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Description: In this lesson, students will learn about the different types of sustainable energy and how these energy systems work. They will be able to understand the origins and uses of different energy sources. They will be able to describe different forms of energy and how they can transform from one to another.
Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS
Produced By: Grace Gierach
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Description: This activity contains seven riddles about Asia. These may be used as bell ringers, in conjunction with the Giant Map of Asia, or to enrich other activities. Below please find a sample riddle from this packet.
I’m in a Cambodian temple
Around 900 years of age
Surrounded by jungle
It sets a beautiful stage
It was built in honor
Of a Hindu king
And the name of this temple
Is what you must bring
Without hesitation
And give it to me
If you want to win
Where could I bee
Download the packet and view Page 9 for the answer!
Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS
Produced By: Richard Tuberville
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Description: This activity contains eight riddles about countries in the Middle East. These may be used as bell ringers, in conjunction with the Giant Maps of Africa or Asia, or to enrich other activities. Below please find a sample riddle from this packet.
I’m climbing on mountains
As high as I can
But I’ve forgotten their name
Here in Southwest Iran
Tell me the name of this Middle Eastern mountain chain
Tell me where could I bee
With my forgetful brain
Download the packet and view Page 7 for the answer!
Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS
Produced By: Richard Tuberville
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Description: Students will analyze and interpret geographic data, engage in critical thinking, and develop a deeper understanding of the social, economic, and environmental aspects of refugee resettlement in Oklahoma.
Grade level(s): Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Cory Williams & Grace Gierach
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Description: In this lesson, students will learn about waste management and recycling and will research types of careers in this field. These include jobs in collection, distribution, manufacturing, research and development, maintenance, and sales. Students will examine real job postings online and reflect on the job duties along with the required skills, experience, and education.
Grade level(s): Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Allison Taylor-Kniffen
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Description: Embedded within the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies is an opportunity to engage students in real-world problem solving. In this lesson, students will utilize this opportunity by applying the Geo-Inquiry process to investigate the impact of trash pollution on their campus or another selected site. In follow-up activities, students will explore the meaning of environmental stewardship through recycling practices and career exploration. Any part of this lesson can be adapted to best fit students’ needs and this activity includes cross-curricular opportunities which meet standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science.
Grade level(s): Middle, High
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Allison Taylor-Kniffen
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Description: This lesson is designed to introduce students to best practices for visiting city, state, and national parks. Students will learn how to enjoy and appreciate parks and other public lands while respecting other visitors, the land, and wildlife.
Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Becca Palczynsky
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Description: This lesson is designed as a template to introduce the Giant Traveling Map of Oklahoma and provide examples of how this map may be used to enrich instruction in a variety of subjects including Science, Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Social Studies. The content presented in this lesson was selected as an illustrative example of how all subjects are used to understand a particular issue which impacts communities differently around the world and in Oklahoma. These lesson materials were developed in support of OKAGE’s Geo-Inquiry project efforts. To sign up to participate in a dark sky Geo-Inquiry project with OKAGE, visit http://okageweb.org/event-registration-1 or contact us at okage@ou.edu.
Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Becca Palczynsky
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Description: For this lesson students will look at how COVID-19 has affected Black Mesa State Park. They will then learn how to use the National Geographic Geo-Inquiry process to explore the issues related to Black Mesa through a geographic lens. The students will then develop their own Geo-Inquiry questions so they can research how COVID-19 has affected this state park. After they have gathered this information they will then go to Black Mesa State Park and meet with the Park Manager so students may ask the questions that they have formulated and for the Park Manager to show the students the physical effects that COVID-19 has had on Black Mesa State Park due to the influx of visitors. Upon completion of the in-class and field research components, students will present their findings to classmates and/or publicize their results to be accessed by stakeholders.
Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Naomi Mayer
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Description: The class will examine the Tulsa Race Massacre and develop a relevant Geo-Inquiry question together which is centered around the impacts of this historical event. The Geo-Inquiry process leads students to think through complexities of the world and make connections that empower them to change their communities. After a question is developed, students will be divided into teams in order to create a division of tasks - e.g., -Data Collection, Visualization, Story-Telling, etc.
Watch the student video here, and watch the teacher video here!
Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Zena Lewis
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Description: Students will utilize the Geo-Inquiry process to understand the meaning, causes, effects, economic impacts, and environmental consequences of the Hochatown Wildland Urban Interface.
Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: LeaAnn Wyrick
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Description: Join the Oklahoma Alliance for Geographic Education and the State Department of Education for a professional development session titled “Using Science, Math, Social Studies, English Language Arts, and Geography to Understand What Really Happened to the Grid During the Last Snowstorm!”
We know the snowstorm of February 2021 exposed the sensitivities of the grid systems. What happened in Texas can and does happen elsewhere, for various reasons. The public view and the industry view differ. So, the question for us is: "What really happened?" During this presentation, we will highlight how elements from all subject areas can be used to explain the causes of this incident as well as understand implications for future service interruptions due to extreme weather events.
Kylah McNabb is a renewable energy specialist, policy advisor, and educator. She currently is the Principal of Vesta Strategic Solutions, LLC, in OKC. Prior to that, Kylah served as a Renewable Energy Specialist, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, 2008-2017, and as an Energy Policy Advisor, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy & Environment, 2016-2017. Kylah will share her unique insights and data regarding the recent events. Her perspective will not only include what did happen but also, what did not happen!
Watch the recording of the session here.
Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS
Produced By: Kylah McNabb
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Description: This lesson covers disaster preparedness and recovery and how these strategies differ across local, regional, and global scales. Impacts upon disaster response as they relate to existing socioeconomic inequities along with complicating factors due to COVID-19 will also be discussed. Additionally, the issue of climate change will be explored as it relates to disaster frequency and intensity.
Watch the recording of this session here.
Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Heather Braucher, and Dr. Mark Shafer with the Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program
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Description: The Middle East produces about one third of the world’s oil which makes the entire world reliant on that oil and natural gas. The goal of this lesson is to use map skills to gain an understanding of the effects of abundant oil supplies in the Middle East. Using maps, students will analyze data from a geographic perspective. They will increase their understanding of conflict and cooperation among specific groups over oil and religious differences, along with the impacts of COVID-19 upon global markets. They will also identify multinational peace-keeping efforts to stabilize relationships in the Middle East.
Watch the recording of this session here.
Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Teresa Potter
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Description: This lesson is designed to assist students in using visual information to identify urban areas in East Asia and determine how COVID-19 spread rapidly through these areas.
Watch the recording of this session here.
Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Susan Smith
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Description: Students will use the Giant Map of Africa to familiarize themselves with the continent using observation and mapping skills. This lesson will provide hands-on practice for students to use coordinates, scales, and plotting to learn about the continent of Africa and its countries.
Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Cindy Petree
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Description: Students will analyze data including a variety of special purpose maps of Oklahoma to determine the reason for population growth and decline in specific areas. The Giant Traveling Map of Oklahoma is used to help students understand the changing population distribution across Oklahoma.
Grade level(s): Elementary, Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Heather Braucher
