This geographic “sense of place” can be a schoolyard, neighborhood, town, or national park (McInerney, Smyth, and Down 2011). These special or unique places have been shown to strengthen students’ science content knowledge, feelings of connectedness to their teachers and peers, team-building skills, sense of authentic human attachment, and belonging to a place (Place-based Education Evaluation Collaborative 2010; Semken and Freeman 2008; Smith 2002; Van der Hoeven Kraft et al. 2011). -- The Power of Shared Experiences
The "Activities" section provides ideas for engaging and interactive events to spark interest in geography within a community or classroom setting.
It includes guides on hosting a GeoMovie Night, where participants can watch geography-themed films and discuss geographic concepts in popular media; How to Host a Game Night, featuring geography-based games that make learning fun and interactive; How to Host a GeoCafe, an informal gathering where attendees discuss global issues, current events, or interesting places over coffee in a relaxed setting; and a Geography Book Club, where participants explore and discuss books that highlight geographic themes, travel narratives, or environmental topics. These activities foster a sense of community, enhance geographic awareness, and provide enjoyable ways to learn about the world.