The GeoHistory Diagram A product of the Geo-History curriculum project, administered by the Michigan Geographical Alliance, with support from the National Geographic Society. Copyright 2008, 2012, 2013. The GeoHistory Diagram History-Geography Project Michigan Geographic Alliance Mississippi Geographic Alliance New York Center for Geographic Learning Grosvenor Center for Geographic Education (San Marcos, Texas)

The GeoHistoGram

The GeoHistoGram a tool to fit how the human brain actually organizes knowledge - - - - - in a space-time context.

This is the basic GeoHistoGram – seven vertical bars. basic form

Space . . . from west on the left to east on the right. basic form

basic form Time . . . from the past on the bottom to the present at the top. basic form

of history in that region. Each curve in a bar represents 1000 years. Each curve in a bar represents 1000 years of history in that region. basic form

basic form The bars represent major world regions, The bars represent from Americas in the west to Polynesia in the east. The bars represent major world regions, from Americas in the west to Polynesia in the east. basic form

Americas C East M S Asia Oceania Europe Africa & This map shows the world regions, (explained in a separate ppt.) The borders are deliberately fuzzy. If a student questions them, congratulations are in order! Europe Americas C & S East Asia M Africa Oceania

the location and extent Colored “blobs” show the location and extent of major empires. (This is Mesopotamia.)

to show ancient empires Here is a simple use of the GeoHistoGram: to show ancient empires in Mesopotamia. Students can write their names in order It works much better than reading a list ! Assyria Babylon Sumeria

Varying the width of an empire “blob” shows its extent at different times.

Egypt (in northeast Africa) lasted a long time.

what? – Mesopotamia, middle; Egypt, west, long-lasting; Meanwhile, every time, the diagram reinforces the main points: when? - long ago, where? - near the middle, what? – Mesopotamia, middle; Egypt, west, long-lasting; Indus Valley, east, shorter. Removing names can turn the graph into a quiz/review at any time.

what else was happening 1. The GeoHistoGram can help us see what else was happening elsewhere in the world at the same time. SILK ROAD

2. The GeoHistoGram can help us see how things changed in the same area through time.

Lines can show explorers, traders, invaders, or other connections between regions at specific times. Alexander was a kind of “bridge” between Europe and South Asia.

bridge ACTIVITY **** Point symbols can show specific events, like the invention of iron or the arrival of Buddhism. bridge ACTIVITY ****

like Buddhism and Islam. Students can compare the spread of things, like Buddhism and Islam. bridge ACTIVITY ****

JUST POINT AT IT Finally, a very valuable use: when you do something like show a video of Genghis Khan. Students will encode the space-time position in several ways (using different brain networks). 1) In the upper right part of the entire frame. 2) Between the Song and Ming dynasties 3) About the same time as the Aztecs in central America. It helps if you verbally reinforce those ideas (maybe by asking questions?)

SUMMARY The GeoHistoGram is a way to organize knowledge.

SUMMARY The GeoHistoGram is a way to organize knowledge. It can be used to transmit knowledge, through hands-on activity.

SUMMARY The GeoHistoGram is a way to organize knowledge. It can be used to transmit knowledge, through hands-on activity. It is valuable to use for just a few minutes, as a recurring part of other lessons.

SUMMARY The GeoHistoGram is a way to organize knowledge. It can be used to transmit knowledge, through hands-on activity. It is valuable to use for just a few minutes, as a recurring part of other lessons. Another good use? “test-prep”

rationale Remember the Rationale: The more engaging/memorable we make videos, websites, games, roleplays, etc. the more important it is to help students put information into context. rationale

The Geo-History Diagram is now available as 8-1/2x11 color pages, 11x17 color desk mats, bulletin-board posters, reproducible masters, and an interactive electronic “laboratory” suitable for projection. Please contact the Michigan Geographical Alliance for more information.