Jewish Immigration to America: 1880-1924
2024-05-01 19:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Summary
This session will explore Jewish immigration to the United States in the early 20th century. Participants will receive the context for Jewish immigration between 1880-1924, discuss the various push and pull factors that brought Jewish immigrants to America, understand the cultural pressures and contributions of Jewish Americans, and grapple with the repercussions of the 1924 Immigration Act.
About the Presenter
Erika Lowrey is in her 27th year in education. She has taught middle school and high school geography courses for students in ESL Sheltered, Inclusion, On- Level, Pre AP, and AP Human Geography. She is currently in her third 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. In addition, Erika was honored as a Distinguished Alumni from the College of Education at The Florida State University in 2020. Her dedication to social studies extends beyond the classroom to statewide and national leadership roles. She served as a member of the National Geographic Society’s Texas Advisory Committee in 2018 – 2019. She was President of Texas Council for the Social Studies in 2018 and President of the National Social Studies Supervisors Association in 2021. In 2022 she was selected as the Texas Social Studies Supervisor of the Year. Erika received her Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education from The Florida State University and a Master of Education from National Louis University.
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How do We Explain Conflict? Evidence from Syria
2024-05-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Summary
While teaching about war and conflict is never an easy topic in the classroom, it is important for young people to be exposed to geopolitics and understand the current events they see in the news. But how do we make sense of conflicts when we are inundated with competing explanations for why they start? In this webinar, Daniel Neep will answer this question with reference to one of the most chronic – and most misunderstood – conflicts of the 21st century: the Syrian civil war. Is the enduring conflict in Syria best explained by the historical legacies of the past, environmental disaster, ethnic and religious rivalries, or the failures of economic policy-making? The webinar will explore the factors that contributed to the conflict in Syria and analyze the lessons that can be drawn from it.
About the Presenter
Daniel Neep is a political scientist who works on conflict and state-building in the Middle East, with a focus on Syria, where he lived for five years prior to the uprising. Neep is the author of Occupying Syria: Insurgency, Space, and State Formation (Cambridge University Press, 2012). He is currently finishing his second book, The Nation Belongs to All: The Making of Modern Syria, which explains Syria’s political development in terms of global transformations, changing economic infrastructures, emerging political geographies, and waves of popular protest. His research has also been published in journals including International Affairs, New Political Economy, and the Journal of Historical Sociology.
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Webinar: Connecting Globally, Educating Locally: Empowering Students through Virtual Exchange with Reach the World
2024-05-15 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Summary
Explore Reach the World’s innovative platform aimed at enhancing students’ geographic awareness through personalized virtual exchanges. Connect with their active network of travelers and learn practical ways to implement virtual exchanges in your classroom, igniting curiosity, confidence, and compassion among students.
About the Presenter
Jessica Wurzbacher, the new Program Manager at Reach the World, brings a wealth of experience from diverse roles in education, non-profit leadership, and marine science. Her journey, from teaching high school biology and oceanography to sailing 40,000 nautical miles around the globe, has been fueled by a passion for fostering global connections through experiential learning. Enthusiastic about contributing to Reach the World’s vision of making the benefits of travel and global networks accessible to all students, Jessica looks forward to collaborating with the Reach the World community to enrich the lives of students through virtual exchange.
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Using an Atlas to Develop Multiple Literacies
2024-08-09 10:00 - 10:45 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Covetto, 60 E 5th St., Arizona, 85281
Overview
An atlas can be more than a reference book. See how a student atlas can be a tool for developing the information literacies and analytic skills necessary to conduct geographic inquiries. Attendees will engage with instructional materials created for an atlas designed to align with 4th grade History-Social Studies standards in California. Through this hands-on experience, teachers will learn how to help their students use atlases and other information sources to practice geographic thinking and acquire geographic knowledge.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Inquiry | Atlas | Curriculum and Instruction
Conference Room
Covetto
Meet the Presenter
Thomas Herman is a Research Fellow in the Department of Geography at San Diego State University where he is the Project Director for the Young People’s Environments, Society, and Space Research Center. He also contributes to teacher professional learning, the development of teaching and learning resources, and advocacy for geography education as Director of the California Geographic Alliance, a member of the California Environmental Literacy Initiative, and Chair of the NCSS Geography Community.

