El Niño means glaciers in the Andes are melting at record rates

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

Inquiry: Which parts of the Andes are impacted the greatest? What is where? What might have caused the acceleration in the melting of the Glaciers? Why there? How might this reduction impact communities?  What could be the best solution to protect the Andes mountain glaciers? Why care?

Activity: Map (ArcGIS Online)the extent of the current glacier (see map above) gather data of extent of glacier for the past 60 years and map it. What are some of the patterns that can be seen. What is the spatial significance of the area. Make prediction  on possible solutions to the problem.

Animal rights groups protest Ontario's proposed wolf hunting rule changes

CBC News Posted: Jan 27, 2016 11:31 AM ET

Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Interrelationships

Inquiry: Why might the Ministry of  Natural Resources and Forestry be thinking about changing rules around hunting wolves in Ontario? 

Activity: Have students create an Issues Analysis Chart on the issue to determine a possible solution to the problem. Create a map outlining the range of the wolves territory, settlements, and human activities to help support the solution. Communicate with an appropriate audience to implement the solution.

Canadian Economy Expands In November, But Half Of Industries Have Shrunk In Past Year

The Huffington Post Canada  |  By Daniel Tencer

Concepts of Thinking: Patterns and Trends, Interrelationships

Inquiry: What might be the spatial significance of industries that are shrinking? What is where? How might this economic pattern impact Canadians? Why care?

Scientists: "Doomsday Clock" reflects grave threats to world

Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Interrelationships

Inquiry: How is the criteria determined to measure such an event? What might be the motivation for organizations to support such research?

Access to family planning services is vital to poverty reduction and the success of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

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

Inquiry: How could the type of family planning contribute to meeting SDG's?  What might be needed to ensure that SDG's are meet? Why might it be important to meet SDG's?

Activity: Use the data found at Guttmacher Institute and to create a story map (ArcGIS On line, spatial journal) what is happening around the world regarding family planning to identify spatial significance (What is where?), patterns and trends, interrelationships (Why there?), and Geographic perspective (Why care?). Now act on the results of the inquiry.

Scientists Discover a New Source of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide 

JoAnna Wendel, Staff Writer, Earth & Space News

Concepts of Thinking: Interrelationships, Spatial Significance

Inquiry: Where might the source of CO2 off gassing along the Rift Valley be coming from? What might some human impacts be to this source of CO2? 

Activity: 
Determine characteristics that are unique to this CO2 type (Why there?)and map out (ArcGIS Online)other locations that could be contributing CO2 in the same manner (What is where?). Add in fault lines, cities, and other data that could be relevant to make predictions (Why care?).

Emergency planners set the stage for "Big One" quake in Pacific Northwest

By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff 01.28.16

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

Inquiry: What might be the best relocation response be  for emergency crew to the "Big One"?

Activity: Gather data to map (ArcGIS Online) out earthquake activity and create buffers to represent the magnitude (How far it can be felt). What is where? Add in data such as plate boundaries to help determine Why there? Add in cities to determine who might be impacted and where possible safe zone may be located. Devise a response plane to the "Big One". Why care?

Will new maternity law help keep Indian women in work?

By Yogita LimayeMumbai correspondent, BBC News

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

Inquiry: How has the maternity leave in India changed, interrelationship? How could a common maturity leave policy for working women be developed to better support the women, geographic perspective? How does Canada's maternity leave policy compare?

Activity: Create a spatial journal of maternity leave policies. Analyse to determine Spatial Significance, Patterns ad Trends. What is where? Why there? Devise a plan to help policy makers create maternity policies that can benefit all stakeholders. Why care?

15 Endangered Cities That May Be Flooded By Climate Change

December 8, 2015 by Justin Andress

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

Inquiry: Where will the residents city go and how do they get there when/if this happens? Why is this a potential threat for so may people?

Problem Based Learning: Use ArcGIS Online to create a map predicting the impacts of rising sea levels. See Mapping Our World 

I Support The Energy East Pipeline As A Pragmatic Environmentalist

Blair King Become a fan 

Environmental Scientist, Husband, Father

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

Inquiry: How could our society, the world, actually become an oil free society? What might some of the consequences be?

Problem Based Learning: Gather information on the stakeholders developing geographic perspective. Create a spatial journal of this issue to determine spatial significance. Analysis the patterns and trends and develop a solution that would work best for the majority of the stakeholders, including the environment.

The Renaissance Geographer

esri.com 
This article shows the importance of Geography and Spatial Technologies in today's world. What is Where? Why there? Why care?

Could What Happened in Flint Happen Anywhere?

