Geographic Alliance of Iowa
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Geography News Volume 27 Issue 1 Spring 2004 Kay E. Weller, GAI Coordinator |
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The GAI will be saying good-bye to Sandra Heller in June. Sandra was instrumental in assisting the organizers in writing the grant establishing the Iowa Alliance. We wish her well in her retirement, and thank her for all her assistance throughout the years. We invite you to check out our summer workshops scheduled for June 2004 as do still have space available in two of our programs. Graduate credit or CEUs are also available for each program. The first workshop, Iowa’s Specialized Agriculture Workshop (page 3), will take place June 10-11. Participants will ride in the comfort of a Northwest Lines bus while touring various agriculturally-related sites within Iowa. Arrangements have been made for an overnight stay in Dubuque at the newly renovated Julien Inn overlooking the Mighty Mississippi. Our next summer program, Settling Mississippi River Communities (pages 6-7), is scheduled for June 13-14. This program will allow you to experience the mighty Mississippi while aboard the elegant Twilight river boat. Departure is from LeClaire, Iowa, while traveling up the river to Galena, Illinois for an overnight stay at Chestnut Mountain Lodge. This unique workshop provides a relaxed and informal learning setting while enjoying the beauty of the river. The final workshop, which has now filled to capacity, is entitled Wagon Wheel Imprints on the Landscape, and runs from June 21-27, 2004. This rolling classroom will include sites in Council Bluffs, then on to Kansas. Topics include Buffalo Soldiers, cattle drives, and archeological digs. This workshop is also interdisciplinary in nature, and includes history, geography, earth science, and anthropology. We hope that you will consider spending part of your summer with us and take advantage of these educational opportunities. |
-- Marilynn Stabenow --
On Saturday, December 6, 2003, a group of thirty teachers from across Iowa assembled at Sabin Hall at UNI for a workshop on water sponsored by the National Geographic Society. After picking up materials, enjoying a continental breakfast, and chatting with friends, the group assembled in the computer lab. Kathy Bailey, a National Geographic Consultant from Peachtree City, Georgia, and Devika Levy from National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C., were introduced. Mrs. Bailey began the workshop by introducing the National Geographic website and its various features including Online Adventures, Maps and Geography and Lesson Plans. After an overview, each group or pair of participants completed a scavenger hunt of these sites to provide more hands-on experience.
The workshop then explored the use of the National Geographic Kids Network unit on What’s In Our Water? Using the NCG Works which can be downloaded free, the teachers used the program to graph and map data. They began to explore the unit and then went to a classroom to participate in an activity where they made model watersheds and saw the effect of pollutants on that system. They also tested water samples that they had brought from their own water system.
Marcia Hummel, Dawn Brown, and Sue Dufel examine their model watersheds.
After exploring additional areas on the computer, the class members received excellent National Geographic materials on water in the United States. At the close of the workshop, participants enjoyed a sack lunch with their colleagues.
It was a great day filled with new knowledge, new and renewed friendships, and materials that could readily be applied to various curricular areas in the classroom.
Dennis
Smeltzer received his B.A degree in Physical Education and History in 1979 from
Loras College, in Dubuque.
His teaching career began at St. Mary’s School, Portsmouth, Iowa, teaching physical education, math and science. In the next 16 years he worked at 2 other Catholic schools, teaching a variety of subjects. Dennis has also worked in youth group homes and the Denison Job Corp.
In 1988 Dennis moved to Waterloo to work for Quakerdale homes as an education placement person. In 1990, he was asked to join the Waterloo Schools as a Special Needs Science teacher. The following year he began teaching 6th grade social studies at West Middle School. He is currently teaching at Bunger Middle School in Evansdale, and teaches about the Western Hemisphere, Canada, and countries in Latin America.
Dennis relates that in 1997, he was "talked into" going to the Geographic Alliance of Iowa’s Summer Geography Institute at the University of Northern Iowa. In retrospect, he feels this was the best class he had attended in a long time. Following the institute, he was able to integrate geography into the history portion of class.
He feels very fortunate for the Geographic Alliance to be part of any teaching. The GAI sent Dennis to present at a national conference, and also to the Great Lakes Regional Conference. Dennis serves on the GAI Steering Committee, and tries to take advantage of all programs offered throughout the year.
In his free time, Dennis coaches junior high volleyball and basketball. During the summer, you can find him umpiring high school and A.S.A. softball and high school baseball. Dennis feels the materials and education he has received from the GAI helps make his classroom an active area of teaching. We appreciate all he adds to the GAI.
The annual Iowa Geographic Bee was held at Drake University on Friday, April 4, with 100 students competing. Each participating student qualified by being a school champion. First place winner was Matthias Gassman, an 8th grader from Ames, with Michael Miller, 7th grader, of Cedar Falls placing second. In third place was Timothy Williams, an 8th grader from Dubuque. Congratulations to each of you!
(Left to right) Timothy Williams, 3rd place, Matthias Gassman, 1st place winner, and Michael Miller, 2nd place Geography Bee winner.