APHG Bellringers: How to Apply in the Classroom
2024-08-13 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 currently teaches AP Human Geography, AP Psychology and Sociology. She is the lead APHG teacher in Dallas ISD and the author of the NCGE Bell Ringers. She is a College Board consultant and has participated in the AP Reading since 2017.
Allison Young is entering her 21st year as a Social Studies Teacher in Virginia. She has taught World History for most of her career and started teaching AP Human Geography in the 2023-2024 school year
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GeoCircle: Engaging Activities for a Strong Start
2024-08-20 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Discussion Topic
Engaging Activities for a Strong Start

About the Facilitators
Robert Mayfield works at Ripon High in Northern California as an AP Human Geography teacher, TOSA, and Social Studies Department Chair. He has presented at EdTech conferences like SPARCC, Google Camp, EduProtocols Worldwide, and Spring CUE. Mayfield also collaborated with his county on PD sessions for UDL, EL support, and Co-teaches with SPED teachers. He has 10+ years of experience as an AP Reader and Table Leader, serves on the CCCUE Board, and contributes to EduProtocols publications. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Educational Technology and Instructional Design.

Samantha Serrano is a 21-year veteran teacher at James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates, Illinois where she has taught AP Human Geography, Social Science Survey, and World History. She is currently an NCGE director, AAG member, AGS teacher fellow, and has completed the National Geographic PD teacher certification. Her favorite professional development includes the teacher trip to South Korea with Dr. Stoltman and the annual AP grading. Serrano is an alumnus of Illinois State University (Social Science Education) and Northeastern Illinois University (M.A. Geography and Environmental Studies), and working towards her M.A. at Texas State University in Geography Education.

Session Access
GeoCircle sessions are free and open access to any educator. Find out more and Join the Circle Session click HERE

Global Population Trends
2024-08-28 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Dr. Lu will discuss global population trends with correlations to the AP Human Geography CED. However, this presentation is great for all teachers of Geography at all levels!
About the Presenter
Max Lu is a Professor in the Department of Geography and Geospatial Sciences, Kansas State University. His research interests include population migration, regional development, human dimensions of environmental change, and China.
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Environmental Cooperation as a Path to Peace in The Middle East
2024-09-04 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
This session examines some of the major environmental challenges in the Middle East, particularly around water resources, and the ways that Israelis, Jordanians, and Palestinians are cooperating to meet these challenges. Participants will experience social and environmental activism in the Middle East by focusing on three case studies that they can then use with students in their classrooms.
About 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.

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GeoCircle: Strategies for Teaching Geographic Content and Vocabulary
2024-09-17 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
About the Facilitators
Michelle Hamann is a Social Studies teacher in Ridgefield, Washington. Ridgefield is one of the fastest growing cities in Washington state and quickly transitioning from a rural community to a suburb of Portland, Oregon, which gives her lots of opportunity to teach Human Geography just looking out of her classroom window. She is part of a family of geography nerds who most actively express that by visiting major and minor league baseball parks around the United States.With over
27 years of dedicated service in secondary education, Maribel Vélez Ramos brings a wealth of experience to the classroom. Ms. Vélez’s teaching philosophy centers on hands-on, project-based learning (PBL), placing students at the forefront of their educational journey. She believes in creating immersive learning experiences, including educational field trips to historical sites, to foster a deeper understanding of the subject matter. She also has six years of experience teaching World Geography in a Dual Language program, where she empowers bilingual students with a deep, contextual understanding of the subject.
Session Access
GeoCircle sessions are free and open access to any educator. Find out more and Join the Circle Session click HERE

Dual Codes and a Single Mission: Gamifying Climate Education
2024-09-18 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
Participants will take part in gamified climate education activities and discuss how gamification is being used in the classroom.
About the Presenter
Ruth Ohaka is Masters of Geography student at the University of Northern Iowa and former classroom teacher.
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Hidden in Plain Sight: How to Use Your Local Geographic Landscape in Class
2024-10-02 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Webinar
Overview
In this webinar, experts from iScore5 will demonstrate innovative approaches, including being a windshield geographer. Presenters will demonstrate how teachers can uncover and highlight geographic concepts embedded in everyday surroundings through their own (or even students’) photographs of the local landscape using CED Skill 4 Source Analysis and qualitative data. This method not only makes lessons more relatable and engaging for students but also fosters a deeper understanding which allows students to APPLY geographical concepts and theories in their communities.
The Presenter
Paul Gray, Ken Keller and Greg Sherwin
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Using Giant Floor Maps to Understand Bald Eagle Populations
2024-10-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: San Pedro, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Summary
In this session, participants will learn how to use Giant Traveling Maps in the classroom. As an illustrative and interactive example, we will focus specifically on bald eagle distributions and habitats. Giant Traveling Maps facilitate a dynamic and interactive learning environment and are effective in engaging students in hands-on exploration of geographical concepts and principles. The Giant Traveling Maps foster experiential learning by providing students with an immersive experience designed to stimulate curiosity and they encourage active participation by facilitating a deeper understanding of geographic patterns and species distribution. This lesson will also allow educators to incorporate interdisciplinary approaches, integrating concepts from geography, biology, and environmental science. Through this lesson, students will examine their local environments and regions and identify how they compare to habitats required for bald eagles, which will facilitate a holistic understanding of the interconnected
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Giant Maps | Environmental Conservation | Habitat Identification
Conference Room:
San Pedro
Meet the Presenter

