Outreach in the Western Region

Education Web Sites

General Education Web sites
Teacher Packets for Geography
The National Atlas & The National Map
Understanding Maps
Land Use/ Environmental Change/ Urban Growth
History/Federal Lands

General Education Web sites

USGS Educational Resources for Primary Grades (K–6)
http://education.usgs.gov/common/primary.htm
Links to selected USGS educational resources in all USGS disciplines that may be useful to educators in primary school grades (Kindergarten to Grade 6).

USGS Educational Resources for Secondary Grades
http://education.usgs.gov/common/secondary.htm
Links to selected USGS educational resources in all USGS disciplines that may be useful to educators in secondary school grades (Grade 7 to Grade 12).

USGS On-line Resources for California Education Standards in Science, Geography, and History and Social Science
http://education.usgs.gov/california/index.html
Links USGS on-line resources (publications and Web sites) to an established list of Science and History–Social Science content standards for California. This Web site is designed to help teachers gain access to relevant USGS resources suitable for classroom instruction, and to provide resources to help new teachers tasked with teaching Earth Science and other natural science-related topics.

Educational Geography Activities from the USGS Rocky Mountain Mapping Center
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/activity.html
Educational activities, lesson plans, and resources for combining USGS products and services with Geography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

USGS GIS in Education
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/giseduc.html
Web site from the USGS GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Education Coordinator, Joseph Kerski. Articles, information, lessons, tips, and links to GIS education resources.

USGS Learning Web
http://www.usgs.gov/education/
Superseded USGS Web site for K-12 education and lifelong learning. Information for students, teachers, and the curious. Project ideas, lesson plans, homework help, tools, special projects.

Teacher Packets for Geography

Helping Your Child Learn Geography (K–4)
http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/Geography
This 32-page booklet, published in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and the National Geographic Society, is designed to help adults stir children's curiosity about geography. Includes many suggestions for simple activities.

Map Adventures (K–3)
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapadv.htm
An on-line teacher packet for grades K–3. Students learn basic concepts for visualizing objects from different perspectives and how to understand and use maps. Includes teacher information, seven lesson plans, two activity sheets, and a poster that can be printed in color or black and white by printing PDF files on fifteen 8.5" x 11" sheets.

What Do Maps Show? (4–9)
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/mapsshow_download.htm
This on-line teacher packet for upper elementary and junior high school students has four lessons on reading and using maps. The packet includes a teacher's guide, four printable activity sheets, and three maps in PDF format that can be downloaded and printed on 8.5" x 11" paper.

Exploring Maps (7–12)
http://interactive2.usgs.gov/learningweb/teachers/exploremaps.htm
On-line teacher packet for grades 7–12 designed to aid in teaching basic mapmaking and map-reading skills. Contains a teaching guide and four lessons with printable activity sheets. Includes a lesson on navigation methods of the early explorers.

Tracking Change over Time
http://earthscience4kids.cr.usgs.gov/
A teacher packet that uses Landsat satellite images to track changes over time. Includes a lesson plan, printable worksheets, downloadable software, and downloadable images.

The National Atlas & The National Map

What's the difference? The National Map has higher resolution data (so you can really zoom in) and more complex functions than the National Atlas. The National Atlas has *many* more data layers that depict patterns and trends on a national level and is more suitable for creating quick maps that cover large areas.

The National Atlas
http://nationalatlas.gov/
The National Atlas is an outstanding tool for teaching geography and is the single best Federal source on the Web for basic United States maps and geographic information. Includes pre-formatted, printable maps (8.5" x 11") covering special topics and an interactive Map Maker for creating custom maps. Use the user-friendly Map Maker to create maps of any county, State, or the United States showing agricultural use, forestation, amphibian and bat distribution, population density (1980-2000), transportation, age/sex/ethnicity distributions, and much more. Printable maps include Federal Lands, Indian Reservations, Congressional Districts, Presidential election results since 1789, and more. All maps can be printed on 8.5" x 11" paper.

Outline Maps of the United States—Printable Maps from the National Atlas
http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/reference.html#list
Download or print PDF files for several different outline maps of the United States, individual States and counties. Files print on 8.5" x 11" paper.

