Maps101 Cares About Our Earth

Dear Educators,

With spring in bloom around much of the United States, people are heading back outdoors to hike, to take walks on beaches, or to simply picnic in a nearby park. But Earth and its plants and animals need our help to thrive, so we can continue enjoying the benefits of the outdoors. April is an especially great time to remind students of the importance of maintaining a healthy Earth, as we gear up for Earth Day on April 22^nd. Here at Maps 101, we are focused on bringing students’ attention to their environment, whether it is their local park, issues with the Earth’s oceans, or making suggestions as to what they can do to help. Keep looking for more, new, great content in April as Maps 101 continues to take a look at our planet.

First, your youngest learners too are able to benefit from what Maps 101 offers—not just those students in middle school or high school. Help your younger audience think more about local parks as everyone heads outdoors, with this exclusive Field Trip called “Parks Are Fun.” For those of you new to Maps 101 or taking a look for the first time, you can access this link and see this Field Trip for free, as a preview of what we offer.

Noise pollution can increase stress on humans. Did you know that noise in the ocean also causes problems for the creatures that live there? This week, learn about what causes noise pollution in the world’s oceans, and its effects. Find out why noise travels farther in water than in the air. And finally, learn what you (and most importantly, your students) can do about it.

Encourage Students to Plog to Help the Earth!
What’s That, You Ask? Take a Look:

Geography News Network articles are not just for grades 9-12. Maps 101 has a series of articles called GNN Junior that are written at a lower reading level, meant for grades 3-6, depending on reading ability. These articles are published about once a month. This example of a GNN Junior is all about plogging—a way to clean up the environment while jogging, that became popular in Scandinavia and has spread around the globe. The next time you or your students are outdoors, maybe you will remember to bring supplies with you to help clean up the garbage you see. You can even schedule a cleanup day around your school’s neighborhood as a simple field trip where everyone can feel included and involved. Every person who pitches in to clean up Earth helps!