Geography (US/World)

ScribbleMaps

— Scribble Maps

1-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.scribblemaps.com Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:49 share

How It Works

Use this tool to "draw" on and label any map available through Google Maps, including maps of the night sky! No registration or email required! Create a colorful, personalized map with added scribbles and labels. Add your choice of placemarker labels for geology locations, people, etc. There are even little icons available to use. Your drawing or "Scribble Map" is then available to share by URL, email, or print. Slightly more savvy users can download, save as a kml file (readable in Google Maps or Google Earth), or embed the map in another site. The tools include sharing the map on Facebook and Twitter, as well. Add images by pasting in their urls. Drawing tools include lines, circles, place pointers, text labels, and color/size/transparency controls for all tools. Place pointers can be edited by selecting them (arrow tool), then clicking the small pencil. This site does include Google Ads and all the normal controls of Google maps, including satellite, map, terrain, hybrid views and Night Sky. See a sample Scribble Map created by the TeachersFirst editors (drag the map with your mouse!). Explore the tools and MENU options at the top left when you start out. Try the different Maps views (lower right) and zoom controls. Search for a starter location using the search at the top left, just below the tools. There is no help available, but it is easy to do basic maps. Share, save, etc. by clicking Menu (top left). When you first save a map, it will ask you to create a password for that map to use to edit it later. Note that if you SAVE a map and share it by URL, those accessing it will be able to use the tools and change the map. If you want them to see it without changing it, you will need to embed it in a blog, wiki, or other web site. The map ID can be changed and customized by simply typing in your own choice of ID when you are saving the map.

In the Classroom

Students and teachers will want to keep a written record or map URLS and passwords for future reference. Model this for students so they do not lose hours of work! Teachers can prepare partially-made maps or maps for students to make corrections and changes by giving the students the URL, then having them SAVE the map with a NEW ID. To SAVE the map with a new name and URL, click "Save map" in the menu, then enter your OWN map ID. Students could use a code including their initials, such as SJ12-3-09 for a map made by Sally Jones on Dec 3, 2009. Teachers should PASSWORD protect their originals so changes can only be saved under a new name. Similarly, if a student saves the map with a map password, they don’t have to worry about other students vandalizing their work. But they DO need to remember the password! Wise teachers will keep a class list of maps and passwords for forgetful students! In primary grades, make maps of your local community together on your interactive whiteboard as you teach basic map skills. Create your own "key" with symbols you choose for playgrounds, etc. Have students help map locations of favorite playgrounds, grandparents’ houses, stores, etc. as they gain basic understanding of map skills. Make sure you allow students to operate the tools! Save the map and share it as a link from your class web site (or embed it there). Keep names generic so it is "safe." Other ideas to challenge gifted student beyond the curriculum or elevate challenge for small groups include: natural resource maps, immigration maps, maps of civil war battles day by day, maps of key sites in the life of a famous person, artist, or author, maps of the settings in a novel, landform maps of a continent or state, "My life" maps of places important to an elementary student’s family, annotated watershed maps of pollution sources, maps of the water cycle, maps of constellations in the night sky created by students to demonstrate understanding, maps of a dream community to be built in a vacant area (desert), including the water sources, etc. that will be needed, maps of a redesigned city/town on top of its current map. Teachers can provide map challenges or templates to be completed or corrected, including maps where students must label distances and cardinal directions between points (using map scale and skills). Or provide a teacher-created map with labels in the wrong places for students to correct the landforms, resources, etc. What will YOU do with Scribble Maps?

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Tag(s): directions, geology, landforms, space, map skills, maps, landmarks,

Big Huge Labs: Map Maker

— John Watson: Big Huge Labs

1-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/map.php#top Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:49 share

How It Works

Create maps -- for multiple reasons -- with ease. As you ’travel’ through your geography or history course, create an ongoing map of the places you’ve visited and embed/post it on your blog or any webpage. Simply type in the title of your map, choose the land masses you wish to include, and then click on the correct boxes for your particular locations. When finished, click the You’re Ready box at the bottom of the screen. Now scroll to the top to see what your map will look like. The embed code (geek-speak term for computer gobble-dee-gook that tells your computer how to find and display the map you have made) for your map is ready to copy and paste into your webpage. You can find the embed code to the right of the map. There is also a button to Reset and Start Over.