Scott Greene is a professor and chair in the Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability and coordinator of the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education at the University of Oklahoma. His research interests focus on energy resources and economic impact analysis, statistical methods, climate adaptation, and K-12 geography education. He has taught courses on statistical methods, renewable energy, climatology, and physical geography. In addition to publishing more than 50 refereed scientific papers on statistical methods, renewable energy, and applied climatology and teaching a variety of courses, Dr. Greene has received a number of very prestigious awards, including the NASA global change fellowship, the Tromp Scientific Award (the highest award given by the International Society of Biometeorology only once every three years for outstanding research in biometeorology), the University of Oklahoma Teaching Scholars Initiative Award for Outstanding Teaching, the Regents’ Award for Superior Teaching (the highest teaching award offered by the university and the state regents), and the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences Outstanding Research Award. Under Dr. Greene’s leadership and direction, he and his research team have received awards for excellence in research and outreach from the American Wind Energy Association, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Oklahoma City Journal Record. Dr. Greene holds degrees in Applied Mathematics and Geography (BA, University of California, Berkeley), Geography (M.A., University of Hawaii), and Geography/Climatology (Ph.D., University of Delaware).
Becca Palczynsky has served as Executive Director for the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education (OKAGE) since October 2019. OKAGE is a professional organization located in Norman, Oklahoma, for all educators. OKAGE provides a year-round schedule of professional development events and academies for in-service and preservice teachers, curriculum coordinators, and informal educators of all grade levels and backgrounds. During Becca’s time at OKAGE, she has secured four grants from the National Geographic Society and two grants from the Kirkpatrick Foundation to develop high-quality STEM education outreach programs and disseminate supporting resources aligned to the National Geography and Oklahoma Academic Standards to educators and students across the state of Oklahoma. As a result of developing these geographic education outreach initiatives, Becca was selected to receive the Outstanding Support for Geographic Education award from the National Council for Geographic Education in 2022. In her role at OKAGE, Becca remains active in state, national, and international organizations to advocate for and advance STEM education and geographic literacy among the public. Becca serves on the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Council for Social Studies, participates as an outreach partner for Lights Out Heartland, and was selected as Oklahoma’s first International Dark Sky Delegate. These strategic partnerships amplify OKAGE’s impact in Oklahoma and beyond.

"Inspired by Iceland:" Lessons From the Trip that Changed Our Teaching
2024-10-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Coference Room: Joshua Tree
Summary
Alumni and trip leaders from the NCGE-GeoCamp Iceland program will demonstrate activities developed after the field course and how the experience(s) changed their teaching. Additionally, lessons will be shared regarding how alumni changed the way they plan, and teach geography concepts and skills to a variety of age groups and audiences as a result of the field study.
Session Focus
All Grade Levels | Inquiry-based | fieldwork | place-based
Room
Joshua Tree
Meet the Presenters

Terresa Cawthra-Cornelius is an educator at William Walker Elementary in Beaverton, Oregon. She has been involved in K-12 geography education for 30 years, contributing to research and curriculum development in the areas of Pacific Northwest geography, urban geography, and STEM- integrated curriculums. Terresa is a GeoCamp Iceland 2022 and 2023 alumni trip participant.

Dr. Rebecca L. Dodge is an Emeritus Geology and Environmental Science Associate Professor at Midwestern State University. She is deeply committed to training and educating future science teachers in geosciences, earth system science, and environmental observation techniques, with an emphasis on the integration of field observations and geospatial technology. She also consults on teaching resource development with textbook companies and online teaching resource developers.

Ellen J. Foster is a professor of teacher education, secondary program coordinator, and executive director of the Mississippi Geographic Alliance at the University of Mississippi; a past president of NCGE; and GeoCamp Iceland four-time leader and 2023 alumni trip organizer. Dr. Foster taught geography for nine years in the greater San Antonio area before transitioning to higher education.

Jeff Lash is a professor of geography at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. He is past president of NCGE and is a three time GeoCamp Iceland participant.

Stephanie Shelton is a graduate of Longwood University, 17-year veteran elementary educator in Virginia public schools, NCGE member, and 2022 GeoCamp Iceland and 2023 Alumni trip participant.

Suzanne Struve is a professor of geography at Blinn College in Bryan, Texas. She attended 2021 GeoCamp Iceland and 2023 alumni trips.

Gathering, Mapping, and communicating results of field investigations
2024-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Dolores
Summary
How can you effectively and easily gather, map, analyze, and communicate the results of the data you have gathered in the field? ArcGIS Survey123, the ArcGIS Online map viewer, dashboards, and story maps and other configurable web mapping applications can be powerfully but easily created and used even by those who are not GIS experts. Join Joseph Kerski for an engaging workshop where we delve into not only how to use these tools but how to connect and share them.
Session Focus
SecondaryHigh School | fieldwork | GIS | mapping
Room
Dolores
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 NCGE 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.

