UW-Madison students bring geography awareness to local schools

In celebration of Geography Awareness Week (through Nov. 22), geography and education students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison have teamed up to teach geography lessons to K-5 classes in the Madison area.

Throughout the week, UW–Madison students from the Geography Club and Elementary Education Club will visit local elementary schools to hold interactive learning activities around the topic of Africa.

“We are excited to bring our enthusiasm about geography to kids and expand their knowledge about the world,” says Geography Club president Maggie Strassman.

“We chose to teach about Africa because studies show that Africa is the continent kids know the least about,” says elementary education student Jessica Flanagan. “Many kids think that Africa is one large country and have no concept of the number and diversity of nations, cultures and languages that exist there.”

Matt Turner, chair of the UW–Madison geography department, was pleased that the students chose Africa as their topic. “Africa is arguably the most culturally and ecologically diverse continent in the world,” he says. “Global education about this diversity is critical to the future of Africans and their landscapes.”

“In popular media Africa is too often portrayed as a continent of despair or conflict. Thanks to the UW’s vibrant geography club, Madison school children will have a chance to learn a more vibrant and hopeful picture of Africa,” adds Lisa Naughton, geography professor and club adviser.

Participating elementary schools include Northside, West Middleton, Randall and Emerson.

Launched in 1987 by presidential proclamation, Geography Awareness Week is held the third week of each November to promote the importance of geography education in the United States. It is sponsored nationally by the National Geographic Society.