Friday 30 January 2015

Julia Roberts Tells Everyone In the World to Stop Pretending Like Facts Don’t Exist.
Julia is speaking, as nature. “I have fed species greater than you. I have starved species greater than you…”
This is a good clip to show the Gaia Hypothesis.
A nice Minds On Activity.

Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Interrelationships

This would be more suited for the World Issues class as a Minds on Activity.  

Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Patterns and Trends.

The BBC Flew a Drone Over Auschwitz — And the Result Is Haunting.

The former Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, as it looks today…


http://tinyurl.com/drone-view-of-Auswchwitz

This is a nice video as a minds on activity.
Some Strange Things Are Happening to Astronauts Returning to Earth.
They’re seeing our world as it really is…


The video deals with Geographic Perspective

World's cities experiencing more heatwaves, study shows

Number of extremely hot days a year has increased in hundreds of cities since the 1970s years, with frequencies peaking in the last five years




More extreme heat, less cold spells and less high winds is the weather trend for many of the world’s cities, a new study shows. Photograph: Richard Baker/Corbis





Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends, Interrelationships
Malawi floods leave grim legacy of death, destruction and devastation
The aerial delivery of relief supplies has revealed the tragic human and environmental cost of the floods that hit Malawi following torrential rains



The floods in Malawi have displaced at least 174,000 people, sweeping away homes and claiming untold lives. Photograph: Shiraaz Mohamed/AP



Concepts of Thinking: Spatial Significance, Geographic Perspective

Thursday 29 January 2015

Beijing smog makes city unliveable, says mayor

Polluting factories and skyrocketing vehicle ownership blamed as report finds tourism to Chinese city falls 10% on year before

http://tinyurl.com/smog-in-the-city

 


A child wears a face mask while walking along a street in Beijing. Photograph: Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images

Climate change responsible for super-charging winter storms, scientists say
Researchers say heavier storms of recent years such as current blizzard bearing down on US north-east – carry imprints of climate change.




Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspectives, Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends

The best city blogs around the world – an interactive guide

To get a better view of what's really happening across the world, we're getting to know the local urban voices who cover their home cities most insightfully. Here's our initial list of friends, from Detroit to Addis Ababa ...
Click on the pin points to reveal the blog   http://tinyurl.com/city-blogs

The link below has several articles relating to Oil and the Environment from around the world.  The Concepts of Thinking addressed through the link are: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance, Interrelationships.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/oil


White House unveils plan to open Atlantic waters to offshore oil drilling

Move to lease large swaths of ocean along east coast and double down in Gulf of Mexico oddly comes in wake of attacks against right for climate change denial

 

This could be a common sight along the Atlantic coast horizon after the Obama administration moved to open a large swath of the Atlantic seaboard to oil drilling. Photograph: Cristobal Garcia/EPA

US Senate refuses to accept humanity's role in global climate change, again

Senators accept global warming is not a hoax but fail to recognise human activity is to blame, nearly 27 years after scientists laid out man’s role.


Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Interrelationships







An Esri activity that deals with the effects of Climate Change can be found by clicking on the link below:
(this site has several good activities for ArcGIS On Line)
Mapping Our World for ArcGIS Online 
Module 3, Lesson 1

Running hot and cold

Monday 26 January 2015

Top Places for Different Reasons

The link below that ranks countries on different characteristics can be used to create Spatial Journals using software applications such as ArcGIS On Line or My Maps (Google).
Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends, Interrelationships.


Friday 23 January 2015

BBC News
22 January 2015 Last updated at 22:54 ET

Yemen crisis: President resigns as rebels tighten hold
The president of Yemen has resigned along with his prime minister in protest at the takeover of the capital Sanaa by Shia Houthi rebels, creating a dangerous political vacuum.
This issue can be connected to the following GIS activity from Esri: Mapping Our World, Module 5: Lesson 2, A Line in the Sand.
Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends, Interrelationships

Go to the Teacher Sharing folder and look in World Issues for instructions to lesson.

Spatial Technology Module Part 2

Spatial Module Part 2

Please see the link: http://zweblms/keytoLearnStaff/Register/index.asp?courseid=516737

Grade 7-12 Geography teachers are invited to a three session module (Teaching and Learning covers OT cost for two days and schools cover OT cost for one day)  to train, and support the revised curriculum, using spatial technologies to enhance the geographic inquiry process and the concepts of thinking. This module is suited for teachers who plan to implement these approaches during semester/term two. There is an expectation that teachers commit to the entire cycle of sessions.