Partnering on education research with teachers and with funding to measure aspirations of students
2024-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Xavier
Summary
In this workshop, we will share a framework to partner with teachers on education research, new avenues to embed geography across the school curriculum, the importance of measuring aspirations of students of all backgrounds to pursue a geography or related career path, and funding possibilities to support education research partnerships. We will then transition into a broader discussion, in which attendees will be encouraged to share their own experiences and raise questions for group consideration. The hands-on portion of the session will guide attendees in developing their ideas within this framework, connect their ideas with other attendees, receive input on key considerations for a strong partnership.
Session Focus
Higher Education | Research | Funding | DEI
Conference Room
Xavier
Meet the Presenters
Coline Dony is Senior Grants and Project Manager at the American Association of Geographers. She manages sponsored partnerships that support AAG’s mission. To support the sustainability and broadening of the geography discipline, Coline’s research focused on creating educational pathways between middle school and college to be exposed to a geography curriculum that is better aligned with the work of geographers today, and that incorporates more recent concepts such as geocomputational thinking.

Atsushi Nara is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and the Associate Director of the Center for Human Dynamics in the Mobile Age at San Diego State University.
He holds a PhD in geography from Arizona State University. His research interests include spatial data science, spatiotemporal data analysis and modeling, human dynamics and movement behaviors, complex adaptive systems, and geocomputation education

Kelly León is an Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay
and a former geography teacher and curriculum specialist for the Sweetwater Union HS District in San Diego County. Kelly’s research interests include K12 geography education, teachers’ curriculum-making, and k12 ethnic studies.

Jessica Embury is a doctoral student in the Department of Geography at San Diego State University and the University of California Santa Barbara, and a researcher at the Center for Human Dynamics in the Mobile Age. Embury’s research focuses on spatial modeling, spatiotemporal data analysis, and the integration of big geospatial data into geographic applications. Embury has experience conducting geographic research and producing spatial models related to social equity issues such as food access, pollution burden, and disease vulnerability.

Thomas Herman is a Research Fellow in the Department of Geography at San Diego State University where he is the Project Director for the Young People’s Environments, Society, and Space Research Center. He also contributes to teacher professional learning, the development of teaching and learning resources, and advocacy for geography education as Director of the California Geographic Alliance, a member of the California Environmental Literacy Initiative, and Chair of the NCSS Geography Community.

Matthew Velasco is a master’s student in the Department of Geography at San Diego State University and was a former research intern for the Encoding Geography project at San Diego Mesa College. His research interests are GIS, geocomputation, agent-based modeling, and sustainability.

Geography in the Global System of Agriculture
2024-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Colonnade, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Summary
Participants will connect the importance of geography to the agricultural production of the food, clothing, and shelter that we depend on in our daily lives. These connections will focus on the three Big Ideas of the AP Human Geography course: Patterns and Spatial Organization, Impacts and Interactions, and Spatial Process and Societal Change. Through exploration of classroom-tested lessons and hands-on activities, teachers will learn strategies for active engagement in helping students understand how geography and agriculture impact their quality of life. The impacts of the geography/agriculture connection will be identified using the SPEED model—social, political, economic, environmental, demographic. Additionally, attendees will explore strategies for enhancing student discussion and assisting students in conducting risk assessments for socioscientific issues including bioengineered foods, organic vs. conventional farming, food sustainability, and livestock production processes. Presenters will share free online lessons tied to National Geography Standards, Common Core, and National Agricultural Literacy Outcomes. Attendee takeaways include digitally accessible resources and a resource bag of classroom materials.
Session Focus
APHG |Agriculture | Population
Room
Colonnade
Meet the Presenters
Cassie Bates has been teaching AP Human Geography since the fall of 2014, bringing a wealth of experience and passion to the classroom. With a strong commitment to hands-on learning, Ms. Bates strives to engage students in meaningful and interactive ways. Her dedication to geographic education is further highlighted by her achievements as a USIP Fellow and an AGS Teacher Fellow.

Andrea Gardner is an Education Specialist for the National Center for Agricultural Literacy. Prior to this position she was a high school agricultural science teacher. Throughout her career, Andrea has actively participated in professional development, mentoring, and the development of curriculum. Her lesson plans have been adopted and published as state-wide curriculum in two Utah courses as well as numerous lesson plans posted on the National Agricultural Literacy Curriculum Matrix.

