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Putting Space and Place Together: Free GIS for Upper Elementary and Middle School Classrooms

Dr. Mike Charles
Pacific University, College of Education
Geographic Information System (GIS) software lets you and your students make interactive maps. We will explore new public-domain GIS software (this means FREE for your classroom!) and curriculum for fourth through eighth grade. Learn to help your students tap into the power of visualizing geographical data in your classroom.
 Portland earthquake
SOFTWARE
Google Earth

Download the free version of Google Earth for either the Windows or the Macintosh platform at http://earth.google.com/

Arc Explorer--Java Edition for Educators (AEJEE--pronounced "eh jee")

RESOURCES
USGS earthquake data
  • Find AEJEE lesson activities written to national standards. Search ESRI's Arclessons database for activities for AEJEE. 
    http://gis.esri.com/industries/education/arclessons/arclessons.cfm
    • Lewis and Clark
      Placing the Lewis and Clark expedition in a geographical context with an open ended activity. Designed to be used in conjunction with the Web site Lewis & Clark 200: Geography and Change  (http://www.esri.com/lewisandclark). 
    • Imaginary Lines
      Identifying important latitude and longitude lines and using latitude and longitude to categorize data.
    • Maps for Decision Making
      Using proximity to analyze fire station coverage in a small city.
    • Current Quakes
      Dowloading current earthquake location data (see the link below) and identifying patterns of occurence.
    • Where Are You
      Using location on the globe to identify the different geographic units to which your location belongs.

Last Updated 2/2006
Copyright Dr. Mike Charles © all educational uses encouraged
Direct comments or questions to charlesm@pacificu.edu