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Geography

     Geography is the study of the earth's physical features and the distribution of life on its surface. It is primarily concerned with the spatial aspects of where things are located and why they are where they are.
     As a result of its broad coverage and scientific methods, geography was the "home" of the atmospheric sciences for many centuries. In fact, during the early and mid-1900's, geography departments at many colleges and universities in the United States offered course work and degrees in climatology and meteorology. Today, the atmospheric sciences have become more specialized and many universities have established departments solely dedicated to these disciplines.
     Because a good understanding of geography--and especially physical and human geography--necessitates a broad and well-developed comprehension of the atmospheric sciences (such as climatology, meteorology and hydrology), the UCCW strongly supports geographic education and inquiry. The following websites have been provided in an effort to increase geographic understanding of our world:

Geography Sites for Students and Teachers

General Geography Sites
National Geographic Society
National Geographic Xpeditions Hall (interactive "museum" of geographic journeys)
National Geographic DVDs & Videos
National Geography Standards (National Geographic)
United States Geological Survey (USGS) Geography Section
The Geography Site
The Smithsonian Institute
I Like 2 Learn (Interactive quizzes for learning countries and capitals)
Lizard Point (Interactive click-style site for learning countries, capitals and locations)
Maps That Teach (Interactive click-style site for learning countries, capitals and locations)
Pioneer: Utah's Online Library for Students and Teachers
Google Search Commands (for achieving better Internet searches and results)

Cartography (Grids, Maps, Directions & Photos)
MapMachine (by National Geographic)
Xpeditions Maps for Printing and Copying (by National Geographic)

Test Your Geographic Knowledge (Interactive map tests via: LizardPoint)
Geography Maps you can Printout and Label #1 (via: EnchantedLearning)
Geography maps students can print out and label #2 (via: About:Geography)
Geography maps students can print out and label #3 (via: Maps4Kids)

MapQuest (Maps & Driving Directions)
Maps by Google (Maps and Satellite photos)
Terraserver (Satellite Images)

Google Earth (view the Earth through a powerful 3D interface using photos, grids and maps)
NASA's World Wind (view the Earth through a 3D interface using photos, grids and maps)
Utah's Statewide Geographic Information Database (via AGRC)
Sinmap (Stability Index Mapping software that predicts the likelihood of landslides and mudslides)
Utah Maps (via Utah Government)
Utah Atlas of Panoramic Aerial Images (CGS)
Zoom into Maps (via The Library of Congress)
World Atlas (interactive site for finding latitude and longitude and location facts)
Utah Environmental and Physical Geography Maps (via Utah Government)
Remote Sensing, Satellites and Images from Space
World Time Zones and Clocks for PC's

Geographic Tools (GPS & GIS)
What Is GPS (by The Aerospace Corporation)
GPS Geolocation Games for Students (using Garmin GPS units)
GPS Geocaching Games (by Geocaching.com)
The GPS Store (Instruments: types and prices)
GPS-60 Garmin Unit (this handheld GPS unit is popular with teachers and students)
Geocaching - Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site
9th Graders Use GPS to Conduct Geocaching Exercises (EJHS, Taylorsville, Utah, 2005)
Europe's satellite launch of "Galileo" makes it a contendor in the GPS race (Deseret News, Dec. 29, 2005)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS via ESRI)
What Is GIS (by ESRI)
GIS Day and GIS Quest
6th Graders Use GIS at Global Conference (Deseret News, Aug. 5, 2005)
Examples of GIS being used in Liberal Arts Colleges
Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC)
Utah's Statewide Geographic Information Database (via AGRC)
Utah Maps (via Utah Government)
Utah Environmental and Physical Geography Maps (via Utah Government)
Article: Emergency-Response Times Up To Par? (GIS helps solve problems)
Mapping Southern California Wildfire Evacuations during 2003 (using GIS)
ArcView GIS Software (3.x)
Article: Better Document Management Through Georeferencing (via ESRI)

Investigative Geography (Locate People, Businesses and Property)
AnyWho (Yellow & White Pages)
Bigfoot (Yellow & White Pages)
Classmates.com
DA Directory Assistance (Yellow & White Pages & Reverse Phone Searches)
Excite.com (Yellow & White Pages)
National Address Server (People Search & Zip Codes)
Researching Property History in Utah (UHRC)
Switchboard Search Resources (Yellow & White Pages)
WhoWhere.com (Yellow & White Pages)
WorldPages.com (White Pages)
Worldwide Yellow & White Pages (with worldwide listings and links)
Yahoo! People Search (White Pages)
Zip Codes Lookup (via the United States Postal Service)
The Truth Behind Online Investigation Services (via Online Review Board)
Who Owns That Website? (Search ownership of any website in the world)
Unravel IP Addresses, Hosts or Name Servers (to figure out who is writing or hosting it)