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Features:
Interdisciplinary with science, agriculture, and human ecology Advantages: Fees are inclusive of meals, lodging, materials and 1 hour credit or CEUs Benefits:
Earn 1 hour college credit or CEUs Location: Depart from UNI and return Cost: By May 17, 2004 - $99 After June 1, 2004 - $119 |
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| Iowa’s Specialized
Agriculture Workshop Registration: Mr. ____ Ms. ____ Grade level (s) taught ________ Name_______________________________________ Home _______________________________________ Address______________________________________ City____________________ State____ Zip__________ Phone__________________ Fax__________________ E-mail______________________________________ ____ Check here if you do not want the above information included on a roster distributed to participants. ____ Check here if you have any special needs, including dietary. We’ll call to discuss how we can best meet your needs. *Sign up today! Enrollment is limited. Registrations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Your registration is confirmed when payment has been received.
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 FAX:
319/273-7103
____ PLEASE REGISTER ME: Regular registration (includes double occupancy room) ____ PRIVATE ROOM REQUESTED - I would like my own room and have included an additional $30 per night. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: I’m interested in receiving: ____ CEUs OR ____ 1 hour UNI credit PAYMENT INFORMATION: ____ Make check payable to: UNI Geographic Alliance of Iowa ____ P.O. or Requisition #_______________________ The Geographic Alliance of Iowa requests this information for the sole purpose of registering you for this program. We do not routinely release any of this information to anyone outside our institution without express permission. We do ask that you fill out all the registration items that apply to you. The University of Northern Iowa is an equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive plan for affirmative action. |
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I is for Iowa and I
is for India Workshops |
Imagine that you’re entering a workshop in the Ramada Inn. You open the door and are instantly bombarded with the sights and smells of India! Sound enticing? Then, you missed a wonderful chance to surround yourself with the culture of India! On the last weekend of January and again in February, some 40 participants gathered to do just that.
As I opened that door in January, I saw women donning saris, a slideshow featuring the Taj Mahal, a woman making marigold leis, and an impromptu kitchen serving luscious Indian cuisine. Moments later I was informed that an acquaintance had married a tree on her summer excursion to India! Now, where, other than a geography workshop, can you find someone who’s married a tree?
The crowning touch to a perfectly fabulous evening was our seriously flawed attempts to get our "luggage" at the "Delhi airport." It seems you always need to talk to someone "who isn’t here right now", but when you finally get them to sign your paperwork, it wasn’t done in the correct order and you must start over! I personally spent over five minutes trying to identify myself to a colleague who already knew perfectly well who I was! Frustration (and fun) was the name of the game!
Saturday we were treated to a series of slides on the cultural and physical aspects of India. Later, the presenters shared many of the books they’ve found to complement their units on India for their classrooms. What an abundance of riches! We even got to try on some articles of clothing. Everyone left that day charged up and ready for the next class!
In February our hands-on sessions included block-printing, creating a license plate, and visual sessions on India and Germany. The presenters agreed that the Santal village near Dumka was one of their favorite sites! (A "value-added" bonus was all the materials on Germany that Natasha Cooper was able to offer us as a result of her summer workshop with the Goethe Institute.)
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Sonal Mistry applies henna-painting to Tim Riley’s hand. |
Participants create with the Portrait Program activity. |
Dan Walsh presents in traditional Indian dress. |
Saturday the henna-painting on our hands was a major hit, both then and when
I got back to my classroom! A little more somber note was struck on Saturday
also, with presentations about the social issues and child labor problems in
India. Again, handouts, lesson plans, and information abounded. The last activity
was one where we created a picture from myriad small pictures of India.
All of us who attended the workshops sincerely thank Dr. Kay Weller, Dr. Rex Honey, Dr. Ramesh Dhussa, and the 12 intrepid souls who accompanied them to India last summer and made our winter much more enjoyable!
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AP
Human Geography Workshop |
The fourth annual workshop for teachers on the AP human geography class will be offered through the Belin-Blank Gifted Education Center at The University of Iowa during the week of July 12--16. The BB-Center is the site that has been approved by the College Board to offer a variety of AP classes including the human geography class. Dr. Jerry Croft, a member of the GAI steering committee, will be the instructor for the class. Jerry is a professor emeritus of geography at Oklahoma State University and is currently an adjunct professor of geography at The University of Iowa. Professor Croft was a contributor to the popular "Five Themes of Geography" booklet published by the NCGE in 1984. His specialty at Oklahoma State was geographic education and has conducted many workshops for teachers in this subject. During this workshop the class will discuss interesting teaching-learning strategies for geography. Participants can get one hour of college credit by participating in this workshop by enrolling in 07s 280 (AP human geography) through The University of Iowa Credit Programs division. Teachers may also obtain an additional hour of credit by enrolling in 075:280:WK 2 which is a one evening learning opportunity in the area of gifted education. This workshop will be conducted by Dr. Laurie Croft who is the administrator for the Belin-Blank Center in charge of the Professional Development area which coordinates the AP workshops. For additional information on enrollment you may email credit-programs@uiowa.edu or call 1.800.272.6430 or fax 319.335.2740. For additional information about the class, please email Dr. Jerry Croft at this address. jcroft39@hotmail.com If you are an Iowa teacher and your school subscribes to the ICN---on line credit programs, you may be eligible for a tuition remission scholarship that will pay for one hour of college credit. For more information on this possibility, email Dr. Laurie Croft at this address: laurie-croft@uiowa.edu, or call her directly at: 319.335.6195.
