and presents at conferences and facilitates professional learning for educators in the Northeastern region of the United States. Prior to joining ICS\, Casey spent 15 years teaching Social Studies. He taught in both public and private secondary schools in NH\, CO\, and MA. Most recently\, Casey worked for CFR Education developing teaching and learning materials about global civics. Casey holds a B.A in Political Science from the University of New Hampshire and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver. \nCasey facilitates professional learning for the following states: Maine\, New Hampshire\, Vermont\, Massachusetts\, Rhode Island\, Connecticut\, New Jersey\, Delaware\, Maryland\, West Virginia\, Pennsylvania\, Virginia\, and DC.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/from-maps-to-mandates-teaching-the-arab-israeli-conflict-with-primary-sources/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Cullen
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T100500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261017T104500
DTSTAMP:20260525T111851
CREATED:20260524T212922Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260524T212922Z
UID:10000450-1792231500-1792233900@ncge.org
SUMMARY:Yippy-Ki-Yay\, Morphin’ Culture!: Teaching Holiday Traditions and Cultural Change Using Die Hard
DESCRIPTION:Summary\nThe “Die Hard as a Christmas movie” debate offers an entry point for engaging students in learning about culture and its interpretation. [JE1.1]As classroom practice shifts toward an emphasis on human geography and the use of geo-literacy skills\, understanding how to engage students with complexity of geography is increasingly important. Because social studies teachers do not receive adequate geography education in their preservice education programs (Bednarz et al.\, 2013)\, we developed and taught a series of mini-lessons focused on cultural change to preservice teachers in a social studies methods course. Using Die Hard as a throughline\, we developed lessons on (1) elements of culture\, (2) folk and pop culture\, (3) the impact of technology (e.g. film\, home video\, internet\, etc.) and diffusion on culture\, and (4) how virtual spaces are a cultural landscape. Though developed for preservice teachers\, this session will address how the lessons can be easily adapted for middle and secondary classrooms. While the Die Hard debate is fun to have\, we concluded with discussions about how cultural change is a normal\, yet invisible\, process. \nSession Focus\nSecondary/High School | Human and Cultural Geography | Inquiry \nConference Room\nRobins Family Forum Theater \nMeet the Presenter\nJeff Eargle is a clinical associate professor at the University of South Carolina where he serves as the Secondary Social Studies Program Coordinator in the College of Education. He is the coeditor of the forthcoming two-volume book Teaching Holocaust Geographies in Middle and High School from Palgrave Macmillan. \n  \nVernon Turner is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of South Carolina\, where he teaches social studies methods in the Department of Teacher Education. His work focuses on social studies education and teacher preparation\, with particular attention to inquiry-based instruction and classroom practice. Prior to joining USC\, he taught high school geography\, including Advanced Placement Human Geography. \n  \nBethany M. Sanders is a doctoral student in the College of Education at the University of South Carolina and a high school social studies teacher in the South Carolina public school system. She received NCGE’s K–12 Distinguished Teaching Award in 2024\, and her doctoral studies focus on teaching geo-literacy in the secondary classroom.
URL:https://ncge.org/event/yippy-ki-yay-morphin-culture-teaching-holiday-traditions-and-cultural-change-using-die-hard/
LOCATION:Conference Room: Robins Family Forum Theater
CATEGORIES:Conference Sessions
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://ncge.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2026_NCGE_Conference_Logo.png
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END:VCALENDAR