Thematic Geography
Five Themes of Geography (by NGS)
Five Activities for Teaching Geography's Five Themes

Physical Geography
Internet Resources for Physical Geography
Sun & Moon Phases (U.S. Naval Observatory)
Earth Observatory (NASA)
Earth from Space (numerous NASA images of earth)
Plate Tectonics (by USGS)
Plate Tectonics (a Google collection)
Utah Geological Information (by UGS)
Ocean Explorer (NOAA)
Weather and Natural Forces (by NGS)
Earthquake Hazards Program (by USGS)
Hurricanes (by NHC)
Atlantic Hurricane Season 2004 Review (CNN)
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (NASA)
Lightning (by UCCW with links)
Tornadoes (by UCCW with links)
Tsunami Informaton Center (by ITIC)
Volcano Hazards Program (by USGS)
Volcano World
Utah Center for Climate and Weather (UCCW)
The Weather Channel
Climate Data by WeatherBase
World Climate Charts by IAMAT
Selected News Articles related to Physical Geography:
Geography student saved lives by warning of 2004 Tsunami (Deseret News, December 27, 2005)
Earthquakes in Utah: "It's 2008 - and the Big One slams Utah" (Deseret News series, April 16, 2006)
Earthquakes in Utah: "Shaken to Pieces" (Deseret News series, April 17, 2006)
Earthquakes in Utah: "Out of Service" (Deseret News series, April 18, 2006)
Earthquakes in Utah: "Organization Helps Reduce Disaster Toll" (Deseret News series, April 19, 2006)
Earthquakes in Utah: "Preparing for the Big One" (Deseret News series, April 20, 2006)
Earthquakes in Utah: "Ready for Big Quake" (Deseret News series, April 20, 2006)
Building in Utah's Flood and Landslide Areas Poses Risks (Deseret News, May 7, 2006)
Scientists discover the Arctic was once a lot like Miami (Deseret News, June 1, 2006)

Environmental Geography
Environmental News (by NGS)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Environmental Kids Club (EPA)
The Nature Conservancy

Human Geography
See sections on Cultural Geography, Political Geography, Geography of World Religions, Geography of Family History, and Geography of Travel, Geography of Tourism, and Photographic Geography.

Cultural Geography
Utah Education Network (UEN - for Teachers and Students)
Cultural Grams - Country Reports on 182 Cultures of the World
On-Line Cultural Grams (World Edition, Kids Edition, States Edition)
Students of the World (country information, penpals, student blogs and more)
Library of Congress - Global Gateway to World Cultures and Resources
Yahoo.com world countries (facts and photographs)
Utah Cities, Towns and Residential Areas (460 cities listed)
Ethnologue - Languages of the World
Population Pyramids of World Countries (Past, Present & Future Projections; US Census Bureau)
The Pride and Social Worthiness of Women in South Omo, Ethiopia (2004)
The Footsteps of Marco Polo
World Records for Schools (and Students)
Food Recipes from Countries and Cultures around the World
Food Recipes and International Cuisine Recipes
World Music selections (music from around the world via the National Geographic Society)
Selected News Articles related to Cultural Geography:
Asians and North Americans View the World in Different Ways (Deseret News, August 23, 2005)
Chilling "honor killings" of 4 people shock Pakistan (Deseret News, Dec. 29, 2005)
Suicide & Utah Students: Part 1: "Utah's Youth Suicide Epidemic" (Deseret News series, April 23-28, 2006)
Suicide & Utah Students: Part 4: "Attitudes in Schools about Suicide" (Deseret News series, April 23-28, 2006)
Suicide & Utah Students: Part 6: "Preventing Suicide in Utah" (Deseret News series, April 23-28, 2006)

