This exercise provides a case study of Danville, Virginia’s economic and demographic characteristics. Using a geographic information system students are presented with numerous opportunities to extend and refine their map interpretation skills. This story map is not intended to be used as a stand-alone lesson, but portions could be used throughout various units to provide a case study example of key geographic concepts and analysis of the cultural landscape and urban patterns.

Slides describing the site and situation of Southside VA as well as a discussion of the political, economic, and cultural evolution of the region from a geographical perspective.

Summary of three-day event centered on Southside Virginia that involved both classroom instruction and a field experience focused on curriculum topics such as regional cultural identity, sense of place, economic development models/approaches, and agritourism ; skills such as formal observation, data collection, landscape analysis, speculation and spatial analysis; and processes such as cultural diffusion, migration, deindustrialization, economic restructuring, and globalization. A field guide was developed by academy co-coordinator Shannon Castelo to provide teachers with materials and examples of teaching activities they can incorporate into their classroom instruction.