National Council for Geographic Education

Exploring South Asia Through Literature: Using Award-Winning Books to Enrich Geography Education
2025-10-18 16:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Conference Room: Nebraska
Summary
The South Asia Book Award (SABA) celebrates outstanding literature that authentically portrays the cultures, histories, and lived experiences of South Asians, both in South Asia and across the globe. This session introduces geography educators to the wealth of award-winning books that can enhance students’ understanding of the diverse countries and cultures that make up the South Asian region. Through a curated selection of books, from picture book to young adult novels, participants will discover how to integrate compelling literature into geography curricula to bring South Asia to life in the classroom. Whether you’re teaching about historical events, contemporary cultural issues, or geographical landscapes, these books offer valuable perspectives that will engage students and deepen their global awareness.
Session Focus
Early Childhood/Elementary | Literacy
Conference Room
Nebraska
Meet the Presenters
Julie Wakefield is a retired high school teacher now teaching in the higher education system. She volunteers with the South Asia Book Award Committee to choose books annually that are worthy of recognition. She regularly integrates cultural stories, poetry, literature and other print options into her teaching.

GeoCircle: Teaching Culture and Cultural Landscape
2025-10-21 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Teaching culture and cultural landscape is a favorite for many teachers. Learning about culture is a favorite for students. What is your favorite aspect of teaching culture? What do the students struggle with? Join us for a conversation about resources, strategies and challenges the students face.
The Facilitator
Carter Waterkyn
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Religion & Government in the Middle East: Election season
2025-10-29 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
This session offers teachers resources to explore the role of religion in the governments of Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, and Iran. By comparing these countries to the United States, participants will gain insights into global religious and political diversity. By examining primary source foundational documents from each country, teachers can then support student inquiry in understanding these complex landscapes.
Audience Focus
All grade levels
Meet the Presenter
Erika Lawrey is a veteran educator with 29 years of experience, Erika Lowery is an accomplished educator with a comprehensive background in various educational capacities. Her professional journey has included instruction in middle and high school geography(all levels), supervision of secondary social studies programs, and teaching elementary social studies methods at Baylor University. Currently, she provides professional development to teachers across the southern region as an educator for the Institute for Curriculum Services. Ms. Lowery’s dedication and excellence have been recognized with several prestigious accolades, including the National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teaching Achievement award in 2013, her selection as the Texas Social Studies Supervisor of the Year in 2022, and her service on the 2022 World Geography TEKS revision workgroup in Texas.
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Teaching Students How to be Successful on FRQs
2025-11-05 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Join us as we discuss the methods and strategies for introducing and teaching students how to be successful on FRQ for the APHG exam.
Audience Focus
APHG, High School, Middle School
Meet the Presenters
Kenneth H Keller is a retired AP Human Geography teacher at George Walton Comprehensive High School in Marietta, GA., and taught AP Human Geography from its inception in 2000. Ken has attended every AP Human Geography Reading since 2002, where he has worked in multiple capacities from reader to Question leader. He has been teaching AP Human Geography weeklong summer institutes and one-day workshops for teachers since 2004 and was the 2004 recipient of a National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teaching award. Ken also taught as an adjunct professor of Geography for five years at Western Connecticut State University, Ken is a past member of the AP Human Geography Test Development Committee (2006-2010) and served as President of the National Council for Geographic Education during the year 2019-2020. He is also Past-President of the Connecticut Council of Social Studies. where he worked to promote social studies education at the state level.
Ken is also the co-author of BFW’s Human Geography for the AP Course which is now in its second edition along with its teacher’s edition. Ken is also one of three co-founders of iScore5 LLC, an AP test prep app for smart devices. Ken and his wife, Lisa, moved from Danbury, CT. to Georgia in 2013, and though they prefer the beautiful Georgia weather, they brought their New Yorker roots (and Mets caps) with them.
Tracie Truax began her teaching career in the Chicago suburb of St. Charles 19 years ago. As a National Board Certified teacher, she currently teaches one section of AP Human Geography while serving as an instructional support coach. In her coaching role, Tracie supports educators in implementing effective instructional strategies and fostering student success. Additionally, as a member of the district’s Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Team for social studies, Tracie collaborated with colleagues to design the Geographic Foundations course, ensuring that all freshmen build essential geographic thinking skills from the start of their high school journey. Tracie has also been an AP Human Geography reader since 2017. As a reader, she learned invaluable skills for teaching and preparing her students to be successful FRQ writers. Finally, Tracie is an avid traveler. She believes that geography should happen inside and outside the classroom. In the summer of 2024, she led a student trip to Costa Rica designed to bring human geography concepts to life. Tracie loves sharing both her passion and enthusiasm for geography with others!
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Our World In Data
2025-11-12 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Poverty, disease, hunger, climate change, war, existential risks, and inequality: the world faces many great and terrifying problems. It is these large problems that our work at Our World in Data focuses on. The goal of our work is to make this knowledge accessible and understandable to empower those working to build a better world. Join us for a webinar that will show how this free resource can be used by educators to gather current data and reports on many topics globally. While not a source for lesson plans, it is a source to create lessons and activities in which the students can interact with the data themselves. **If you have questions that you would like to ask the presenter, please email them to Julie julie@ncge.org **There will be time for Q & A during the webinar.
Audience Focus
All Grade Levels
Meet the Presenters
Dr. Charlie Giattino is the Communications & Outreach Manager at Our World in Data. He joined OWID in 2020 and has worked across the team: initially joining as a researcher, later moving to the operations team, and now leading communications. He completed his Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience at Duke University. Charlie is originally from Texas and now based in London.

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GeoCircle: Supporting PreService Teachers in teaching Geography
2025-11-18 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Join NCGE for an engaging GeoCircle designed to bridge the gap between future educators and the experienced instructors who guide them. This open conversation brings together PreService teachers and the Methods instructors and supervisors who prepare them for success in the geography classroom.
PreService teachers are encouraged to bring questions about best practices, classroom strategies, and what to expect as they enter the profession. Methods instructors and supervisors are invited to share their best advice, mentorship insights, and proven approaches for preparing strong, confident geography educators.
Whether you’re just beginning your teaching journey or working to support the next generation, this collaborative discussion welcomes educators at all levels. Come connect, learn, and build a stronger community of geography teaching and learning.
About the Facilitators
Kelly Leon, Ashley Penir
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Encountering Colonial Legacies & Spaces of Possibility along the Anza National Historic Trail
2025-11-20 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
As thousands of geographers are preparing to gather in San Francisco in a few months, this is an opportunity to explore and understand how this city came into existence and how historic places can serve as sites of engagement and even reconciliation. The 250th anniversary of the Anza Colonizing Expedition of 1775-76 provides a point in time for reflection and re-examination of the historical geography of the Americas. The expedition followed a 1,900-mile route north and west from present day Sonora that took settlers to the frontier of the Spanish Empire and traversed the homelands of numerous indigenous peoples. Learn more about the expedition and how the route is remembered and commemorated by the U.S. National Park Service and the indigenous nations that withstood profound impacts of invasion, settlement, and environmental change and continue to shape the future of the lands along the trail.
Audience Focus
Speakers will share free information and resources appropriate for the education of diverse audiences. Recommended for geographers, educators, and anyone interested in taking a journey into the historical geography of the Americas.
Meet the Presenters
Thomas Herman
Research Fellow, San Diego State Univ. Geography Dept.
California Geographic Alliance
National Council for Geographic Education

Gail E. Chehak
Community & Partner Relations Director
American Indigenous Tourism Association, Inc.

Christopher Bentley
Interpretation, Education, and Volunteer Program Manager
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail
National Park Service

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