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Every Kid In A Park

Posted on October 8, 2015
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In honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Parks system, the United States Government has a goal to get every kid into a national park this year. Part of this program allows all fourth graders (and their family) in the United States free access to any park all year long! All a student or a teacher has to do is print off the pass! For more information or to print a pass, please visit EveryKidInAPark

South Hamilton & Big Cats Travel to the Henry Doorly Zoo

Posted on May 18, 2015

On May 14, the South Hamilton Elementary 5th grade traveled to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, NE to see the endangered animals and big cats they researched in conjunction with National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative. It was a great day, filled with learning, laughter, and animals! A big cat animal keeper also spoke to the 5th grade about his job and taking care of tigers, jaguars, lions, and other big cats. The 5th grade enjoyed asking the keeper questions and seeing the endangered big cats and animals they are helping raise awareness for. 

Big Cats Initiative at South Hamilton Elementary

Posted on February 20, 2015

GAI Coordinator, Dr. Alex Oberle, and Undergraduate Research Assistant, Mollie Ullestad, traveled to South Hamilton Elementary (Jewell, IA) with UNI's mascots, TC and TK, to spread awareness about National Geographic's Big Cats Initiative. South Hamilton students are participating in a reading week with the theme "Save the Big Cats", and the 5th grade is doing a research project about environmental conservation and endangered species, including big cats.

UNI Undergraduates Represent the GAI at NCSS- Boston

Posted on December 8, 2014

UNI undergraduate Social Science Education students, Blair Miller, Sibyl Cox, and Mollie Ullestad presented their INSPIRE-related curricular materials at the 2014 National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference in Boston, MA in November. Along with Dr. Alex Oberle, they co-presented a poster describing how to integrate high-altitude ballooning, a text set, and lesson plans into the classroom. They met with geography educators from around the country, and shared their lesson plans and classroom ideas. 

Big Cat Week

Posted on December 2, 2014

Big Cat Week

November 28-December 5, 2014 is Nat Geo WILD's Big Cat Week. Its a week totally dedicated to the world's big cats- lions, tigers, cheetahs, panthers, etc. These beautiful and powerful creatures are rapidly facing extinction. Big Cat Week provides stunning and powerful stories from around the world, and allows viewers to share in the triumphs, defeats, and struggles of our planet's big cats. 

Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education directors visit Iowa

Posted on July 21, 2014

The GAI hosted Dr. Dick Boehm and Dr. Carmen Brysch from the Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education (Texas State University).  Dr. Boehm and Dr. Brysch co-led sessions at the inaugural IA Department of Education "Best Practices in Social Studies Institute" in Des Moines.  Institute topics included "Teaching With the Stars" and on-line mapping. 

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