Maps & Mapping
National Geographic Mapmaker Interactive
Mapmaker contains a complete set of the latest up-to-date terrain, topographical, satellite, street, and political maps of the world. Use interactives tools to create a geotour - interactive geography. See instructions from National Geographic
Google Public Data Explorer
Google's Public Data Explorer provides public data and forecasts from a range of international organizations and academic institutions including the World Bank, OECD, Eurostat and the University of Denver. These can be displayed as line graphs, bar graphs, cross sectional plots or on maps.
Reality & creativity with Google Earth (Classroom)
This is a link to my professional learning wiki. It contains workshop and learning resources for the use of Google Earth in the classroom.
Google Maps for Educators (Classroom)
Google Maps continues to develop. As a web-based 2D program, it is often a suitable alternative to Google Earth which runs on the local computer. The applications are interchangeable and warrant exploration for classroom use.
Nearmap: open mapping tool (Aus)
NearMap is an Australian mapping product that is free for basic access. It's along the same lines as Google Maps but is updated more regularly, approx 65% of it monthly. It offers high resolution PhotoMaps which are clear and current and enables you to compare landscape and construction change over time. Nearmap has great potential for the Geography classroom. 'Floods and more' features maps of the extent of the Queensland, NSW and Victorian floods, 2011.
Scribble Maps
This is a great mapping tool. It's a quick and easy way to rapidly make and share maps! No login required. Could be applied to any year level for a range of subjects such as geography, outdoor educ, collaborative projects etc. Maps can be designed and labelled then shared, embedded, saved as images, so many options.
Open Street Map
OpenStreetMap, the free wiki world map that's a free editable map of the whole world. Like Wikipedia, it is created by the general public. It allows you to view, edit and use geographical data in a collaborative way from anywhere on Earth. It's data is used for projects such as NearMap.
Strange Maps
This is the blog of Frank Jacobs who loves maps, but finds most atlases too predictable. He collects and comments on all kinds of intriguing maps—real, fictional, and what-if ones. This is a fascinating site for maps lovers like myself.
D-Maps
An amazing collection of outline maps - worldwide. Includes good Australian and Oceania content, also historical maps e.g. Ottoman Empire. Ideal for use with Geography classes.
Outline maps - Education Place
Maps of the world and regions that can be printed for classroom use. Minimal Australian content.
Grassroots Mapping
A series of participatory mapping projects involving communities in cartographic dispute. This is an interesting mapping site that includes the original mapping of boundaries and the development of curriculum resources.
Maps of the World
Large collection of worldwide maps including maps on various themes such as, political, environment, country etc. Right up to date with political activity worldwide. Maps can be purchased via this site.
EarthPulse
State of the Earth and other maps that interpret statistical data to present visual representations. Fascinating learning tool.
WeatherSpark
WeatherSpark is a new type of weather website, with interactive weather graphs that allow you to pan and zoom through the entire history of any weather station on earth. Get multiple forecasts for the current location, overlaid on records and averages to put it all in context. Includes climate trends. Currently there are approx 4,000 weather stations in the database with more being added. (May 2011)
Forge FX Simulations
This site has a number of simulation learning objects that “allow students to become immersed in learning. Transforming them from passive observes to active participants.” They include a Catapult Design and Test simulation, the Chemistry of Communication which investigates how ant use pheronomes and, a Seismic Waves simulator – see what happens to the ground during an earthquake.
Historic maps for students & teachers
From Florida's Technology Clearing House, over 5,000 maps representing many different time periods. A friendly license allows teachers and students to use up to 25 maps in non-commercial school projects without further permission. All maps are available as GIF or JPEG files for screen display as well as in PDF for printing.
Earthcam - Where the world watches the world - Live!