Political Geography
CIA World Factbook (on world countries)
Countries of the World - Infoplease
Countries of the World - Abbreviations, Calling Codes, Facts, Flags and Maps (RGS)
Pronunciation Guide (hear the correct pronunciation of world countries and cities (WHE)
Pronunciation Guide (hear the correct pronunciation of world countries)
United Nations Cyber Schoolbus (info on world countries)
Country Reports.com (facts and info on world countries)
I Like 2 Learn (Interactive quizzes for learning countries and capitals)
Test Your Geographic Knowledge (Interactive quizzes for learning countries)
Geography.org (facts and info on world countries)
Atlapedia (facts and info on world countries)
Flags of Countries and other political entities
United States Embassies and Consulates
Political Geography Specialty Group (AAG)
CNN News and Information
BBC News and Information
New Countries with New Concepts - Creating a New Country (EscapeArtist)
Micronations - Start Your Own Country! (Zenzibar Alternative Culture)
Cultural Grams - Country Reports on 182 Cultures of the World
On-Line Cultural Grams (World Edition, Kids Edition, States Edition)
Country Studies (Library of Congress)
Yahoo's Information on Countries and Regions
Students of the World (country information, penpals, student blogs and more)
AskAsia.org (photos of countries and areas)
Selected News Articles related to Political Geography:
Iraq War is Not in U.S. Interest (a pre-war editorial by six BYU professors, Deseret News, Jan 23, 2003)
Philippine Insurrection Rings Familiar to Iraq Conflict (Deseret News, Oct 24, 2005)
"Night Commuters" [Uganda children] Flee Homes Every Night [for safety] (Deseret News, Dec 25, 2005)

Africa's first female president to take office in Liberia (Deseret News, January 15, 2006
China: Too Many Men (CBS 60 Minutes television report, April 16, 2006)
BYU Professor says China will have crime wave because of too many men (Deseret News, April 17, 2006)
Mexicans believe they're migrating to "their land" when entering the U.S. (Deseret News, April 19, 2006)
For Sierra Leone (African) refugee, hygiene kit was a blessing (Deseret News, May 2, 2006)

Geography Poll: Young Americans Are Clueless! (Associated Press, May 2, 2006)
China Closes Sex-Slection Clinics (Deseret News, June 1, 2006)
Montenegro becomes an Independent Country (Deseret News, June 4, 2006)
Iran bans map because Gulf is not called Persian Gulf (Deseret News, June 15, 2006)
Six BYU Professors Foresaw Iraq War Pitfalls (Deseret News, Jan 27, 2006)

Geography of World Religions
Religious Tolerance.org (links to major world religions and numerous belief systems)
(Christian) World Council of Churches (world organization of Christian churches)
(Christian) National Council of Churches (national organization of Christian churches)
IslamWorld.net (a site containing extensive links and information on Islam)
Al Jazeera - in English (Arab and Islamic news in English)
Explore the Quran - Request a free copy of the Quran
The Hindu Universe (a site containing extensive links and information on Hinduism)
BuddhaNet.net (a site containing extensive links and information on Buddhism)
Judaism (a site containing extensive links and information on Judaism)
Selected News Articles related to World Religions:
Site of Ancient Christian Church found in Israel (Deseret News, Nov. 7, 2005)

Geography of Family History
FamilySearch.org (LDS Church family history site and database)
Ancestry.com (large collection of family history records)
RootsWeb.com (oldest and largest free genealogy site)
Social Security Death Index (of the United States via Ancestry.com)
Richard Brough Family Organization (large ancestral family history organization)
Example of a Virtual Car Tour of Family History Sites in Utah
Selected News Articles related to Family History:
Roots of Human Tree Remarkably Shallow (Deseret News, July 24, 2006)

Geography of Travel
Expedia.com (flights, hotels. cars, cruises and activities)
Orbitz.com (flights, hotels, cars, cruises and activities)
Sidestep.com (flights, hotels, cars, cruises and activities)
LastMinuteTravel.com (flights, hotels, cars, cruises and activities)
Travelocity.com (flights, hotels, cars, cruises and activities)
CheapTickets.com (flights, hotels, cars, cruises and activities)

Cheapfares.com (flights, hotels, cars, cruises and activities)
Kayak.com (flights, hotels and cars)
Sidestep.com (flights, hotels and cars)
Hotwire.com (flights, hotels and cars)
SmartTravel.com (flights, hotels and cars)
Hotels.com (flights, hotels and cars)
Mobissimo.com (flights, hotels and cars)
FareChase/Yahoo.com (flights and hotels)
How to Use a Discount Airline Brokers
Air Brokers International (discounted airfares)
Discount Ticket Brokers (discounted airfares)
QuikBook.com (hotels)
Cruise.com (large cruise-site specialists)
Restaurants throughout the United States and Abroad
Foreign Exchange Currency Converter
International Currency Converter
Universal Currency Converter
Language Translation Converter
Travel and Living Abroad--including Travel Warnings (via the U.S. State Department)
New Zealand Interactive Travel Planner
World Time Clocks and Time Zones

