Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance

"This is a compilation of videos that can be used to at the beginning of the school year to show the importance of geography, spatial thinking and geo-literacy."

Have you seen our recently-added list of great videos?  These are about a dozen of my favorites to emphasize to kids why it's important to have geography in school.

GIS Educators Day is a one-day pre-conference to NEARC's annual professional user conference which will run from September 29 - October 2 at the Radisson Hotel Nashua. GIS Educators Day will feature hands-on computer labs and presentations exploring a range of resources, projects, and topics.

GIS Educators Day addresses the number one goal of GIS conference goers...the opportunity to network with other professionals who share your interest in the use of geospatial technologies in the same setting. Whether you're a K-12 or college educator, an experienced GIS user or a newcomer who wants to learn about the educational possibilities of this powerful tool, you'll want to put this outstanding regional event on your "Must Do" list for 2013.

HOW TO REGISTER Two ways to register:

• Register Online
• Download the registration form and mail your completed form to:

NEARC 2013 Conference
c/o Delaney Meeting & Event Management
1 Mill Street, Suite 315
Burlington, VT 05401

Or fax to: (802) 865-8066

"We had one of the wettest Junes in history...In areas surrounding the Bay, we have innumerable streets, driveways and parking lots. During all weather, these surfaces collect pet waste, fluids dripping from our cars and chemicals running off our lawns. During a rainstorm, this all runs directly into the water at your local beach."

"By using Facebook data from the 2.5 million people in New York or New England that ‘like’ either the Red Sox or Yankees I was able to create a more accurate rivalry map than ever before."

NEGEN advocates and supports shared expertise in content knowledge and organizational resources in order to achieve a broader regional impact in geography education.

Stamen's toner, terrain and watercolor map styles are lovingly crafted and free for the taking.

"It's happened to just about all of us when we travel outside the state. You're absolutely parched and ask a friendly looking stranger...."Where's the bubbler?" They look at you like you're speaking Klingon."

This article comes Wisconsin, one of the few other places that refers to a water/drinking fountain as a "Bubbler."  Rhode Islanders know that makes us distinct, but what geographic patterns are present in this linguistic quirk?  This regionally-based term comes from  the Kohler Company (from Wisconsin) that trademarked the term to sell their product and the name stuck in a few places (and internationally it is used in Australia as well).      

Rhode Island Geography Education Alliance Newsletter Email Forms

We've recently revamped our listserv and transferred all past members over to the new system.  This is link that you can send to all colleagues and teachers that you want to encourage to join RIGEA to receive our official updates and newsletters. 

Most Rhode Islander's have had a Del's Lemonade or a Doughboy from Iggy's.  These regional treats are some things I always take visitors from out of state to enjoy so they can 'properly' experience Rhode Island since they are iconic emblems of the Ocean State.  This is a list of 7 unique eateries that you can only find in Rhode Island or across the border in Massachusetts.  While on that same trip, the authors of that article also cataloged a list of 8 of the oldest things in New England, a list with great historic qualities. 

Questions to Ponder: What do culinary customs say about a state and region?  How does what foods are eaten shape the local culture?  How does this help to create a regional identity?  How do 'authentic' foods help create or foster a sense of place?

"Download, print, and assemble maps of New England in a variety of sizes.  The mega map of New England occupies a large wall, or can be used on the floor. The map is made up of 49 pieces; download rows 1-7 for the full map of New England. The tabletop size is good for small group work. It is made up of 9 pieces. "

Quick: How many people live in the United States? If you're not sure, your interpretation of many stories and statistics may be deeply flawed.

Here are some important number to help contextualize all the other statistics that we hear about.

The September 1928 issue of Science and Invention magazine included an illustrated cover that dared readers to find all of the scientific errors they had planted. Forty-eight scientific errors, in all.

"Is there any better place to be on the 4th of July than Rhode Island--the first colony to declare independence from the crown? Indeed, it seems that RI has more Independence Day celebrations per capita than any other state in the union. Use GoLocal's statewide guide, below to check what's happening in each city and town, from parades and ceremonies to fireworks and concerts."

How did the 2008 global recession contribute to the development of the Euro crisis?  This is the question that will be discussed in a lecture sponsored by the Newport Council for International Visitors on April 30th at 6:30pm.  For more information, see this flyer. 

The Lecture will be at the Vasco de Gama Society’s Fenner Hall 15 Fenner Ave., Newport, RI 02840  (map)

March and April are key months for harvesting sap from trees, making this sugar time in New England.  New England's climate and biogeography make this the right time because the because the combination of freezing nights and warm spring days gets the sap in the native species of maple trees to flow.  The sap get boiled down to syrup, but did you know that it takes roughly 40 gallons of sap that to get 1 gallon of pure maple syrup?