Let the games begin: San Diego County's Geography Olympiad!

Social Studies Review, Spring 2003 by Prendergast, Stephen

INTRODUCTION AND EARLY HISTORY

In 1993, two California Geographic Alliance Teacher Consultants staged the first Olympic-style geography contest in San Diego. The San Diego County Geography Olympiad quickly morphed into an annual academic contest involving hundreds of students, teachers, and parents. On January 15, 2003, the 10th annual Olympiad at Grossmont College (El Cajon) included students from nearly 30 public and private schools. While the faces change each year, the primary goal remains the same: promoting geography among elementary and middle school students in an interesting and fun way!

Angela Froehlich, a teacher at Bay View Elementary (San Diego Unified School District) first proposed the idea of an inter-scholastic geography competition in 1993. Two years prior she had completed an Alliance Summer Geography Institute (ASGI). It was during this specialized intensive training-funded by the National Geographic Society and the California Department of Education-that her passion for sharing geography reached new heights. That spring she worked with ASGI-Teacher Consultants Larry Osen, Margarita Huddleston, Chris Vasquez, the author, and other local geography teachers to create the Olympiad. Mike Matherly (Grossmont College geography professor) and Pete Pitard, (then San Diego County Office of Education History-Social Science Coordinator), were also important early contributors. From this nucleus emerged the following geography competition for elementary and middle schools.

THE RULES

Each fall, invitations are sent to teachers who are responsible for registering their teams. The first year saw a surprising 25 teams involved in a subject that was woefully underemphasized in schools.

The Geography Olympiad brings together teams of 16 players and three alternates in both an Elementary School Division (grades 3-5) and a Middle School Division (grades 6-8). There are 15 teams in each division. There are a dozen events. Students compete in small teams of two-four players in events like "Flip-A-Fact," "C is for Cartographer," and "Geography Bowl." The events, some modeled after popular board games or television shows, require standards-based geographic knowledge and skills. They are also designed to ignite student interest in this "why of where" subject. Students are called on to read and interpret maps, identify landmarks, plan a city, and engage in international trade of natural resources and manufactured goods. Successful geo-athletes possess well-developed mental maps of the world, and demonstrate a firm grasp of both physical and human geography.

Olympiad teachers-or shall we say coaches-meet each fall to discuss the procedures and training materials for the spring Olympiad. Many teachers sponsor school geography clubs that meet before/after school or during lunch. In addition to geography knowledge and skills, successful teams possess excellent teamwork and communication skills. Good sportsmanship is also stressed. Teams display their Olympic spirit and unity by wearing team shirts, displaying banners, and marching in a "parade of schools." The winning students and teams for each event are awarded ribbons. Schools with the most awards in each division also garner trophies. In addition, sponsors (Rand McNally, National Geographic Society, California Geographic Alliance, and Thomas Brothers) donate atlases, globes, books, maps, and other geography resources to award during the closing ceremony.

BEYOND PRIZES

The Olympiad is now a prominent and important student event in San Diego County. Awards aside, the most important prize is reinforcing geography as an important, rewarding, and exciting part of our curriculum. Many Olympiad veterans who progress through the elementary to the middle school levels, are disappointed that as of yet, no high school competition exists. Moreover, in many years enrollment exceeds the space of 30 schools, thus denying some the chance to participate. Support for geography in schools is often difficult to find, especially as demands increase for reading, writing, and mathematic proficiency. Yet, a gymnasium packed with 700-900 enthusiastic students, parents, and teachers at the annual Olympiad provides strong testimony that geography is both important and popular among our young students. Through the contest students demonstrate more than just an interest in geography. They exhibit wide-eyed curiosity and passion to learn about our interconnected world. Thus the San Diego County Geography Olympiad will continue to provide a forum for student engagement and achievement in geography.

For more information on how to bring the Geo-Olympic spirit to your classroom, contact the California Geographic Alliance in San Diego (www.sdgeo.com). To learn more about geography education and outreach initiatives in California (including teacher workshops, the National Geographic Bee (www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee), and free educational materials, consult the California Geographic Alliance (www.humboldt.edu/~cga). Other stops on the information superhighway rich in ideas and resources for infusing geography into your classroom include the National Geographic Society (www.nationalgeographic.com), and the National Council for Geographic Education (www.ncge.org).