Category: Geography In the News

Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

Half the People in Illinois Would Rather Live Somewhere Else

UNITED STATES Half of Illinois residents would move to another state if they could—the highest percentage for any state, according to a poll released by Gallup this week. (Chicago Tribune) Would you move? Where? Discussion Ideas “It is sort of noisy data,” says a political scientist quoted in the Chicago Trib article about the recent poll. What does he mean by “noisy”? Statistical noise is … Continue reading Half the People in Illinois Would Rather Live Somewhere Else

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Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

Beached. Blue. Bloated.

SCIENCE A dead blue whale washed up on the shore of a small fishing town in Newfoundland last week. A bloated, beached, blubbery bomb of a blue whale. As of Thursday morning, the carcass is still intact, but onlookers are worried that it might soon explode. Literally. (The Atlantic) Use our resources to learn more about the life and death of blue whales.   Discussion … Continue reading Beached. Blue. Bloated.

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Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

Improving Tornado Forecasts

ENVIRONMENT Tornadoes left at least 17 people dead across much of the U.S. the past week. The devastation is a reminder that forecasting still needs to get better, says a leading government scientist. (National Geographic News) Learn more about preparing for tornadoes and other natural hazards. Click to enlarge and print this handy emergency-kit checklist, from the good folks at FEMA. Discussion Ideas Read through … Continue reading Improving Tornado Forecasts

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Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

Restoring a ‘Pulse’ to the Colorado River Delta

ENVIRONMENT Last month, a “pulse flow” of water surged into the final stretch of the Colorado River. Officials and scientists hope the water will help restore a landscape that has long been arid but that once supported a rich diversity of life. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to learn more about conservation in the Colorado delta. Discussion Ideas The “pulse flow” of water to … Continue reading Restoring a ‘Pulse’ to the Colorado River Delta

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Current Event Connection, Geography In the News, Main

Colombians Are Tired of People Misspelling Their Country’s Name

GEOGRAPHY It’s Colombia, not Columbia. Organizations including Virgin Mobile, P.F. Chang’s and Lufthansa—and performers including Paris Hilton, Ozzy Osbourne, and Justin Bieber—have all made the mistake recently, which really annoys Colombians. (Wall Street Journal) Don’t be like Bieber. Use our mapping resources to put the right names with the right places. Discussion Questions Why does it matter that people misspell Colombia? Read the terrific Wall … Continue reading Colombians Are Tired of People Misspelling Their Country’s Name

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