Climate
Climate Generation, a nonprofit working to make teaching climate accessible to all educators. Resources connect to geography through the collection of spatial data and the displaying of those data on a map. Some of their resources have been translated into Spanish. https://climategen.org/teach-climate-network/.
OER Climate Project Extension is designed specially for use by social studies teachers as a way to inspire students to take action on climate change! This three-week supplemental unit starts by helping students understand the problems associated with climate change and showing them some of the potential solutions to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Volcanoes
An animated map shows the location and explosiveness rating of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and sulphur emissions, 1960-2017. Explanations of phenomena and info on map can be found at https://volcano.si.edu/E3/.
Earth Structure, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Natural Cycles, and Geography Games.
Motosport offers information, activities, links and quizzes on a variety topics. Go to http://www.motosport.com/dirtbike/riding-gear/road-trip-geography-for-kids.
The Earth from Space
PBS’s two-hour NOVA production of “The Earth from Space” is available online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/earth-from-space.html. The program features the latest in earth-observing satellite technology and what the data collected reveals about global patterns and connections: how dust blown from the Sahara fertilizes the Amazon; how a vast submarine “waterfall” off Antarctica helps drive ocean currents around the world; and how the Sun’s heating up of the southern Atlantic gives birth to a colossally powerful hurricane. From the microscopic world of water molecules vaporizing over the ocean to the magnetic field that is bigger than Earth itself, the show reveals the astonishing beauty and complexity of our dynamic planet. (from the PBS website)
What We Know: The Reality, Risks, and Responses to Climate Change.
A 2014 report by the AAAS Climate Science Panel.
Biomes
Susan Woodward’s website on biomes of the world has been updated and now includes Seasonally Dry Tropical Forests, marine, and ice biomes.
River Systems of the World
From Rivers Network, a collection of blogs and maps on river systems, watersheds organized by world region. http://www.riversnetwork.org/rbo/index.php
Tornadoes
The following are from Joseph Kerski, Past President of NCGE and Education Manager, Esri :
Videos: Start with http://www.youtube.com/esriedteam and search on ‘tornado’. You will see a series of videos that have to do with each of the 3 activities described below.
Investigating Historical and 1 Modern Tornado http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/lesson.cfm?id=564
In this activity, you will use ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Explorer Online and spatial analysis in 2 activities to investigate historical tornadoes across the USA, and 1 modern-day tornado, the one that occurred in Tuscaloosa, Alabama during April 2011. Objectives: Work with data and maps to understand the distribution and impact of tornadoes in the USA and the impact of a single tornado. Level: This activity can be used at a variety of levels from to secondary extending into university level. Activity: Can be run in a lab setting or with 1 computer and projector in a discussion-led investigation. Historical tornadoes points and tracks: http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?services=3d369dccae4d486eb8bb9a8bb9835c48
Tuscaloosa data online: http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html?webmap=f72699a32879493f8d3ab6ac1a3ccfd3
Stormy Weather: Investigating One-Day Patterns of Tornadoes, Wind, and Hail Using ArcGIS http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/lesson.cfm?id=566
In this activity, you will use ArcGIS (version 10) and spatial analysis to investigate one day patterns of tornadoes, wind, and hail across the USA. In this activity, you will (1) examine a predetermined single day of tornado, wind, and hail in the USA using ArcGIS Desktop 10 software (22 April 2011), and (2) download and examine a different day of tornado, wind, and hail data of your own choosing. You will also use spatial statistics to help understand the pattern of the tornadoes, and you will also compare the pattern of your 1-day of tornadoes to historical tornadoes.
Investigating Historical Tornadoes Using ArcGIS http://edcommunity.esri.com/arclessons/lesson.cfm?id=565
Work with data and maps in this activity using ArcGIS to understand the spatial and temporal distribution of tornadoes in the USA across multiple decades
Mathematics of Planet Earth
Many organizations all over the world celebrated 2013 as the year of Mathematics of Planet Earth (see http://mpe2013.org for details). Zeal Education is an official partner for the event and are designing activities, software, and videos that can be used in schools. Details are available at http://zeal-mpe.com.