Geography of Tourism
Virtual Field Trips to worldwide locations (i4c organization)
Virtual Tourist (a directory of website for many countries)
National Geographic (Society) Expeditions
Creating a China Travel Brochure
Travel Videos (by Video Visits)
Rick Steves European Travel Videos & Information
Travel-2-Anywhere Videos and Travel Guides
Readers Digest Travel & Discovery Videos
Gap Adventures (specializes on providing tourism for small-to-medium size groups)
Africa Wildlife Safaris
Maasai.com (Kenya wildlife observations by local Maasai trackers)
Wilderness Safaris (in southern Africa)

Geography of World Connections (Links to Classrooms around the World)
Global SchoolNet Foundation
KidLink
International Education Resource Network
Project Harmony

Photographic Geography
PicturesofPlaces.com (extensive photographs of world areas and countries)
People and Places of the World (extensive photographs of world areas and countries by Frysinger)
TrekEarth.com (extensive photographs of world areas and countries)
Peter Langer Associated Media Group (extensive photographs of world areas and countries)
Terra Galleria (extensive photographs of world areas and countries)
TravelLog.org (extensive photographs of world areas and countries)
EarthTrip Photo Gallery (extensive photographs of world areas and countries)
Pics4Learning.com (photos appropriate for geographical use)
PlanetWare.com (photos of countries and areas)
Culturefocus.com (photos of countries and areas)
AskAsia.org (photos of countries and areas)
FreePhoto.com (photos of countries and areas)
Photo Gallery of South American Countries (Source #1)
Photo Gallery of South American Countries (Source #2)
Photo Gallery of South American Countries (Source #3)
Photo Gallery of European Countries (Source #1)
Photo Gallery of European Countries (Source #2)
Photo Gallery of African Countries (Source #1)
Photo Gallery of African Countries (Source #2)
Photo Gallery of African Countries (Source #3)
Photo Gallery of Asian Countries
Photo Gallery of Australian Cities and Locations
Photo Gallery of Australian Animals and Plants
Virtual Tour of Antarctica (by CARA)
The Geography Site (photos related to physical and human geography)
World Wide Panoramas (360 degree virtual-reality interactive panorama photos from around the world)

Curriculum Sites for Geography Teachers

Geography Organizations and Societies
Utah Geography Alliance
Geography Alliance Network (National Geographic & EdNet)
National Geographic Society
Association of American Geographers

Geographic Education National Implementation Project (GENIP)
American Planning Association
American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Urban and Regional Information Systems Association
University Consortium for Geographic Information Science

Educational Pedagogy and Effective Teaching Techniques
Learning Sytles vs Teaching Styles
Learning Styles: 3 General Styles of Learning (by Wikipedia)
Learning Styles: 3 General Styles of Learning (by Columbia Encyclopedia)
Learning Styles: Classical Conditioning or Stimulus-Response Relationships (by Wikipedia)
Learning Styles: Instrumental Conditioning or Operant Conditioning (by Wikipedia)
Learning Styles: Observational or Social Learning (by Wikipedia)
Learning Disabilities (by Wikipedia)
Learning Disabilities (by Columbia Encyclopedia)
Multiple Intelligence Learning (by Wikipedia)
Education: General Information (by Wikipedia)
Education: General Information (by Columbia Encylopedia)
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act (2001): Arguments For and Against (by Wikipedia)
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act (2001) by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE)
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act (2001): Flexibility and Qualified Teachers (USDE)
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act (2001): Problems and Solutions (by the NEA)
English as a Second Language (ESL) Students - by the USDE
Gifted and Talented (GT) Students - by the USDE
Turn It In - Plagiarism Check and Prevention Service
Teaching Geography: 7-12 Grades (by the Annenberg Group)
Geography Teacher Created Resources
Learning with Technology (Intel Education)
Evaluating Teachers by Video Tape Lessons and Portfolios
Before You Know It (computer-driven techniques to learn state capitals, languages, etc)
Teacher gleans federal praises for bookless classroom
World Geography Project (PowerPoint slides containing geographic information and photos)