Session 1 choose Part A or Part B

 Part A: Participating teachers with an interest in ways to incorporate the Google Earth platform into the classroom will attend a session on February 17th. (OT cost covered by school)

OR

Part B: Participating teachers with an interest in ways to incorporate the ArcGIS on line platform into the classroom will attend a session on February 18th. (OT cost covered by school)

Session 2: Teachers will participate in one exploration classroom between the dates of April 6th-15th. (OT cost covered by Teaching and Learning)

Session 3:  A consolidation session will then follow on April 21st. Teachers will discuss and develop activities that can then be used in the classroom (OT cost covered by Teaching and Learning).

Session 1, 2 & 3: Session 1 Part A Feb. 17, Session 1 Part B Feb. 18, Session 2 April 6-15th, and Session 3 April 21, 2015 - location: East York C.I. 

How One Woman's Discovery Shook the Foundations of Geology.

IMAGE CREDIT: 
WORLD OCEAN FLOOR PANORAMA, BRUCE C. HEEZEN AND MARIE THARP, 1977. COPYRIGHT BY MARIE THARP 1977/2003. REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF MARIE THARP MAPS, LLC 8 EDWARD STREET, SPARKILL, NEW YORK 10976
This story originally appeared in print in the December 2014 issue of mental_floss magazine. Subscribe to our print edition here, and our iPad edition here.

By Brooke Jarvis

Concepts of Geographic Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends

Thursday 22 January 2015

Mapping the State of the Union

An interactive graphic shows the 1,410 different spots on the globe presidents have referenced in 224 speeches.

Mitch Fraas and Benjamin Schmidt
January 18, 2015

  






Africa, 1858           Africa, 1961


Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends, Interrelationships.

Wednesday 21 January 2015

This 1856 photo may be the oldest of Toronto (and might have cost us the capital)
The first photo taken of Toronto is likely this panorama taken from York and King Streets, shot in 1856.

Follow the link below to view the panorama of then and now.
This may seem like history but it does deal wilt the geographic concepts of thinking: Spatial significance



Tuesday 20 January 2015

Ontario Envirothon - growing tomorrow's green leaders!


I wanted to get in touch with you to tell you about another education program available to Ontario Secondary School teachers - Ontario Envirothon.

Ontario Envirothon engages high school students in learning more about the environment around them by getting them outdoors and learning directly through those who work in the environment. They learn about forests, soils, wildlife and aquatics - from hands on to theoretical knowledge. All of this is done in a team of 5 students, which helps to build higher-order skills like critical thinking, communication, innovation, creativity and collaboration. It is a program that is building the green leaders of tomorrow.

Up to 20 regional events take place across the province in April with top teams from each region progressing on to the Ontario Envirothon Championship in May. The Ontario Champion will move on to represent the province at the North American Envirothon this summer in Springfield, Missouri! This is a unique opportunity to meet other like-minded teachers and students from across the province who are passionate about the sustainability of our environment.

For more details about the Ontario Envirothon, including registration visit www.ontarioenvirothon.ca. Registration is $150/team (+HST) and the early bird discount of 15% off has been extended to February 17th, 2015.


Jessica Kaknevicius
Education Programs Manager
FORESTS ONTARIO
144 Front St. West, Suite 700

Toronto, ON, M5J 2L7
P: 416-4934565 x. 226
E:
jkaknevicius@forestsontario.ca
www.forestsontario.ca

Thursday 15 January 2015

Hot Docs up-date

Lots of good things happening this winter on the Docs For Schools front.
February is going to be an exceptionally busy month with the hi-lite of hosting the first Docs For Schools’ Teacher Conference.  Below are items and dates of note:

·         All programs are free and open to Gr 7 – 12 teachers across the province.

Docs For Schools Conference:
·         Friday, February 20 – School of Image Arts, Ryerson University
·         Opportunity to gain a richer understanding of the documentary medium.
·         Details and booking info:    http://www.hotdocs.ca/youth/docs_for_schools_teacher_conference/

Docs For Schools Presentations:
·         Ottawa:  February 12, Brookfield High School (3:30pm, open to all teachers)
·         Ottawa:  February 13, PDday for OCDSB (Social Sciences)
·         Toronto:  February 13 PDday for TDSB (Social Sciences)

Docs For Schools Festival:
Opportunity to show dvds in your class room and/or attend Hot Docs Festival cinema screenings for students with Q&A with the filmmaker.
·         Docs For Schools In-School program will be announced on February 9.
·         In-Theatre selection of films announced March 17.
·         Details will be posted on the DFS Festival page:  http://www.hotdocs.ca/youth/docs_for_schools_festival/