By Randy Lee Loftis PUBLISHED JANUARY 26, 2016

Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Interrelationships, Spatial Significance

Inquiry: How did the water get so contaminated it started to break down the pipes made to transport it? How can this water problem be solved? How might this issue impact people around the world?

PHOTOGRAPH BY WILLIAM ARCHIE, DETROIT FREE PRESS/ZUMA/CORBIS

Problem Based Learning: What is where? Why there? Why care? Create an Issues Analysis Chart for this problem. What out what is known in ArcGIS Online i.e. where does the water come from, what goes into the water i.e human activities, communities and anything else that may help with the analysis. Make predictions and develop a potential solution to the Flint water crisis.

Solar solutions

 

How solar-powered water pumps are helping Pakistani farmers adjust to climate change

Concepts of Thinking: Interrelationships, Spatial Significance

Inquiry: How can some of the poorest farmers adapt to climate change?

Activity: Use ArcGIS Online to create a map of the area indicating the pattern of rain fall in the area, access to water via rivers and lakes, population distribution to start to analysis the spatial significance and interrelationship to develop a solution to the problem of access to water. 

Extension activities: Download the workbook

EU border controls: Schengen scheme on the brink after Amsterdam talks

Ian Traynor in Brussels andHelena Smith in Athens

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

Inquiry: What is the Schengen scheme? How might the Schengen scheme impact refugees?

Activity: Problem Based Learning, ideal for World Issues, create an Issues Analysis Chart of the stakeholders to help determine geographic perspective. Record this information in a spatial journal and identify the spatial significance of the locations. What is where? Analysis the spatial journal to determine the patterns. Why there? What might a possible solution be to this issue? Use your evidence to support the solution. Why care? Write a letter describing the solution to one of the stakeholders who has influence enough to evoke change. Now what?

Fifth dead whale found on Lincolnshire beach                                                Josh Halliday North of England correspondent Monday 25 January 2016 14.26 GMT

Concepts of Thinking: Spatial Significance, Patters and Trends, Interrelationship

Inquiry: What might have caused these whales to become beached? How might this event be addressed to prevent it from happening again in the future?

Activity: Use ArcGIS Online to map out where the whales went aground, spatial significane. Add in human activity in the area. What might some of the interrelationships be? Can a pattern be found? Add in some atmospheric and water data. What might some observations and conclusions be from adding in this data? 

Tomato pickers persuade companies to sign on to human rights movement

By Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel

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

Activity Idea: Create a spatial journal of the information from the reading. 

Inquiry:  Why is this issue concentrated where it is? What is where? What circumstances a occurred to allow this process to continue? Why there? How might the pattern of worker treatment be addressed? Why care? 

Extension Inquiry: What might tomato pickers working conditions be in other parts of the world and how are these conditions addressed? 

Oceans to have more plastic than fish by 2050: Report

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

Problem Based Inquiry: How might the plastic be removed from the oceans? Why is ti that only 5% of plastics is recycled?

2015 smashes record for hottest year, final figures confirm

Concepts of Thinking: Patterns and Trends, Spatial Significance, 

Inquiry: What was so special, environmentally, that could have caused 2015 to break all heat records?

Activity: Map out areas that showed the greatest temperature difference.

Authoring maps that update using CSV files

Concepts of Thinking: Patterns and Trends, Interrelationships

Use this information to create ArcGIS Online maps that update automatically. Ideal for tracking storms and other physical process to help identify patterns and make predictions through the interrelationships involved.

The 20 Best Places To Visit In Canada for 2016 Vacay.ca Concierge to Canada

Concepts of Thinking: Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends, Interrelationship

Activity: Map out the locations using ArcGIS Online to determine the spatial significance of the locations. Observe any patterns and trends that emerge? What might account for these patterns? Add Layers such as Cities and Transportation methods to aid in the analysis.

Valentino's African-Inspired Spring 2016 Campaign Accused Of Cultural Appropriation

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

Inquiry Questions: Why might copying culturally significant fashion be considered Cultural Appropriation?  How might it be possible to use other cultural influences in a respectful manner?

Problem Based Learning: Develop a strategy that fashion houses/designers can follow to reduce cultural appropriation but at the same time allow for the appreciation of the cultural dress.

Where to go on holiday in 2016

Concepts of Thinking: Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends

Activity: Create a Spatial Journal of all the locations and record the spatial significance of each locations What is where? What are the patterns and trends that develop? Why there? How might some of the interrelationship at                   Guardian writers Friday 1 January 2016 07.00 GMT                          these tourist destination impact the local                                                                                        geography? Why care?

