Mapping the Americas Geography Awareness Week, Tuesday-Friday, Nov. 18-21, 2008

Is happiness related to the wealth of a country? Do countries that claim to be free democracies really honor the civil rights of residents? Do counties that export large volumes of wood products practice sustainable forestry?

Maps can help us understand the relationships between these variables and answer geographic questions. Maps are powerful tools that help us plan movement, make decisions, inventory observations and imagine worlds beyond our limited senses.

Today most maps are created with computers. Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, can do all of these things quickly, efficiently and with much more versatility than static paper maps. GIS is powerful software that allows an investigator to gather, manipulate and query large geographic data sets, then share the findings among colleagues and students.

GIS is transforming social studies education at Bangor High School. In Fall 2006, Bangor High offered its first yearlong course dedicated to using GIS to learn geography with Margaret Chernosky as teacher and Stacy Doore, University of Maine Engineering GK-12 Sensors! Fellow for grades kindergarten through 12. This class evolved as an outgrowth of a partnership with the National Science Foundation GK-12 Sensors! Program, whose mission is to promote engineering, science and technology education in U.S. classrooms. Now in its third year, the program is made up of an energetic group of eager students of mixed ages, abilities and computer skills.

Chernosky and Doore have piloted a curriculum of their design employing Geographic Inquiry and the National Geography Standards for Life to provide context and the scaffold for all learning experiences. Students are expected to frame all work in terms of Geographic Inquiry. GIS and the geographic inquiry method work together to help students solve a challenging geographical question and enhance their skills as spatial thinkers. The geographic inquiry method guides students through research steps in an efficient and systematic manner. The steps are: 1. Ask geographic questions; 2. Acquire geographic resources; 3. Explore geographic data; 4. Analyze geographic information; and 5. Act on geographic knowledge.

As you explore the students’ maps of the Americas, try to identify each of the five steps of geographic inquiry.

Series Contributors: Dr. Brad Dearden, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Maine at Farmington;

Allison L. Hepler, Associate Professor of History, University of Maine at Farmington; Dr Jon Oplinger, University of Maine

at Farmington; Margaret Shaw Chernosky and her geography students, employing GIS technology, Bangor High School, Bangor; Susan Lahti, Maine Geographic Alliance, Department of Social Science and Business, Roberts Learning Center, University of Maine at Farmington; Stacy Doore, National Science Foundation GK-12 Sensor Fellow, University of Maine Spatial Engineering; The Maine Geographic Alliance. Photos: iStockphoto; Additional content: National Geographic; Maine Office GIS; ESRI

Geography Action Week is sponsored by Casco Bay Energy.

For information regarding the Bangor Daily News’ Newspapers in Education program, contact Pat Lemieux, Bangor Daily News, 990-8076. For additional copies, subscriptions and general information, contact the Bangor Daily News at 990-8000 or

800-432-7964. Bangor Daily News’ Newspaper in Education editor: Pat Lemieux

Series editor: Julie Harris

Design and graphics editor: Eric Zelz