Rethinking Food Security from the Americas to North Africa
2024-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Covetto, 60 E 5th St., Arizona, 85281
Summary
This workshop will feature two scholars Dr. Jessica Barnes from the University of South Carolina and Dr. Megan Carney from the University of Arizona, in conversation on their research at the intersections of critical food security, migration/refugee studies, and precarity. The workshop will explore how marginalized groups experience food insecurity and how it manifests across borders by engaging comparatively across the regions of the Americas and the Middle East. Both scholars will bring first person stories from their ethnographic research illustrating how hunger and the procurement and preparation of food intersects with gender, class and migrant status. The first person stories will draw from Dr. Barnes’s ethnographic research into how plant breeding, wheat farming, grain storage, and bread baking intersect with working class Egyptians’ consumption of subsidized bread, and Dr. Carney’s participatory film and storytelling lab that explores themes of hunger, displacement, and social solidarity with migrant youth from the Southwestern US. The discussion will explore complex and sometimes contested concepts that may feature in current events discussions in the classroom like: ‘food security,’ staple foods, refugees and migration, border regimes, gender, social class, poverty, xenophobia, national security, racialization, sanctuary cities, etc.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School |World/International | Critical Food Studies
Room
Covetto
Meet the Presenters

Dr. Jessica Barnes is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and School of Earth, Ocean, and Environment at the University of South Carolina. Dr. Barnes’ research examines the everyday practices of resource use and differential experiences of environmental change. She studies how societies interact with their environments and the political dynamics, social relations, materials, and technologies that both shape and are shaped by these interactions.
Her most recent book, Staple Security: Brand and Wheat in Egypt (2022, Duke University Press) examines the role these staples play in Egyptian daily life and the sense of existential threat tied to the possibility of bread not being available or tasting inadequate. Linking global flows of grain and national bread subsidy program with everyday household practices, Barnes theorizes the nexus between food and security, drawing attention to staples and the lengths people go to secure them.
Dr. Barnes is currently developing a new project on air pollution in London, which examines how air pollution is woven into the fabric of daily lives in racialized and class-inflected ways. Based in a diverse, low-income London neighborhood with high levels of air pollution, the project explores how people move through, walk alongside, and live close to the traffic that is the main source of emissions, breathing air that carries unseen dangers. Focusing on three scaled domains of the home, street, and city, the project looks at the nexus of people, air, and pollutants and the systemic inequalities that influence how these things come together. Dr. Barnes received her PhD in sustainable development from Columbia University.

Dr. Megan Carney is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Regional Food Studies at the University of Arizona. Her primary research and teaching interests include critical migration and diaspora studies, critical food studies, health equity and social inequality, the food-climate-migration nexus, the politics of care and social solidarity, and feminist methodology and pedagogy.
She is the author of two critically-acclaimed books, The Unending Hunger: Tracing Women and Food Insecurity Across Borders (2015, University of California Press) examines how constraints on eating and feeding translate to uneven distribution of life chances across borders, how neoliberal economic policies render hunger and displacement, and how the framework of “food security” dominates national policy in the United States. Her second book Island of Hope: Migration and Solidarity in the Mediterranean (2021, University of California Press), is an ethnography of the politics of economic austerity and migrant reception in Southern Europe, specifically Sicily, and the emergent forms of “solidarity work” being performed on the frontlines of migrant receiving communities. She continues to work with grassroots migrant solidarity initiatives, including a participatory film and storytelling lab for migrant youth.
Presently, she is engaged in ongoing, collaborative research with several community organizations in Tucson focused on racial justice and health equity. She is also the co-founder and co-director of “The Future of Food and Social Justice: A Youth Storytelling Project,” which provides internships and diverse opportunities for mentorship, storytelling, and community engagement. Dr. Carney received her PhD and MA in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and her BA in Anthropology and Italian from UCLA.

Theresa Hale

NCGE Abroad: GeoCamp Iceland, Field Guide Resources, and Prospects for Expanding Field Trips
2024-10-18 14:15 - 15:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Coference Room: Joshua Tree
Overview
One of the services NCGE provides is facilitating trips at home and abroad for geography educators. This session will cover three things: (1) the types of materials teachers produce from previous excursions, notably GeoCamp Iceland, (2) practical resources for aspiring field guides, and (3) strategies for expanding field trip options beyond existing locations.
Session Focus
Field-Based Learning | Professional Development | International Trips
Room
Joshua Tree
Meet the Presenters
Mayra Román-Rivera, Tracy Edwards, Nicole Means, Gina Bloodworth, and Thomas Larsen
Thomas Larsen is 2024 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.

Tracy Edwards is a Lecturer in the Department of Geography at Frostburg State University and an adjunct instructor at Allegany College of Maryland, both in western Maryland. She teaches Human Geography, Physical Geography and Sustainability Studies courses, often working with Community Partners to integrate aspects of experiential and project-based learning into her teaching. She is anxious to share some of the lesson plan and activity ideas emerging from the 2024 GeoCamp Iceland adventure.