In the Classroom

Create a map to track where your students went on summer vacation (or have ever traveled). Create a map of places you have visited in a work of literature, or where students have written about going on fantasy vacations. Share the maps on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have cooperative learning groups work together to create maps related to lessons in your social studies, history, or literature classes. Embed multiple student project maps in your class wiki along with student writings that accompany the maps. Check out the Big Huge Labs educator account. Easily pre-register students to avoid creating logins, view and download their creations, and view the site advertisement free. You will find information about the Educator Account here.

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Tag(s): maps,

Map Collections Home Page

— Library of Congress

5-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gmdhome.html Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:49 share

How It Works

The Library of Congress offers this searchable database of historical maps, which includes a large collection of city maps, maps of military battles and campaigns, maps related to transportation and communication, and maps focused on exploration and discovery. Within each category, you can search geographically or by time period. Each map accessed can be navigated using a zoom feature for better viewing. Maps cover a wide range of national and international subjects.

In the Classroom

Teachers with interactive whiteboards or projectors will find these maps a natural companion to lessons involving history, geography, and cultural changes. Sometimes seeing a map drawn at the same time as the event under discussion can lend a whole new understanding of the culture of the people being studied. It’s far more dramatic to imagine sailing into the unknown on a voyage of discovery while you look at the only maps available to those aboard.

Be sure to have students use the whiteboard tools to draw in their own “corrections” or annotations showing the movement of people or strategies used in battles. Since thee resources are in the public domain, you are allowed to copy them into your whiteboard software and keep the student annotations atop the maps, as well. The maps also make good visuals for "mock" blog entries by historical figures!

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Tag(s): battles, environment, maps, transportation, battles, environment, maps, transportation,

Interactives: United States History Map

— Annenberg Media

3-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://www.learner.org/series/interactive-us-history-map/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:49 share

How It Works

Annenberg Media has created this fantastic interactive tool that allows you to trace the growth and settlement of the United States by using a map. Throughout this interactive challenge, students learn about map legends, the compass rose and cardinal directions, and different types of maps. Students also learn about the various regions of the United States and the rivers, lakes, mountains, oceans, and more that are located in the United States. This website even delves into U.S. History by displaying major Indian tribes (and regions), explaining colonists, and the expansion of the great nation.

In the Classroom

What a comprehensive website - offering geography, U.S. history, map skills, and more. Use your interactive whiteboard (or projector) to share the interactive activities (there are five, including a "test").

If time permits, divide your class into five groups and assign each group one of the main topics to explore. Give each group 30 minutes or so to read through the information. Then have each group share their findings with the class. Take the final "test" together on an interactive whiteboard (or projector).

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Tag(s): colonial america, westward expansion, maps, map skills, india, directions,

Maps Home Page

— David J. Leveson

3-8 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/geology/leveson/core/linksa/maptop.html Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:49 share

How It Works

This simple site provides a comprehensive tutorial that can be used for practice or review of map skills. There are sections on latitude, longitude, map scales, topography and more. Most sections offer quizzes that can either be printed or taken online.

In the Classroom

Use this website as review for map skills. Place the link on your teacher web page for students to review at home or find al alternate presentation, especially if they have been absent. If you have quick learners, you may want to allow them to navigate the tutorial at their own speed, learning more than the "basics" while the rest of the class receives direct instruction.

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  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
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Tag(s): latitude, logic, longitude, maps, logic, maps,

The National Map

— United States Department of the Interior

1-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices https://nationalmap.gov/ Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:49 share

How It Works

This all-encompassing atlas site provides a broad variety of information and activities. The subject areas include agriculture, biology, boundaries, climate, environment, geology, government, history, mapping, transportation, people, and water. All of the subjects incorporate the United States (for example, the agriculture pages discuss the agriculture of the USA). The map features are phenomenal and include both printable maps and "dynamic maps" which are interactive and awesome! Some of interactive maps include topics such as relief and elevation, West Nile virus, volcanoes and more. This site is a perfect addition to any science class that is studying volcanoes, climate, biology and more. It is also useful in a geography class studying the various uses and types of maps.

In the Classroom

Have your students work in cooperative learning groups to investigate the "dynamic maps". Assign each group a topic to explore (there are 7). Have the students research the information using the maps and then report their findings to the class, perhaps displaying examples on a projector or interactive whiteboard. In teaching any of the related subjects, using a projector to share a map will make the content more "real," such as displaying the butterfly layer in the map maker so students can see how the butterfly population their home state compares with other locations.

