The Western Massachusetts Geographic Center and the Department of Geography & Regional Planning at Westfield State College are pleased to offer this educational program to area teachers.  Our partners include the Holyoke Children's Museum and the Holyoke Heritage State Park.

To Area Teachers:  You are invited to participate in an exciting Seminar Series.  The Western Massachusetts Geographic Center at Westfield State College in collaboration with area museums is venturing into an educational program devoted to understanding the geography of Western Massachusetts.  You, the teacher (K-12) will explore the Hilltowns and Milltowns of Western Massachusetts in a series of workshops and field trips.  The seminar series will be based out of the Holyoke Children's Museum and the WSC Campus.  Selected teachers will earn 30 PDPs and a $200 stipend for developing curriculum materials for the classroom.

Goals of the Seminar.

1) Participants will learn about the Five Themes in Geography and how they apply to the geography and history earning strands in the Massachusetts Frameworks.

2) How local Western Massachusetts' resources might be integrated in the classroom.

3) How teachers can develop creative strategies for teaching geography and history.

February 27, 2003.  Thursday 4:00-6:00 PM Holyoke Children's Museum
Introduction to Five Themes of Geography and a Geo-History of Holyoke

March 29, 2003, Saturday 8:00-3:30 PM Westfield State College, Wilson Hall Auditorium.  Annual Westfield River Symposium
"A Look at the Future , Water Resources & Open Space!"
Presentations, Displays, and a choice of Field trips will make this an exciting day!

April 17, 2003.  Thursday 4:00-6:00 PM Holyoke Children's Museum
Geo-History of Western Massachusetts, Professor Michael Konig, Westfield State College.
Using the Landscape to Power a Papermaking Industry, Marie Silver, Holyoke Children's Museum

May 3, 2003. Saturday 9:00 - 12:00 PM Holyoke Heritage State Park
Walking Tour, Mr. Charles T. Lotspeich, Visitor Services Supervisor, Holyoke Heritage State Park
See some video from our tour!

May 15, 2003. Thursday 4:00-6:00 PM Holyoke Children's Museum
Urban and Suburban Revitalization, Professor Stephanie Kelly, Westfield State College

June 28, 2003. Saturday, 9:00-3:00 PM Westfield State College
Curriculum and Lesson Plan Workshop, Mr. William Jenkins, Granville Village School

Fall School Year.  Dates TBA Final assessment of lesson plans and curriculum materials in the schools.
Curriculum materials will be reproduced and available on our website.  http://www.wsc.ma.edu/wmgc/

If you have any questions, please call Robert Bristow, Coordinator of WMGC at (413) 572-5595 or email at this link.

Lesson Plan Guide in Word Format, click here

Geographical, Historical, and Cultural "Day Tripping" in Massachusetts
Historical Growth in the US and Government Policies
Five Themes of Geography: Location
Why did the Summit Houses Disappear?
Understanding Topographical and Land Use maps
Building the Western Railroad:  a lesson in the geography of the Industrial Revolution
Mapping Our Hometown
Geography:  The location exsists in our own backyards....But where?
Introduction to the 5 Regions of the US
Climate
Regional Resources
History of  Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Lesson to Comparing and Reading Maps from Past to Present
Case Study Granby, Massachusetts, Applying the Five Themes
Maps:  A Topographic and Road Map Comparison
Focus on the Town of West Springfield