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Please note: The College Board has updated its AP Human Geography website. There are links to teacher resources, an electronic discussion group, and other materials. For additional information, please check out the following website: www.apcentral.collegeboard.com/humangeo |
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Anne Bauer was named one of twenty-three Master Teachers in the Moline Dispatch, Rock Island Master Teacher Program this year. Eighty teachers were nominated and Anne was one of the lucky to receive a large brass bell at the banquet on Friday, April 30. Congratulations Anne! |
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http://geosense.net – Geosense is an on-line, one-two player geography based game. You compete alone against an online opponent to place a city on a world/continent map as quickly and accurately as you can. It’s fast paced and tends to keep kids interested while being educational. There are no ads, banners, fees, etc. Classes can sign on and play independently from the general public.
http://www.landandfreedom.org –The role of land -- the ground under our feet and the natural resources that make life possible -- is central to history, economics, politics and ecology. And yet this vital theme gets very little attention in standard curricula! That's why we've developed this series of free lessons for high school teachers. Each presents readings, activities, performance objectives and sources for further investigation. Fully compatible with standard curricula, they will enrich and enliven your class work.
All resources are formatted for easy printing and use. They are designed to supplement existing curricula, focusing on the role of land in history, economics, politics and ecology. Our U.S. History series covers topics such as The Declaration and natural Rights, The Panic of Central America, Roosevelt and the New Deal, and 15 more.
Our 20-lesson series in Economics features lessons on Economic Systems, Class Struggle, and hard-to-enliven microeconomic notions such a margins and types of competition. Each series includes a list of "further investigations" – selected online resources for each lesson topic. We also present, twice a month, a selected news article, keyed to our lessons, with study questions provided. Please have a look, and tell us what you think, on the site’s discussion forum.
Experience the natural power, grace and beauty of the Mississippi River aboard the elegant Twilight riverboat. Not only will you enjoy the fine dining, pampering and picturesque scenery, but you’ll also learn more about the geography and history of the great river from the experts. Plus, an added bonus is that you also earn one hour of University of Northern Iowa graduate or undergraduate credit at no extra cost! What better way to earn college credit while cruising the mighty Mississippi!
You’ll board the Twilight in Le Claire, Iowa, and cruise up the river to Galena, Illinois, where you’ll spend the night at Chestnut Mountain Lodge. Throughout the trip, you’ll attend relaxed and informal workshops away from the traditional classroom.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience the mighty Mississippi as never before. Registrations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up today—seats won’t last long!
When: Sunday and Monday, June 13-14, 2004
Check-in: 8:00 a.m. June 13, Public Boat Landing in Le Claire, Iowa. You will return to the landing June 14 around 7:00 p.m.
Cost: $249 if you register by May 1, 2004; $299 after. Includes workshop sessions and materials, one hour of UNI credit or CEU’s, Twilight cruise fare, including riverboat activities, one night double occupancy lodging and breakfast, lunch and dinner both days.
You may request a private room for an additional fee. (See below.)
REGISTRATION FORM:
Mr. ___ Ms. ___
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Name
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___ Regular registration, double occupancy $249 by May 1, 2004; $299 after May 1 |
____ Registration with private
room $299 by May 1, 2004; $349 after May 1 |
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
I’m interested in receiving: ____ CEU’s OR ____
1 hour of UNI credit
____ Check here if you do not want the above information included on a roster distributed to participants.
____ Check here if you have any special needs, including dietary. We’ll call to discuss how we can best meet your needs.
Twilight riverboat
The Geographic Alliance of Iowa requests this information for the sole purpose of registering you for this program. We do not routinely release any of this information to anyone outside our institution without express permission. We do ask that you fill out all the registration items that apply to you.
The University of Northern Iowa is an equal opportunity educator and employer
with a comprehensive plan for affirmative action.
Geography News is a free publication of the GAI and produced with the support of the Department of Geography at the University of Northern Iowa. The Alliance is funded by a grant from the National Geographic Society. Permission is granted to reproduce any parts of the newsletter. |
Geography News Staff
| GAI Coordinator
Associate Editor |
Dr. Kay E. Weller Jane Gillen |
e-mail: kay.weller@uni.edu
jane.gillen@uni.edu
GAI Website: http://www.uni.edu/gai
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Geographic Alliance of Iowa
Department of Geography Putting Iowa in its Place!
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Geographic Alliance of Iowa’s Calendar of Events
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