Mayra Román-Rivera is a coastal geomorphologist specializing in post-storm recovery and remote sensing and GIS applications of coastal environments. Her research focuses on understanding changes that occur in the coast over time (i.e. erosion, accretion, sea-level rise), how they change the landscapes, how they affect communities and people, and how, if possible, can those changes be mitigated. Mayra also participates in community outreach and citizen science programs. She believes it is our responsibility as scientists to take what we have learned through research to the communities and help them become more resilient and better prepared to face changes happening in their communities. As part of that interest, Mayra incorporates community-engaged learning in the courses she teach.

Using Human Rights Education to Teach about the Israel-Hamas War
2024-10-18 15:15 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Colonnade, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Summary
Explore how human rights education (HRE) can help teachers frame sensitive/controversial topics, including the Israel-Hamas war. This interactive session will begin with a discussion of human rights issues commonly addressed in geography and/or social studies classrooms. Following this think-pair-share activity, I will provide participants with a brief history of human rights concepts and outline a HRE framework. This portion of the session will include an introduction to key concepts in contemporary human rights discourse, with a focus on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the Convention of the Rights of the Child (1990). Next, I will guide participants through the process of using the previously outlined HRE framework to examine the Israel-Hamas war. The activity will include small group analyses of pivotal and contested events since this conflict began on October 7, 2023. Lastly, each group will share their evaluation of assigned events, and all participants will have a chance to engage in a discussion of these conclusions.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School |World/International | Human Rights | Global Citizenship | Israel-Hamas War
Room
Colonnade
Meet the Presenters
Sean Corrigan currently serves as Assistant Professor of Multicultural Education at Southern Oregon University. Prior to his time in higher education, he taught social studies for 14 years in Compton, CA, Las Vegas, NV, and Vanuatu. He has worked extensively with culturally and linguistically diverse K-12 learners in several countries, in both urban and rural settings. Dr. Corrigan’s current research focuses on human rights education and global citizenship. He is especially interested in empowering teachers to center social justice and diverse perspectives in their practice, particularly when they may face opposition to doing so.

Crafting Effective AP Human Geography Lessons: Strategies, Skills Development, and Free Response Mastery
2024-10-18 15:15 - 16:00 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Covetto, 60 E 5th St., Arizona, 85281
Summary
This session will demonstrate how to develop lessons that align with the course and exam description, emphasizing the big ideas central to the curriculum. Participants will learn how to effectively utilize provided instructional strategies, prioritizing the planning of skills-driven lessons and activities. The session will focus on showing how to introduce and reinforce skills, particularly skill category three, through engaging activities. Additionally, educators will learn how to gauge their students’ mastery of these skills. The other portion of the session will provide valuable insights into free response training, highlighting how to master task verbs essential for exam success. Through this comprehensive approach, educators will be equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to enhance their teaching and improve student outcomes in AP Human Geography
Session Focus
APHG | Exam Prep | Assessment
Room
Covetto
Meet the Presenters
Jamie Worms is the Director of the AP Human Geography course and exam at the College Board. Prior to working at the College Board, she taught Human Geography at Auburn University, Smith College, and Georgia State University since graduating with her Ph.D. in Geography & Anthropology from Louisiana State University in 2015. Worms loves everything that has to do with geography, maps, good food, and travel.

A Taste of "Salsa"
2024-10-18 15:15 - 17:15 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Dolores
Summary
Come join us in creating and tasting a local favorite, of the Southwestern United States, Salsa. Participants will experience how to take a topic like “Salsa” and cook up a day of fun in the classroom that addresses all academic content areas; Social Studies (geography and history), Reading, Writing, Math, and Science. Participants will get hands-on practice with cooking, creating, and tasting Salsa.
Session Focus
Higher Education | AAPI history | Ethnic Studies | Inclusion
Room
Dolores
Presenter
Erica Hamel

NCGE Past Presidents’ Roundtable
2024-10-18 16:15 - 17:15 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: San Pedro, 60 E 5th St., Tempe, Arizona, 85281
Overview
NCGE’s Past Presidents are vital sources of institutional knowledge. Contributors to this roundtable will address the following questions: (1) What recommendations do Past Presidents have for future NCGE leaders, (2) What meaningful lessons can be gleaned from geography education’s history, and (3) What ‘big questions’ remain for geography education?
Session Focus
Future of Geography Education | History of Geography Education | Leadership
Room
San Pedro
Meet the Facilitators
Greg Hill teaches high school AP Human Geography, World Regional Geography, and African-American Studies in Mesquite, Texas. Mr. Hill began his social studies teaching career as a World History teacher in Dallas Public Schools. He is the 2016 recipient of the Distinguished Educator Award: K–12 from the National Council for Geographic Education. He is also the 2020 recipient of the International Educator of the Year Award from the World Affairs Council of Dallas-Ft. Worth. At Horn High, Greg sponsors the Global Young Leaders and coaches the Current Events Team. In addition to serving NCGE as the 2023 President, he has also supported the organization as a member of the Board of Directors.