Zika virus up date:

Hawaii baby born with small head had prior Zika infection

By Ben Brumfield, CNN Updated 10:45 AM ET, Mon January 18, 2016 | Video Source: CNN

Zika virus prompts travel warning for pregnant Canadians

By: Sheryl Ubelacker The Canadian Press, Published on Fri Jan 15 2016

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

Inquiry: What are the climatic conditions that that allow for the transmission from mosquito to humans? What is where?  Where on Earth are these conditions found? Why there? How might the transmission of the Zika virus be stopped? If it can't be stopped how might transmission be reduced Why care?

Activity: Create a spatial journal or story map show when and where (places) the virus has spread to view this exemplar. Determine which other places (spatial significance) around the world have similar climatic conditions (interrelationships) where the virus may flourish and locate them on the map. Make some observations to determine patterns and trends to help the medical industry reduce infection rates. compare with an industry map.

Alex — the first January hurricane since 1938 — bears down on island nation with 140 km/h winds

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

Activity Idea: Use Windyty to get up to date information on Alex. Using ArcGIS Online, analyze the weather patterns to determine where Alex may move to. What has contributed to the development of such a storm (Why there)? Are there any locations that need to be worried I (What is where)? How might be worried about the storm and what actions/percautions might be undertaken (Why care)?

Earthquakes in Alberta to become more frequent and stronger, expert says

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

Activity Idea: Identify the problem, determine the perspectives (What is where? Why there?), and come up with  potential solution for the issue (Why care?). Communicate (including maps) the solution to an appropriate audience.

Fox Creek fracking operation closed indefinitely after earthquake

Concepts of Thinking: Geographic Perspective, Spatial Significance

Activity Idea: Use ArcGIS Online to create a map of Alberta, near Fox River. Use layers such as fault lines, cities, transportation routes, etc. Place on it the the epicentre and the location of the fracking.

Inquiry Question: How might the fracking activity have contributed to the earthquake near Fox Creek? What might be a solution to the fracking issue?

Mapping changes to the World’s urban population between 1950 – 2030

By Aleks Buczkowski -

 

January 10, 2016

For the first time in history more than half the world’s population live in cities. 

Concepts of Thinking: Patterns and Trends, Spatial Significance,

Activity Idea: Have students view the patterns and trends of the population growth to determine the fastest and slowest growth rates around the world. How might spatial significance contribute to the pattern observed? How might spatial significance impact future trends? 

Different types of weather maps.

Ideal for grade 9 Geography Unit 1: Interactions with the Physical Environment

Open weather map is a useful tool also for Travel and Tourism industry when planning on essentials for a location. Patterns can be observed, and spatial significance can be determined.

http://openweathermap.org/weathermap

 

Concepts of Thinking: Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends

Inquiry: Gather and Organize, Interpret, Evaluate, and Communicate

Windyty is a useful tool for watching all elements of weather, determine spatial significance, patterns and trends. Students can gather and organize data, evaluate and draw conclusions, and communicate their findings.

https://www.windyty.com/?35.889,-69.402,2

Concepts of Thinking: Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends

Inquiry: Gather and Organize, Interpret, Evaluate, and Communicate

50 David Bowie moments 

Andrew Harrison Monday 11 January 2016 19.25 GMT

Concepts of Thinking: Spatial Significance, Patterns and Trends

Inquiry: Gather and organize data, evaluate and draw conclusions, and communicate ideas

Activity Idea: Create a Story Map of the David Bowies 50 moments from the Guardian. Gather  sources need to locate some of the studios, theaters, and other locations. What might be some of the spatial significance of the places Bowie performed at? Can any patterns and trends be found by evaluating the 50 David Bowies moments? How could David Bowie have impacted different cultures?

Supplemental: Video: Massive Bowie sing along at AGO

BY MARYAM SHAH, TORONTO SUN

FIRST POSTED: SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2016 10:42 PM EST | UPDATED: SATURDAY, JANUARY 16, 2016

PRO/CON: Will eating fewer pork chops help cool our climate? By Tribune News Service, adapted by Newsela staff 01.11.16

South Korean animal rights activists wearing livestock masks stage a rally for farm animals slaughtered due to foot-and-mouth disease and bird flu, encouraging people to be vegetarians, Seoul, South Korea, Feb. 6, 2011. Photo: AP/ Lee Jin-man

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

Ideal for World Issues

Lesson Idea: Create an issues analysis chart to help determine the different position on this issue. Use ArcGIS Online to map out where the livestock is being grown. Use proportional symbols to indicate the number and use colour to differentiate the type of livestock. Add in the destination information to the map. What are the patterns and trends of this issue? Why is it that some countries consume more livestock than other countries? What is the best solution for the Earth, for the people? What needs to be done to implement this solution?