Bright Lights, Makati City

WORLD Makati City, known as the financial center of the Philippines, can now boast another distinction: It is the Selfie Capital of the World. (Time) Use our resources to explore self-identity through media. Discussion Ideas Watch our “picture of practice” video “Understanding Self through Media.” Seventh-grade teacher Karen Daley works to create “media-to-self and peer-to-self connections.” Adapt the classroom discussion for the Time article on … Continue reading Bright Lights, Makati City

History of Crimea in Six Maps

WORLD Crimea has long been a strategic and geopolitical prize. Ancient Cimmerians and Greeks, followed by the Goths and Venetians, were just a few of the embattled peninsula’s many occupiers over the centuries. (National Geographic News) Customize your own map of Crimea with our MapMaker Interactive. Discussion Ideas Why is Crimea in the news? Ukraine is experiencing massive civil unrest (read about some reasons why … Continue reading History of Crimea in Six Maps

Mary’s Many Adventures

By Rebecca Bice Imagine that in your lifetime you could travel from tropical Jamaica and Panama to London at the height of the British Empire. You could see Crimea (now Ukraine) as a primary center for trade to the East, fought over by Russia and the powerful Ottoman Empire. Imagine yourself nursing men back to health during the greatest cholera outbreak Panama has ever seen … Continue reading Mary’s Many Adventures

Explosive Evidence for the World’s Oldest Map

SCIENCE A new study of volcanic rocks suggests that an ancient mural may indeed depict an erupting volcano, adding new weight to a theory that this 9,000-year-old image is a contender for the world’s oldest known landscape painting or map. (NPR) Use our resources to better understand how archaeologists interpret the past. Discussion Ideas The Science Museum of Minnesota has a terrific online introduction to … Continue reading Explosive Evidence for the World’s Oldest Map

IT’S SO COLD

UNITED STATES Blasts of extreme cold have (briefly) taken hold throughout the U.S., delivering temperatures not seen for decades. (National Geographic News) Use our resources to create your own cold-weather map. Curious about polar vortexes and their impact on global weather? Let this BBC meteorologist explain it for you. Discussion Ideas How cold is it? Locate your general region on our MapMaker Interactive, and find … Continue reading IT’S SO COLD