National and State Geography Standards and Curriculums and Student Helps
Utah Social Studies - Geography for Life (2002) and Associated Lesson Plans (UEN)
National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE)
National Geography Standards (National Geographic)
Geography for Life National Geography Standards (1994)
National Geography Standards - N.G. Xpeditions (Lesson Plans & Activities)
National Geography Standards - N.G. Expedition (Lesson Plans & Activities,Grades K-12)
Utah State Core Standards for Geography for Life (Alpine District Teacher)
Geography Department at Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah)
Geography Department at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Geography Department at Utah State University (Logan, Utah)
Geography Department at Weber State University (Ogden, Utah)
Clayton Brough's Geography Teaching Schedule - EJHS 9th Graders
Geography Lesson Plans and Resources (a large collection of related links)
Test Your Geography Knowledge (interactive geography quizzes for students)
Geography Activities and Materials for Students (via Enchanted Learning)
Interesting Facts about Geography (via Matt Rosenberg)
Geography Games on the Internet (via Geosense)

Instructional Materials and Teaching Methods in Thematic Geography
Five Activities for Teaching Geography's Five Themes

Instructional Materials and Teaching Methods in Physical Geography

103 GeoScience Animations
Lesson Plan: Shaken Up - SE Asia Earthquake & Tsunami of Dec. 28 2004
Lesson Plan: Exploring 2004 Mt. St. Helens Eruption


Instructional Materials and Teaching Methods in Environmental Geography
Lesson Plan: Waste Not, Want Not

Lesson Plan: Pump It Up

Instructional Materials and Teaching Methods in Cultural Geography
Utah Education Network (UEN - for Teachers and Students)

Lesson Plan: Ambassadors or Annoyances?
Lesson Plan: Stirring the Melting Pot

Instructional Materials and Teaching Methods in Political Geography
Political Geography Specialty Group (AAG)
Lesson Plan: This Land Is...Whose Land?
Lesson Plan: Homegrown Terror
Lesson Plan: Global Intelligence

Instructional Materials and Techniques in Weather and Climate
Education Resources in the Atmospheric Sciences (UCCW)

Instructional Materials and Techniques in Travel and Tourism
AnyWho Online Directory
Switchboard Search Resources
DA Directory Assistance (Yellow, White & Reverse Phone Searches)
Yahoo! People Search
MapQuest (Maps & Driving Directions)
MapMachine (by National Geographic)
Maps by Google
Terraserver (Satellite Images)
Google Earth (view the Earth through a powerful 3D interface using photos, grids and maps)
NASA's World Wind (view the Earth through a 3D interface using photos, grids and maps)
Dodgeball (Digital Service)
Creating a China Travel Brochure
Virtual Car Tour of Historic Family History Sites in Utah
Travel Videos (by Video Visits)
Rick Steves European Travel Videos & Information
Travel-2-Anywhere Videos and Travel Guides
Readers Digest Travel & Discovery Videos
Institute of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism (USU, Logan, Utah)

Tools of Geography (GPS & GIS)
What Is GPS (by The Aerospace Corporation)
The GPS Store (Instruments: types and prices)
Geocaching - Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site
9th Graders Use GPS to Conduct Geocaching Exercises (EJHS, Taylorsville, Utah, 2005)
What Is GIS (by ESRI)
GIS Day and GIS Quest
6th Graders Use GIS at Global Conference (Deseret News, Aug. 5, 2005)
Examples of GIS being used in Liberal Arts Colleges
Utah Automated Geographic Reference Center (AGRC)
Utah's Statewide Geographic Information Database (via AGRC)
Utah Maps (via Utah Government)
Utah Environmental and Physical Geography Maps (via Utah Government)
Article: Emergency-Response Times Up To Par? (GIS helps solve problems)
ArcView GIS Software (3.x)
Article: Better Document Management Through Georeferencing (via ESRI)

Geography Field Trips
Virtual Field Trips to worldwide locations (i4c organization)
NCGE Field Trips in Utah during 2003
Geography Field Trips sponsored by Weber State University (Ogden, Utah)
Utah Geoantiquities and Lake Bonneville
Salt Island Adventures across the Great Salt Lake, Utah
Great Salt Lake, Utah (USGS)
Saltair, Utah (historical information)

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