Ask Me Anything about using geography to teach history with Rachel Hansen // November 2023

We are honored to have Rachel Hansen join us this week for to answer your questions on using geography to help students understand history and the world around us. A Distinguished AP Human Geography educator and National Geographic Explorer, she is passionate about designing learning experiences that compel students to engage in meaningful, authentic projects in their communities, where they can build relationships that produce sustainable change the world. Rachel leads her students in using geography to take action in their own community.

As a Big History educator, Rachel has included geography in her instruction to help students understand the impact of both human and physical geography on world history. In honor of Geography Awareness Week this month, she will answer your questions on incorporating geography skills into your history instruction.

To help get started, Rachel recommends checking out the following resources:

National Geography Mapmaker: add layers of historic and contemporary data to make maps
Esri's GeoInquiries: geographic inquiry activities by content theme (Earth Science, Government, US History, World History, etc.)
Our Spatial Brains: student activities from middle through high school, including a focus on US History, World History, Earth Science
Mapping History Tool: an online tool for teaching with documents from the National Archives
Library of Congress Maps: searchable database of US maps from 1100 to 2023
ArcGIS Online: free mapping software for K-12 schools in the USA

Be sure to check out the OER Project Historical World Maps available on the Teacher Resources page.

What questions do you have for Rachel? Here are some ideas you may want to consider:

What are the best ways to incorporate geography into a history course?
Why is it important to use geography when teaching history?
How can I make geography engaging for students?

Share your questions in the comments below. We look forward to exploring the world with you!

Want to learn even more about incorporating geography into your history instruction? Check out the recording of our recent OER Project Skills Clinic - Mapping History.

Curtis Greeley over 2 years ago in reply to Rachel Hansen

Love, love, love this, and thanks for the quick response. I have already looked at the integration information and have forwarded to our IT department.

Rachel Hansen (2a39ba3a-3403-4212-95d9-a7686bcafd63), do you know if I can find a fried pork tenderloin sandwich outside of Iowa on ArcGIS?
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Rachel Hansen over 2 years ago in reply to Curtis Greeley

Please reach out with any IT questions! It's an amazing tool...endless possibilities.

A map of fried pork tenderloin sandwiches would be a sad, yet simple one.
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Curtis Greeley over 2 years ago in reply to Rachel Hansen

Thanks. With LA Unified having been held captive by hackers with ransomware last year, there is a newly discovered emphasis on what tools we can ask students to use. If we have a digital privacy agreement in place, the district will support teacher and student use. We're on the right track! Thanks again.
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Todd Nussen over 2 years ago

National Geographic Mapmaker is awesome. Shame on me for just finding out about this. Thanks for the share Rachel. Your recommendations are always topnotch!
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Adriane Musacchio over 2 years ago in reply to Rachel Hansen

Thank you so much for bringing these geography resources/ tools to our attention Rachel Hansen !! Mapmaker seems awesome! I especially love how students can make a key on here. When I used to teach Global History, the number one thing I used to struggle with would be getting students to slow down when looking at maps and really unpack the information the keys give. Having students create their own maps and come up with their own keys could be a fantastic way of drawing student attention to all these important geography/map tools. Can't wait to share this tool with other History teachers!
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Rachel Hansen over 2 years ago in reply to Adriane Musacchio

Yes! Super user-friendly and embedded with some cornerstone geography skills. I'm glad it's helpful. Happy mapping. :)
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Rachel Hansen over 2 years ago in reply to Todd Nussen

Don't beat yourself up too much...the beta version launched last spring. This fall was the big new unveiling! :)
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Adam Esrig over 2 years ago

I am so late to this party and so impressed Rachel Hansen not only at your breadth of knowledge but also your passion for this particular topic that many of us history teachers find so challenging to impart to our students. I'd be remiss if I didn't share some of these resources - especially the National Geography Mapmaker with the biggest map nerd I know, Evelyn Cameo
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Rachel Hansen over 2 years ago in reply to Adam Esrig

Hi, Adam Esrig!Geography is everywhere! It's fun to find ways to do it in history. Evelyn Cameo , it's wonderful to meet a fellow map nerd. :)
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Brian Moore over 2 years ago

Rachel Hansen is there a timelapse map that shows human populations over time. I'm thinking of one that shows where and how many people lived around the world over time. I imagine that there would be a small blob starting in Eastern Africa that grows and moves out to other places and eventually you get to the world population today. I saw your post about ask anything teaching geography and this is something I think fits the bill.
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