Resources
VGA has created and compiled numerous educational resources to promote and facilitate geoliteracy. Unless noted, these resources are available to you free of charge.
The Virginia Floor Map
Map is 8’ x 16’ and will fit in most classrooms. Image is aligned to the Atlas of Virginia. Sample lesson plans and suggested resources for building a floor map kit, map labels as well as a new version of the Atlas are in the process of being developed to align with the 2015 Standards of Learning and Curriculum Frameworks.
Note: floor maps are designed for indoor use only, and students should wear clean, white socks when walking on the map. Specific care instructions should be shipped with the map to avoid damaging the map.
The VGA John Smith Floor Map measures 122” x 96” and easily fits in most classrooms. John Smith and the early settlement of Virginia are included in the VA SOL for 1st Grade, VA Studies, USI, and VUS 11. VGA lessons for use with the map are forthcoming!
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This is now a free web-based resource for all K-8 public schools in Virginia with generous support from the Virginia Tech Department of Geography and the New American History project at the University of Richmond. Once the school division point of contact submits the required documentation as indicated below, they will receive a list of logins for schools in their division. Completed requests will take approximately 2-4 weeks to process.
A verification form is required for K-8 public school division information in order to gain access to An Atlas of Virginia.
Private schools and institutions of higher education must purchase a $200 per year site license for access via an embedded link on your school or college/university website. Use this form.
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Virginia GeoInquiries are modeled after Ersi’s GeoInquiry collections. A GeoInquiry is a scripted learning activity based on a map with multiple layers, tools, and symbols.
The process of geographic inquiry includes 5 stages: Ask geographic questions, Acquire geographic resources, Explore geographic data, Analyze geographic information, and Act on geographic knowledge. These stages are included in the questions posed in each GeoInquiry description text goes here
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Recognizing the many ways GIS can enhance classroom teaching, VGA assembled a team of practicing teachers to create a series of best practice historical GIS Story Maps. The goal of this collection is to provide K-16 teachers with interactive and dynamic classroom materials that highlight the role that geography played in shaping key events and episodes of American History.
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Interactive GIS maps dealing with U.S from European settlement to the Civil War
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Please click here to order the accompanying workbook. (Redirects to outside vendor)
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From the University of Richmond:
This compilation of sources addressing the geographies of data centers with a focus on the Commonwealth of Virginia was created for students to engage in real-time problem-solving for sustainability improvements in data use and management. We encourage students to think outside the box.
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The Sugar Mill, the Sea, and Society was a week-long VGA sponsored experiential professional development program focused on the historical and contemporary landscapes of Barbados and the West Indies. Barbados possesses a unique site and situation as the eastern-most Caribbean Island that is considered the most “British” Island in the Caribbean. The goal was to see, experience, and learn about Barbados on its own terms, rather than simply through the lens of our typical history and world geography textbooks. Activities and excursions focused on different aspects of geography - including historical, cultural, urban, economic, political, and physical geography. On a broader level, the experience provided field-based learning for Virginia educators to develop a dynamic collection of best practice educational resources.
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Explore lesson plans generated by past VGA workshops. These lessons are organized in separate Google folders.
VGA Legacy Site
The original VGA site hosted by Radford University contains numerous resources accrued throughout years of VGA activities. In an ongoing process these resources will migrate to this site. In the interim, please explore these legacy resources here.