MGA offers a variety of services statewide for students, teachers, and the general public, including:
GEO CAMPS
The Mississippi Geographic Alliance is offering student Geo Camps in two models: Hybrid/online and in-person summer and enrichment period camps. Students participating in Geo Camps engage with and gain an understanding of environmental issues in their communities.
Geo Camps focus on topics such as community history, habitats, conservation, water quality, land management, and pollution using tools such as geo-inquiry, iNaturalist, maps, Bioblitz, storytelling, field study, and service learning. These Geo Camps embed the geo inquiry process, state standards and are developed to match the needs of the school, district or organization.
Teachers who host/lead a Geo Camp in their school/district will be eligible for a stipend, CEUs and a classroom geography kit. MGA will cover the cost of materials, supplies, food (if applicable), t-shirt and geography swag bags for all student participants.
To learn more about MGA’s Geo Camps please contact Angie Stallings at aastalli@olemiss.edu.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
The Mississippi Geographic Alliance continues to bring Professional Development workshops and institutes to Mississippi teachers, schools and districts.
Our next workshop is a two-part workshop series with an assignment between workshops. The first session includes dinner at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center (PRAC) in Moss Point, MS . The second session will be offered 2 times and will be a Zoom/Teams meeting. The workshop material aims towards upper elementary, middle, and high school teachers.
Workshop 1: Nov. 6, 2023, 4:30 – 7:00pm (dinner included)
Workshop 1: Nov 7, 2023, 4:30- 7:00pm (dinner included)
*Only have to attend one session of either workshop 1*
Workshop 2: Nov.13, 2023, 4:30 – 7:00pm (Zoom/Teams)
Workshop 2: Nov. 16, 2023, 4:30- 7:00pm (Zoom/Teams)
*Only have to attend one session of either workshop 2*
For successful participation, you will receive a classroom geography kit, 1 CEU from the University of Mississippi and a $200 stipend.
*2024 Workshops will be listed soon.
*CEU’s will be available for institutes and workshops at no cost to participants.
GIANT FLOOR MAPS
GIANT FLOOR MAP OF THE UNITED STATES
Giant floor maps (11’x14′) of the United States are available throughout the state. The maps include cut-outs of all 50 states and engaging, hands-on activities for grades k-8 that will enrich geography, science, and MS State Social Studies Standards learning in your school. An MGA Teacher Consultant will come and lead activities in your school. The giant floor map is available to your school for $200/day and at least one full day is required. Full and partial scholarships are available for grades 5-8.
GIANT FLOOR MAP OF MISSISSIPPI
Giant floor maps of the Mississippi are available throughout the state. One of the maps is 10’x15′ and the other 16’x20′. Please make sure you have sufficient space for one of these maps. The floor maps are ideal for Mississippi Studies classes and standards-aligned activities are provided. An MGA Teacher Consultant will come and lead activities in your school. The Mississippi floor map is available to your school for $200/day and at least one full day is required. Full and partial scholarships are available for grades 5-8.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GIANT CONTINENT MAPS
The National Geographic Floor Maps of Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America are available to schools and other institutions. An MGA Teacher Consultant will work with you on activities to meet the learning needs of your students. Availability is limited and we will not be able to accommodate all requests. The maps are available for $250/day or full scholarships are available. Scholarship recipients must reach a minimum of 100 students and have a 3 day minimum, 1 week maximum time frame per school. Institutions that maximize school and community participation will be given preference. The map of North America is 26 feet by 20 feet and the Europe map is 30 feet by 30 feet. Full and partial scholarships are available for grades 5-8.
PRE-SERVICE GEOGRAPHY CONFERENCES
Future teachers learn the basics of geography, its importance in K-12 education, and how to integrate it across curriculum in in-class session workshop at institutions of higher learning across the state. Junior and senior education students attend hands-on workshop sessions, gain geographic content knowledge, receive elementary/secondary lesson plans, worksheets, maps, and atlases, and receive a completion certificate from National Geographic Society for their portfolios. The in-class session workshop can be 1-4 hours in length. If you are interested in hosting an in-class session workshop at your institution of higher learning, please contact Angie at aastalli@olemiss.edu or 662-915-2281.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TEACHERS
MGA offers a range of educational experiences for teachers, from conference sessions to intensive professional development institutes and workshops. Look for our sessions at the annual conferences of the Mississippi Council for the Social Studies, the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children, the Mississippi Science Teachers Association, and more. MGA provides high-quality professional development training to teachers in your school or district free of charge. Our workshops are perfect for staff development and in-service training days. CEUs are available and provided for all workshops at least 5 hours long. MGA educators are also available for workshops with pre-service teachers.
TEACHER CONSULTANTS
MGA Teacher Consultants fulfill a variety of professional roles for the organization including student outreach, teacher professional development, developing education materials, advocacy, leadership and much more.
The Teacher Consultant training applications are now closed.
