EdWare Learning USA Blog

Over the past two days ash clouds from the errupting volcano on Iceland under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, has been disrupting European flights. Below you will find some excellent links and useful information, very interesting cloud maps, photos, and video regarding this.

These are great to show the class using an interactive whiteboard or data projector, really bring the news into perspective and incorporates geography too.

Quick Facts:
-Eyjafjallajokull is a small glacier located in south-west Iceland.
-The glacier covers an area of about 100 sq km (39 sq miles).
-The volcano is 1,666 meters or 5,466 ft in height, under the icecap.
-The crater of the volcano has a diameter of 3-4 km (1.9-2.5 miles) .
-The last time the volcano erupted was between 1821 and 1823.

Cloud Map
http://metoffice.com/aviation/vaac/data/VAG_1271309704.png
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/iceland-volcano-plume.html
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=43252

Articles:
National Geographic:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/100415-volcanic-ash-cancels-flights-airports-airline-europe-iceland-volcano/

BBC News Article & Video:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8621407.stm

New Scientist:
http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2010/04/paul-marks-technology-correspo.html

Amazing Video from the BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8578576.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8586442.stm


I hope you find these links as interesting as I do. Also if you wish to learn more about Iceland and Europe please try our Know Your Europe software.

Labels: Know Your Europe, School Resource

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on the 17 March and we have prepared a PDF worksheet with some great maps of Ireland and a flag you can color. The worksheet is great for learning about Ireland's major cities and counties and perfect for printing to use in the classroom. Download the Ireland PDF Document (1.13MB).

Try our online game too to test your knowledge of the counties of Ireland, Play Now.


Like our resources, learn more about our award winning geography software; Know Your USA for learning all about the United States, and Know Your Europe for learning all about Europe. Both are great for the classroom and work perfectly with all interactive whiteboards.

Labels: Know Your Ireland, School Resource

Labels: Media, News, School Resource

Texan seventh grader Eric Yang wins the 2009 National Geographic Bee on Sunday in Washington D.C., congratulations Eric, watch the winning question.

The winning tie breaker question was "Timis County shares its name with a tributary of the Danube and is located in the western part of which European country?" The correct answer is Romania. Arjun answered Hungary, and Eric answered correctly.

Find out more about the National Geographic Bee at their website http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/

Also try our geography software, a great way to improve your geography skills, Know Your Europe, USA and World.

Labels: News, School Resource

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on the 17 March and we have prepared a PDF worksheet with some great maps of Ireland and a flag you can color. The worksheet is great for learning about Ireland's major cities and counties and perfect for printing to use in the classroom. Download the Ireland PDF Document (1.13MB).

Labels: Know Your Ireland, School Resource

Google today updated Google Earth to version 5.0 this new version adds excellent educational content including vast information about the Seas and Oceans.

Labels: School Resource

January 20, 2009 is inauguration day for the new president of the United States, Barack Obama. To celebrate the inauguration we have created a nine page worksheet (1.0 MB) about the United States, perfect for school. If you want to learn more about the United States please consider our awarding winning Know Your USA software.

Page 1: Map of USA with Regions and States marked.
Page 2: Map with each State name and the Capital.
Page 3: Name the States of the USA pop quiz worksheet.
Page 4: Blank Flag of the United States, great for coloring.
Page 5: Join the Dots maps of the USA.
Page 6: Barack Obama factfile with coloring.
Page 7: Washington DC factfile with photos and map.
Page 8: Barack Obama factfile and photo.
Page 9: US Election Results worksheet, color in the winner of each state.

This worksheet is perfect for printing and copying. It is a great introduction to the United States and excellent classroom activity for the inauguration.



We also have a free online quiz for testing your knowledge of each State in the United States. Play it online at our website. Remember that each aspect of the USA is covered in detail in our award winning Know Your USA software. Buy our software at Amazon.com or download today. You can also watch the YouTube Animaniacs cartoon clip we posted a few weeks ago too, quick way to introduce the United States to younger children.

Labels: Know Your USA, Know Your USA 1.5, News, School Resource

This week is Geography Awareness Week, November 16 - 22, 2008. The purpose of Geography Awareness Week is to promote geographic education in schools and among the public.

Visit the http://www.mywonderfulworld.org/ for further information. You can also play our free online USA quiz or download our award-winning geography software; Know Your USA.

The My Wonderful World have created a great resource for geography and we recommend you visiting their website and try some of the activities. They include printable wall maps, parent and school guides, top ten tips and much more.

• http://mywonderfulworld.org/parents_action_kit.html

Labels: School Resource

November 4th, 2008 is election day in the United States. To celebrate the election we have created a five page worksheet about the United States, perfect for school. If you want to learn more about the United States please consider our awarding winning Know Your USA software.

Page 1: Map of USA with Regions and States marked.
Page 2: Map with each State name and the Capital.
Page 3: Name the States of the USA pop quiz worksheet.
Page 4: Blank Flag of the United States, great for coloring.
Page 5: US Election Results worksheet, color in the winner of each state.

This worksheet is perfect for printing and photocopying. It is a great introduction to the United States and excellent classroom activity for election week.


We also have a free online quiz for testing your knowledge of each State in the United States. Play it online at our website. Remember that each aspect of the USA is covered in detail in our award winning Know Your USA software.

Watch the YouTube Animaniacs cartoon clip we posted a few weeks ago too, it's a quick way to introduce the United States to younger children. Some good mapping websites for the election include: electoral-vote.com and politicalmaps.org

Labels: Know Your USA, Know Your USA 1.5, Media, News, School Resource

The New York Times have developed a great website that allows you to keep track of the results for the 2008 election. Click on the Your Map button and then you can set each state to either Obama or McCain, depending on the winner of each. To set the winner, click on each state and select the color blue or red.

This is a great classroom resource.
http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/president/whos-ahead/key-states/map.html#/

Labels: Know Your USA, Know Your USA 1.5, Media, School Resource

This is similar to my recent post: Animaniacs - 50 States & Capitals, although this is about nations of the world. Not all countries are covered and it is a bit dated now too. A useful way to introduce young children to the geography of the World. You can purchase the Animaniacs box sets from Amazon.com

Labels: Know Your World, Media, School Resource

This is a blast from the past, originally broadcast 15 years ago in 1993. A useful way to introduce young children to the geography of the United States. You can purchase the Animaniacs box sets from Amazon.com

Labels: Know Your USA, Media, School Resource

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated, 17 March and we have prepared a PDF worksheet all about Ireland. The worksheet is great for learning more about Ireland and perfect for printing to use with students in the classroom. Download the Ireland PDF Document. You can also play our free on-line Puzzle of Ireland.

If you wish to learn more about Ireland we highly recommend our software Know Your Ireland which can be purchase via www.edware.ie

Labels: Know Your Ireland, School Resource

I am delighted to announce that Matt Rosenberg over at About: Geography has featured my new USA Online Flash Game on his great website which is perfect for learning all about geography.



Click here if you wish to play the game.

Labels: School Resource

After a while in development I finally completed my USA on-line Flash game. You can play it here, there is also a link to it from Know Your USA.



Enjoy the game and any feedback or suggestions is very welcomed.

Labels: School Resource