The Virginia Geographic Alliance promotes geo-literacy by providing effective professional development programs that enhance the teaching and learning of geography and that demonstrate the value of geographic knowledge and spatial thinking to educators, policy makers, and community members.
The Virginia Geographic Alliance fosters and supports the enduring power of the geographic perspective in social, environmental and geospatial sciences as they develop in schools, universities, businesses, governments and communications media to advance geo-literacy. Acquiring geographic knowledge, skills and technologies enables people to become productive citizens and lifelong learners who
►recognize the importance of place and local-to-global connections,
►understand changing human-environment interactions, and
►apply environmental and spatial perspectives in decision-making and problem-solving.
Professional Learning
Resources
About
Upcoming Events
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We’re excited to announce that the 2026–2027 World of 8 Billion Student Video Contest sponsored by Population Education is now open! The contest challenges middle and high school students to think critically about pressing global issues and creatively present sustainable solutions in a 1-minute video. This year’s topics—City Planning, Fresh Water Use, and Extreme Weather—have direct connections to Geography standards, making this an engaging, ready-to-use opportunity for educators.
The contest is open worldwide, completely free to enter, and offers students the chance to win up to $1,200 in prizes. To make participation easy, we provide a range of resources, including a digital Project Organizer, to support educators and students at every step. Submissions are due March 3, 2027.
We're also offering mini-grants of $100-500 to support educators who need additional resources to bring the contest to their classroom. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis, and educators will be accepted through October 30, 2026.
Features
two-page view
40 full-page maps
over 40 narrative pages of nonfiction text
text features to support literacy skills
51 mini maps as graphics
tables, charts, and diagrams
links to 65 interactive online maps and apps
geography, history, science, English/language arts, and math content
teacher guide with instructional ideas