Frustrated the social studies was being squeezed out of the curriculum across the county, a group of parents designed a program to teach geography without impinging on the “instructional time” of homeroom teachers. The school principal and many teachers welcomed the program, and the school librarian became an important part of the Geography team. The “Bowl” format, similar to “It’s Academic,” gets kids in grade 3-5 excited about competing in teams representing each classroom, while showing off their knowledge of international political, physical and cultural geography.

http://www.takoma.com/archives/copy/2008/02/schoolscene_0208.html

(Takoma Voice story on the "Plight of Social Studies" 2008)

http://www.gazette.net/stories/011608/takonew210444_32356.shtml

(This 2008 story is inaccurate in that it says Piney Branch got it from Luxmanor--it was the other way around)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/16/AR2008011601919.html

(Wash Post coverage 2008)

http://www.gazette.net/stories/011707/takonew203309_31978.shtml

(Gazette 2007)

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/publishingservices/bulletin/2003-04/Bulltn23.pdf

(Photo and blurb in the 2004 MCPS Bulletin)