Thomas Larsen is 2024 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.

Poster Session: Teachers Collaborating Across Borders: Connecting Teachers and Students
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
Since 2020, the Teachers Collaborating Across Borders (TCAB) program has connected 20 K-12 teachers and their students in the US with 20 counterparts across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) each year for joint virtual exchange projects. Participants can teach any subject or grade, and are chosen from a range of schools and communities: urban, suburban, and rural, diverse and culturally monolithic, from Title 1 schools to fancy New York private schools. MENA teachers are chosen from as many countries as possible, and from diverse communities within each country when possible. During the fall semester, teachers from the US and across the Middle East and North Africa create group presentations together to learn about each others’ school cultures and educational systems. In the second semester, the teachers put themselves into groups and plan international projects for their students to do together virtually, with age-appropriate activities and connections. At the end of the year, the whole group comes together again to share their projects. TCAB is led by outreach professionals from the University of Arizona’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies and the North Carolina Consortium for Middle East Studies. The application period takes place annually in the spring.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Presenter
Abigail Limmer

Poster Session: The Forgotten Art: Why Retrieval Practice of Geographical Facts is Essential to Lowering Cognitive
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
The study of Geography is a key component to understanding the World, developing Global Citizenship along with Cultural Awareness and promoting Critical Thinking Skills; however, Educators across America have often forgotten the foundation for this level of understanding begins at the bottom of Bloom’s Taxonomy: Recall of facts and basic concepts (Mcdaniel, R.,1970). For a period of time, many have tried to suggest that memorization is no longer necessary with the rise of the internet (Heffernen, 2017) but research has shown this is a baseless claim (Agarwal, P. K., & Bain, P. M. 2019) and (Deshler, D., Schumaker, J., Bulgren, J., Lenz, K., Jantzen, J., Adams, G., Carnine, D., Grossen, B., Davis, B., & Marquis, J., 2001). Furthermore as the Researcher will present this belief is harmful to students due to the rising Cognitive Load experienced by students in learning environments. The Researcher conducted a year-long study with her Social Studies middle school students and the Science department at Indepentant* School to show how the memorization of facts via retrieval practice is not only a viable solution to lowering Cognitive Load in the classroom, it is essential for educators to use these practices to strengthen their students’ schema, transfer knowledge and build cognitive flexibility in the Social Studies classroom, allowing students to have greater understanding of the World, become Global Citizens, build Cultural Awareness as well as Critical Thinking skills.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Presenter
Kendra Miller

Poster Session: Bridging Cultures: The Amazon
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
This poster session compares and contrasts the factors of the six themes of the AP World History curriculum with an emphasis on geography, climate, culture, economy, and the indigenous populations of the people of Peru, specifically the Loreto region, to students in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Meet the Presenter

Victoria Vicente is currently a 10th Grade AP World History teacher at Rio Grande High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A teacher for 12 years, she is a Level III, Secondary Social Studies and Special Education K-12 certified teacher in New Mexico with a TESOL Endorsement. A 2024 NCGE GeoCamp Amazon participant, 2024 Fund for Teachers Fellow, 2024 Albert H. Small Normandy Institute Fellow, 2022 Fulbright Hays Curriculum Teacher Leader in Jordan, and a 2016 Fulbright Hays Teacher Fellow in Oman and Zanzibar.

Poster Session: ESD program considering regional vitalization through tourism resources
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
This poster session compares and contrasts the factors of the six themes of the AP World History curriculum with an emphasis on geography, climate, culture, economy, and the indigenous populations of the people of Peru, specifically the Loreto region, to students in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Presenter
Nagata Shigefumi teaches social-studies pedagogy at the University. He is interested in the geography lesson plan as ESD. In his spare time, he enjoys visiting world heritage sites in the world.

Poster Session: Unveiling Geographical Dynamics of California Coastal Bottlenose Dolphins: A Multifaceted Exploration
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
Marine biological research provides a rich source of opportunities for the development of geographical and related STEM education activities for pre-K to adult learners. In this poster, the geographic perspective is focused upon research about the California coastal bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), a common cetacean species in very nearshore Pacific waters off northern Baja, California, Mexico, and the Western US coast. Research on “the coasties” conducted across nearly 45 years provides an abundance of field data and experiences, as well as numerous academic and peer-reviewed documents, reports, images, and summaries; and, most importantly, there is a rich source of geographical narrative available in this work that can provoke curiosity and interest in a wide range of audiences. Here, we summarize and highlight interesting aspects of the coasties’ geographical narrative, and its meaning and inspiration for further important research, conservation, and geographic educational activities.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Meet the Presenter
Alex G. Kesaris, B.S., M.A., GISP, is a volunteer educator who loves presenting geographic knowledge through narratives about the research with which he is most familiar. He has conducted field research from shore, small boats, ships, and aircraft with scientists from SDSU, UCSD SIO, NOAA, and CDFW. Along the way, he developed and delivered educational activities, posters, presentations, technical memoranda, and peer-reviewed publications for diverse audiences. For the past 12 years, Alex has
provided GIS services with Sustenant, CDFW, GISinc, Axim Geospatial, and NV5 Geospatial.

