About Geography Awareness Week

For 13 years Geography Awareness Week (GAW) has been a major part of the National Geographic Society’s efforts to restore geography to K-12 classrooms through the United States and Canada. The primary goal of the week is to promote awareness about the importance of geography education while demonstrating the breadth of geography and its relevance to almost any other subject. Each year approximately one and a half million students participate in activities related to the week.

A Note to the Teacher

First Time Online

This year, for the first time, GAW activities are available here at nationalgeographic.com. They’re designed to make geography relevant and fun, while showing students a framework for examining conservation issues. Activities are grouped into three grade levels, but most can be adapted for younger or older students. To assist teachers, all the activities have a student’s page and a corresponding teacher’s page that includes the student activity as well as additional information for teachers.

Each activity has an online component, which your students can perform in or out of class. If you prefer, you can print out the activity and conduct it with your students.

Bringing Classrooms Together

Most important, thousands of teachers and students can learn what their peers are doing to celebrate Geography Awareness Week in our Share Results section. Report on the actions your students are taking for conservation.

Want to get more involved? Teachers in geography alliances in every state will promote awareness of the week and coordinate teacher workshops and other professional-development activities. Get in touch with the geography alliance in your state.

E-mail Updates

Register now to receive e-mail from National Geographic about geography education and Geography Awareness Week.

The National Geographic Society is grateful to the Florida Department of Citrus for their generous sponsorship of Geography Awareness Week.

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