Any Day Can Be Earth Day with Maps101

Dear Educator,

In April, people gather for a variety of events to focus on our planet’s health for Earth Day. But any day is great for drawing students’ attention to the state of our planet. They will be the future stewards of Earth and need to be aware of issues related to climate change, pollution, and the effects of human life on the environment, to name a few. Whether it is in fact Earth Day, a lovely day in spring or summer, or even the cold of winter, use these Maps101 resources to remind your students of the importance of Earth’s health and encourage them to take action, even at the local level, to preserve our planet.

A great place to begin inspiring students is with this GNN biography of Greta Thunberg. She was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2019 for her work drawing world leaders’ attention to the effects of climate change. Have students read this article and discuss how she inspires hope and demands action. You can use the questions at the end of the article as a way to continue classroom discussion.

One of the most important topics in looking after Earth is the continuing change to our planet’s climate. This exclusive, interactive Field Trip explores topics such as greenhouse gases, changing atmosphere, theories and predictions, opposition, taking responsibility, and much more. 

Continue the discussion about climate change by having students read this GNN article on the Paris Climate Agreement. The article is accompanied by a global map that shows the CO2 emissions around the world. Your students will also benefit from reading primary source quotes within the article that provide counterpoint opinions on the topic. First, students will read what President Obama said in 2016. Then, they can compare his point of view with that of President Donald Trump from 2017. Hold a classroom debate and vote on which point of view resonates with students and why.

This is a small sample of the kind of content available to you with your Maps101 subscription. Every week, the editors at Maps101 will provide you with highlights from our extensive collection in this GeoJournal newsletter. We suggest you make a folder to store them for future reference. Expand your students’ world with Maps101!