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Tag(s): agriculture, climate, environment, geology, maps,

Interactive World Map

— Mr. Nussbaum

3-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.mrnussbaum.com/interactive_world_map.htm Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

This delightful map of the world encourages students to scroll across the map; facts about the selected country appear at the bottom of the page. The data includes the country’s capital, population, and size. Other information specific to each country appears in an adjoining paragraph.The Map Fun includes quiz like games.

In the Classroom

Use this scavenger hunt as a competitive activity on laptops or interactive whiteboard while reviewing world geography. If your require students to learn the world map, be sure to include this link on your teacher web page for review. As an extra challenge, ask students to compose their own questions that may or may not be answered within the information available here.

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Tag(s): countries, capitals,

Map of Valley Forge National Historical Park

— TeachersFirst

2-7 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/images/vf-park.pdf Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

This PDF file provides a detailed (and very well done) map of the Valley Forge National Historical Park. This map is suitable for viewing and/or printing. So before you head to Valley Forge, be sure to print this helpful map. The map requires Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom

Share this and other sections of the TeachersFirst Colonial America tour as part of your study of the colonies so students can see what these historic locations look like today. Share the map on an interactive whiteboard, so you can use the tools to highlight different areas.

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Tag(s): map skills, philadelphia, map skills, colonial america,

Map of Philadelphia

— TeachersFirst

1-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/images/indemap2.pdf Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

This PDF file, provides a detailed map of Philadelphia. Before you head to Philadelphia, print out this useful map. The map requires Acrobat Reader. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom

Share this and other sections of the TeachersFirst Colonial America tour as part of your study of the colonies so students can see what these historic locations look like today. Share the map on an interactive whiteboard and use the tools to highlight important aspects of a colonial city.rn

Technology Heads-up!
  • Find interactive ABC's, colors, etc.
  • Donec rutrum congue leo eget malesuada. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a. Curabitur aliquet quam id dui posuere blandit. Mauris blandit aliquet elit, eget tincidunt nibh pulvinar a.
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Tag(s): map skills, philadelphia, map skills, colonial america,

Google Maps

— Google

K-11 0 favorites 0 promising practices http://maps.google.com Last updated: Fri, 08/27/2021 - 11:48 share

How It Works

Google Maps gives you live visuals of any location, ideal for planning a trip, picturing the relationship between places, and viewing physical characteristics of almost anywhere in the world. Type or paste in an address and click "search maps." If you click Satellite or hybrid versions of the map, you will see actual satellite images of the terrain. Zoom in and out, use the street view "orange man" to walk among the buildings and trees, or plan and share a route easily with Google Maps. Using your (free) Google membership allows you to save favorite places and more. Find businesses and other features near a specific map location: hotels, restaurants, schools, parks, and more. Google Maps has become more and more sophisticated, now offering many features previously only available in Google Earth, such as opening and/or saving placemarker files. Unlike Google Earth, Google Maps does not require software installation and does not use as much bandwidth for constant reloading. You can even play a tour of places you mark in Google Maps. They just keep adding more features! Google Maps is available as a free app for Android and iOS, too. The handy embed codes let you put any Google Map in a web page, blog, or wiki. Of course you do not need a membership or any special skills to simply SEE, share, or navigate a map. Membership gives you more ways to save.

In the Classroom

If you teach geography, this one’s a must. It is also helpful for showing students WHERE a story or news event takes place. In lower grades, use it to show students basics of their community. Teach map skills by showing students their own community. Zoom in on their street or on the school. This site and its more sophisticated cousin, Google Earth, are great on an interactive whiteboard. Set up a class Google account (or use student accounts if permitted). Have students create their own custom route plans to tour historic sites. Challenge math students to plan the most economical route to visit several vacation destinations, including gas mileage and gas prices. Have students create placemarker files of the important places in the life of a famous person or the route traveled by a particular unit during the Civil War. Have student groups create placemarker files to show environmental sites, habitats, landforms, or anything you can place on a map. Embed projects in a class wiki using the handy embed code offered as a sharing option. Not comfortable with wikis? Check out TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through.

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Tag(s): directions, maps, DAT device agnostic tool,