The National Map
http://nationalmap.gov/
The National Map is a free, on-line, interactive map service that can be used to create and print high-resolution maps of a local area, a State, or the United States. Emphasis is on base geographic layers including elevation, hydrography, transportation, structures, boundaries, geographic names, land cover, high-resolution orthoimagery (air photos), and satellite imagery. No special software or download is required. Use the ‘Find Place’ tool in The National Map Viewer to zoom in on a location anywhere in the United States using latitude and longitude, U.S. National Grid coordinates, UTM coordinates, or feature name. Alternatively, use the ‘Identify’ tool to get the coordinates of any point in the United States. Maps can be printed on 8.5" x 11" paper.

The National Map Corps
http://nationalmap.gov/TheNationalMapCorps
Class project: Become a volunteer for The National Map Corps. Use a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver to collect the coordinates of specific features in your area. The information that you gather is added to a national database that will become a layer of The National Map.

Understanding Maps

All about USGS Topographic Maps
http://topomaps.usgs.gov/
A comprehensive description of topographic maps and how they are made. Links to map symbols and ordering information.

Topographic Salad Tray Model
http://geography.wr.usgs.gov/outreach/topo_instructions.html
Instructions for using clear plastic salad holders to make a 3-dimensional representation of a topographic map. A fun and simple way to show how topographic contour lines translate into a 3-dimensional image.

Map Symbols
http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/symbols/
An explanation of topographic maps and map symbols.

Latitude and Longitude—the National Atlas
http://nationalatlas.gov/articles/mapping/a_latlong.html#one
Article describing latitude and longitude and related terms.

Datum shifts and map coordinate systems
http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/GISLab/Cyprus/datums.htm
Explains the datums that are used with latitudes and longitudes and how changing datums can shift the coordinate system that you are using. Understanding datums can be critical when using GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers.

Map-It: Form-based Simple Map Generator
http://stellwagen.er.usgs.gov/mapit/
Enter the longitude and latitude of points to plot on a simple map. Download a postscript version of the resulting map.

Finding Your Way with a Map and Compass
http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs03501.html
A brief description of how to navigate using a compass and topographic maps.

Map Projection Poster (folded)
http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/MapProjections/projections.html
Contact the USGS to request a free copy of the popular "Map Projections" poster. This 36"x24" folded poster has a large portrait of Gerardus Mercator on one side and descriptions of 18 different map projections on the other side along with a table that compares their different properties and uses. Call 1-888-ASK- USGS or email ask@usgs.gov . An on-line version of this poster is available on this Web site.

Topographic Maps Illustrating Physiographic Features
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/featureindex.html
Lists of USGS topographic maps (listed by State) that show good examples of over 200 different physiographic features.

Tapestry of Time and Terrain Physiographic Regions
http://tapestry.usgs.gov/physiogr/physio.html
Map of over 20 major physiographic regions in the conterminous United States.

Elevations and Distances
http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html
Tables of information covering elevations of features and distances between points in the United States. Also locates the geographic center of each State.

USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
http://geonames.usgs.gov/
GNIS contains information for almost 2 million physical and cultural geographic features in the United States and its territories. Query the database to find individual features and their corresponding coordinates. Search results include links to on-line air photos and topographic maps containing the feature. GNIS is also accessible through the ‘Find Place’ tool in The National Map Viewer.

Land Use/Environmental Change/Urban Growth

Land Use History of North America
http://biology.usgs.gov/luhna/index.html
Describes the historical and on-going changes in land use and land cover for several regions around the United States. A section for teachers is under construction.

USGS Urban Dynamics Research Program
http://landcover.usgs.gov/urban/intro.asp
Describes a project that analyzes land use change in urban environments in order to provide a historical perspective of land use change and an assessment of the spatial patterns, rates, correlation, trends, and impacts of that change. Includes links to computer animations of urban growth in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Baltimore–Washington Area.

Urban Growth in American Cities (Circular 1252)
http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/2004/circ1252/
An on-line publication that illustrates the spatial history of urban growth in 16 areas around the United States and the corresponding land use change. Images can be downloaded as GIF files.

Population Distribution – Urban and Rural – National Atlas article
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/articles/people/a_popchange.html
Article describing population change in the U.S. 1990–2000. Includes population numbers for each State and for the 10 largest cities plus graphs and maps.

American Forests Urban Ecosystem Analysis
http://ergwms.er.usgs.gov/citygreen.html
Analyses in more than 130 locations around the country documenting the loss of tree cover in our cities. Shows maps and graphs for each city in printable PDF format.

Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change
http://edc.usgs.gov/earthshots/slow/tableofcontents
An e-book of before-and-after Landsat images (1972–present), showing recent environmental events and introducing the uses of remote sensing. Some changes are due to natural causes and some are due to human causes. Each set of images includes a detailed description, a list of references, and a question/answer.

Tracking Change Over Time
http://earthscience4kids.cr.usgs.gov/
A teacher packet that uses Landsat satellite images to track changes over time. Includes a lesson plan, printable worksheets, downloadable software, and downloadable images.

History/Federal Lands

Public Land Surveys Map
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/mapcatalog/culture.html
A highly detailed paper map showing the growth of territory of the United States from 1776 through 1965; National Parks and Monuments; National Forests; Indian Reservations; National Wildlife Refuges; Public Lands; and Principal Meridians and Baselines, and Townships and Ranges from the U.S. Public Land Surveys. Use this map to teach and learn about how the country grew, and the effect of the Public Land Survey System on the present-day arrangement of roads and cities. Web site includes a link to a list of questions that can be used with the map. This paper product is a cost item.

Federal Lands and Indian Reservations—Printable Maps from the National Atlas
http://www.nationalatlas.gov/printable/fedlands.html#list
Maps showing Federal lands and Indian Reservations for the entire United States or individual States. Maps print on 8.5"x11" paper.

Indian Land Areas Paper Maps
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/mapcatalog/culture.html
Four different paper maps showing Indian Land Areas Judicially Established (product #101505); Indian Land Areas on a planimetric map (product #101502); Indian Land Areas on a colorful shaded-relief map (product #101516); and Early Indian Tribes, Culture Areas, and Linguistic Stocks (product #101013). These paper products are cost items that can be previewed on this Web site.

Routes of the Principal Explorers Paper Map
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/mapcatalog/culture.html
Paper map showing routes of explorers in the contiguous 48 states, 1501–1844. Product #101216. This paper product is a cost item that can be previewed on this Web site.

An Emerging Nation Map
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/mapcatalog/culture.html
Reproduction of a map that shows the United States as it existed about the time the Constitution was written. It was produced in 1784 and was the first map of the United States produced by an American cartographer. This paper product (product #101415 ) is a cost item that can be previewed on the Web site.

John Wesley Powell's Voyages Down the Colorado River Canyons (1871 to 1872)
http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/
Stereographic photography taken during John Wesley Powell’s exploration of the Colorado River Canyons. Images are available in both 3D (requiring red-and-blue glasses) and as regular images scanned from the original photographs. John Wesley Powell later became the second director of the USGS.

Mapping the Grand Canyon—1923
http://geography.wr.usgs.gov/outreach/grandcanyon
Web site describing the first USGS survey of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in 1923. Photographs can be downloaded.

Historical Photographs of Topographers at Work
http://geography.wr.usgs.gov/outreach/historicPhotos/historical_photos.html
Historical photographs spanning 1890–1993 that show USGS topographers working in locations around the western United States. Photos in TIFF format can be downloaded for free in three different resolutions.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition and the USGS
http://www.usgs.gov/features/lewisandclark.html
Links to USGS publications and other resources related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Includes resources specifically targeted to teachers and students.

Lewis and Clark: A Legacy of Science
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/outreach/mapcatalog/culture.html
A paper poster featuring two maps in parallel view: above is a reproduction of "Lewis and Clark's Track Across the Western Portion of North America from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean," published by Samuel Lewis in 1814; below is the same geographic area depicted with modern remote sensing technology. Product # 113605. This paper product is a cost item that can be previewed on this Web site.

USGS Resources for Teaching about Lewis and Clark
http://rockyweb.cr.usgs.gov/public/outreach/lewisclark/lc_usgseducation.html
Links to USGS resources and other resources for teaching about Lewis and Clark. Suggests ways to use the Lewis and Clark Expedition to meet curriculum requirements in several subjects.

A Satellite View of the Journey of Lewis and Clark
http://edc.usgs.gov/LewisandClark/
A collection of satellite images that provides a contemporary view of the route that Lewis and Clark took from St. Louis, Missouri, to the Pacific Coast. Includes descriptions of events that took place at each location. Images can be viewed on-line or high-resolution JPEG files can be downloaded and printed.

Clarence King—First Director of the USGS
http://online.wr.usgs.gov/outreach/highlights/clarence_king.html
Learn about Clarence King (1842–1901), the first director of the USGS. Web site includes images and links to other resources. Images can be downloaded as TIFF files.