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On August 28, 2009 a group of fifteen active teachers, retired teachers, and college professors came to the Geosciences Department of Monroe Community College in Rochester, NY to work on the Atlas of New York State Project. Over the last couple years, the New York Center for Geographic Learning (Hunter College, NYC) developed over thirty unique maps of New York, emphasizing the Erie Canal and related topics. The NYCGL is led by Phil and Carol Gersmehl. The maps are nearly ready for publishing. They include basic maps, such as showing New York's position on a world map, relief maps of the state, many thematic maps, and a variety of charts and graphs. This atlas is designed primarily as a resource for New York teachers.
The goal of the New York Geographic Alliance is have this atlas in schools across the state, and to be used in those classrooms. The professionals who came to Rochester share this goal. We know that a working atlas is incomplete without lessons that are applicable to classrooms, from elementary to college. So, after viewing the maps and discussing them, the participants began the challenging task of writing lessons. First, they looked at a lesson by Tim McDonnell on cobblestones along the Erie Canal between Syracuse and Niagara Falls. He explained how is adapting this lesson, using spatial thinking skills. It was agreed that future lessons would use a scaffold developed by the Gersmehls that helps to focus the lesson on one important theme.
After lunch, the participants divided up into several small groups to plan lessons appropriate for different grade levels. The elementary "experts" worked on lessons on hierarchy and regions of New York State. Middle school people worked on lessons on watersheds and the Underground Railroad. Earth science teachers planned a lesson where students have to plan a canal route using topographic maps to justify their decisions. And the college people worked on lessons on freeze-free days and local agriculture.
We are currently looking for qualified teachers to write lessons for this project. If you are interested, please contact Tim McDonnell at (585)-292-2398.
Photo: Ginny Figura, Carol Gersmehl, and Lisa Wolski work on a lesson idea for the Atlas of New York Project. |
Geography Awareness