Poster Session: Tales & Travels: First Chapter Friday
2024-10-19 | Mission Palms Ballroom Prefunction
Overview
One of my many passions in life is reading so I wanted to incorporate books into my curriculum; First Chapter Friday was born through this vision. FCF is when I read the first chapter of a new book that has a setting in the region we are currently studying in World Geography class. I’m growing my classroom library and introducing books and reading to my students weekly. Not only am I reading more, but my students are reading more too, while we study the world. When I started this, my goal was to foster their interest in reading and further the goal of inclusivity in my classroom. By using these First Chapter Friday encompasses middle grade fiction and nonfiction, as well as children’s literature, into the seventh grade World Geography course. The year-long course includes a study of six major world regions, along with skill building for research, writing, and project-based learning. Each week has a different read, and the books are preassigned.
Conference Room:
Palm Ballroom Pre-function Area
Meet the Presenter
Kelly Zander Patterson, is in her tenth year of teaching at Charlotte Country Day School, however she has been teaching for a total of thirteen years. She was born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina. She is a graduate of the College of Charleston, where she received her History and Secondary Education degrees. She is a wife, mother, and sister, who enjoys spending time with family. She loves to read, bake, and she also has a passion for entertaining, whether it’s organizing a small impromptu get-together, or hosting a large social gathering. She enjoy the details of personalized stationery, beautiful gift wrap, and a handwritten note. She is currently teaching and advising seventh grade students, while also serving as the chair of the Social Studies Department at the Middle School.

GeoCivics Education During An Election Year: Lessons for Teachers by Teachers
2024-10-19 08:00 - 08:45 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Xavier
Summary
GeoCivics engaged teachers from across the United States in a place-based professional development in Washington DC. The K-12 teachers discussed with National Parks Rangers current changes happening within the parks to “tell the true history” of the parks, engaged with Black American historians about the history of Washington DC and it’s direct connection to their histories, and collaborated with local geographers to ensure the 2024 Election Year would be an opportunity to engage “many stories” of Americans from every walk of life through a geographic lens. Teachers then created meaningful geographic-focused lessons and civic action projects to ensure every student, including linguistically diverse students and students from varied backgrounds, see themselves as part of the American story. Lessons will be explored and collaborative discussions will be facilitated to ensure teachers find connections and support for their own classrooms.
Session Focus
Early Childhood/Elementary | Geography | Civics | Elections
Conference Room
Xavier
Meet the Presenters
Karen Guerrero is an educator with 20 years of K-12 classroom experience, 16 years of teaching
future educators at local colleges and universities, and 20 years of conducting teacher
professional development. She has worked with a variety of students from inner-city children to
urban adults. Her research focus is teaching integrated geography content across all curricular
areas to diverse learners. She is a National Geographic explorer with research on STEMSS
(STEM + Social Studies with an emphasis of geography across the STEMSS fields) teaching and
learning and continually looks for opportunities to collaborate globally.

Beyond the Description of Place: Building Geographic Vocabulary and Schema in the Classroom
2024-10-19 08:00 - 08:45 (America/Phoenix) | Mission Palms Conference Room: Dolores
Summary
Beyond the Description of Place: Building Geographic Vocabulary and Schema in the Classroom. This hands-on, 45-minute session will provide multiple activities to help teachers encourage students to engage with academic texts as well as fiction and creative nonfiction as a means of refining geographic concepts and skills. Examples will be targeted to middle and high school classrooms, but could be adapted to any level, as a means of supporting ELA standards and skills.
Session Focus
Secondary/High School | Schema, Language Development | Place-based
Conference Room
Delores
Meet the Presenters

Ellen J. Foster is a professor of teacher education, secondary program coordinator, and executive director of the Mississippi Geographic Alliance at the University of Mississippi; a past president of NCGE; and GeoCamp Iceland four-time leader and 2023 alumni trip organizer. Dr. Foster taught geography for nine years in the greater San Antonio area before transitioning to higher education.

Rosemary Oliphant-Ingham is a professor of teacher education with expertise in English education and young adult literature at the University of Mississippi. She has more than 30 years experience in K-12 and post-secondary education.
