Resources for the Classroom


In an ongoing effort to improve geography education resources, I have compiled a list of links and tools that may be of use to teachers, especially in the K-12 range.

Printable Maps

 GIS custom maps - I made the GIS data on this site available so that teachers would be able to make custom overhead printouts for any region of the world for any desirable time period. If you are looking to print out a map that represents a region in the past, please visit my local GIS page.
 Xpeditions Atlas - These readily printable maps are made available by National Geographic and are some of the clearest polical maps I have ever seen.
 CIA World Factbook - Data and maps as compiled by the CIA on nearly every nation in existance. Demographic data is extensive.
 Altapedia - This site contains maps and information similar to that found on the above CIA World Factbook, but often the maps are more colorful on this site.

Lesson Plans and Resources

 Xpeditions - This page contains a listing of lesson plans divided into age levels and geography themes.
 National Geographic education links - portion of site map relating to some great educational resources on the National Geographic website. You can search additional National Geographic educational materials by visiting their education front page and using the search box on the left-hand side of the page.
 K12 Geography Lesson Plan Links - a long list of online geography teaching aids as compiled by Martha Taylor, MLIS for a teacher recertification course of the South Carolina Department of Education. Her lesson plan links can be found here.

Student Tools

 Country Flashcards - My very own flashcard creations include some common trouble areas for students to remember. Unlabled maps reveal names when clicked.
 Mental Maps - This downloadable program quizzes students on locations of cities in the U.S. Created by Geography and Computer Science departments of Virginia Tech., some of their other software products are also worth a look, focusing on characteristics of States and Counties throughout the U.S.