Docs For Schools Monthly:
Bookings are now open for the final three screenings:
·         February 25:  SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION (email re waiting list)
·         March 25:  *JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: A RADIANT CHILD – 10:00am
·         March 26:  *JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: A RADIANT CHILD – 10:00am
·         *screenings in partnership with AGO, and with a booking you will be given a code to obtain discount tickets to the Basquiat exhibit the afternoon of the screening. 
·         Details and booking info:  http://www.hotdocs.ca/youth/docs_for_schools_monthly/

Docs For Schools is also on Facebook…. Facebook.com/docsforschools

Please be in touch if any questions.
Thanks,
Lesley

Lesley Sparks
Education and Youth Programs Manager
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
110 Spadina Ave #333
Toronto, ON  M5V 2K4

416-203-2155 X253

Tuesday 13 January 2015

Use the interactive map by entering in any number of inches – the map will show what areas would be flooded or at risk and the left side bar will display the number of people displaced. 
According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), sea levels have been rising about 3 mm per year since 1993 – totaling a 200 mm increase (7.87 inches) in global averaged sea level since 1870.

 raged sea level since 1870. 

Concepts of Thinking: Spatial Significance, Geographic Perspectives, and Patterns and Trends

Monday 12 January 2015

Todays Front Pages From Around the World

Through a special agreement with more than 2,000 newspapers worldwide, the Newseum displays these front pages each day on its website. The front pages are in their original, unedited form, and some may contain material that is deemed objectionable to some visitors. Discretion is advised. –


Geographic Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends, and Interrelationships 


This is a useful site for looking at a wide variety of premade thematic maps. 
Concepts for Geographic Thinking: Spatial Significance, and Patterns and Trends
what's inside: maps channel
HowStuffWorks Maps show locations and major features around the world's regions. Explore continents, countries, cities and islands across the globe using our interactive maps.
·         World Features
·         World Oceans
·         Africa
·         Asia
·         Australia
·         Caribbean
·         Europe
·         Middle East
·         North America
·         Polar Regions
·         More Topics

North America

Maps of North America show the location of countries and regions in North America. Check out our interactive maps of North America. See more »
Explore These Maps:
·         Canada
·         Greenland
·         Mexico

·         United States

Friday 9 January 2015

GIS Skills Canada compitition (TDSB)

Please see the description below for this year’s GIS competition. Let me know if you would like to send students to compete at Central Tech on March 11.  Feel free to email me with any further questions about this competition.
Skills Canada GIS Competition
When: Wed.March 11, 2015, all day
Location: Central Tech S., Room 324-326
GIS competitors are asked to generate a digital map from a digital image, add data in a digital map, use GIS as a tool to compare, contrast and analyze geographic data, and produce a series of maps showing the results of the analysis. Working in teams of two, the competitors must present their GIS solutions to solve a real-life problem to a judging panel.
For contact in formation please go to the teacher sharing folder for TDSB teachers.

Thursday 8 January 2015

Leave fossil fuels buried to prevent climate change, study urges

New research is first to identify which reserves must not be burned to keep global temperature rise under 2C, including over 90% of US 
This article is good to show; Spatial Significance, Geographic Prespective, and Patterns and Trends
There is a very good interactive map associated with this article.

Monday 5 January 2015

22 Maps of Caanada as you’ve never seen it before
Presenting a whole new way of looking at Canada and its people 
June 27, 2014


Up coming videos from Hot Docs:

http://www.hotdocs.ca/youth/docs_for_schools_monthly

2015
Wed, Feb 25, 10:00 a.m. - SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION
Wed, Mar 25, 10:00 a.m. - JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: A RADIANT CHILD
Thurs, Mar 26, 10:00 a.m. - JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: A RADIANT CHILD
Middle East atlas omitting Israel to be pulped following widespread anger






Dr Jane Clements, director of the Council of Christians and Jews, “maps can be a very powerful tool in terms of de-legitimising ‘the other’ and can lead to confusion rather than clarity”,  all atlases to “reflect the official UN position on nations, boundaries and all political features”.

Great for teaching the Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Persepctive, and Spatial Significance
By trying to protect and promote the oil sector, the Harper government effectively shackled Canada’s pipelines in purgatory


http://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/stephen-harper-oils-worst-enemy/
Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance, Interrelationships.
Be sure to visit http://www.esri.ca/en/blog to get up to date information on what is happening in the GIS world of esri Canada. The Esri Canada Blog offers a uniquely Canadian perspective on all things GIS. 

  Welcome to the great ISRAELI REAL ESTATE EVENT Coming to the USA and Canada  https://realestateisrael.org/ Concepts of Thinking:  Geograp...