Spatial Analysis with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
Explore these lessons that dig into the essence of analyzing our world with the same tools that are used in government, academia, and industry across the globe...and in your own community.

27 Ideas for Teaching With Topographic Maps
The USGS has published over 57,000 topographic maps, covering many different scales, settlements, and types of landscapes. Use these ideas for integrating topographic maps into the geography, science, environmental studies, history, and mathematics curricula, or to spark your own ideas.

Essentials of the Environment
What is climate change? What is biodiversity loss? What's the concern about water availability and quality? Explore these and other environmental issues through this new book.

Map Mysteries
Each USGS topographic and thematic map has a story to tell about our planet, its processes, and the people who live there. Use the concept of "map mysteries" to engage your students in uncovering these mysteries in the past and present using clues on USGS maps.

Teaching With the Degree Confluence Project
Lesson ideas for how to use photographs and text collected using GPS technology on intersections of full-degree latitude and longitude lines.

Corn Maze Geography
Ten lesson ideas for using corn mazes in geography education with bridges to science and mathematics.

Exploring the Earth With Remote Sensing Quiz
Examine human impact on the land surface of the Earth as well as evidence of natural processes in this key that emphasizes hands-on interpretation of USGS imagery. Test your skills with the Answer key.

Map Interpretation Activity with an Olympics Team Rowing Theme
The US Olympics rowing team needs to select an out-of-the-way site to train for the Olympics. Using this theme, this activity focuses on map interpretation, including scale, contour lines, rivers, cultural features, distance, directions, and more. An answer key and student worksheet accompany the activity.

Aerial Photographs and Topographic Maps
How to download and use detailed aerial photographs and topographic maps in the curriculum.

Exploring the USA National Atlas
How to make thousands of maps and use resources from the National Atlas in the curriculum.

Teaching About Lewis and Clark - Overview
Overview of using USGS resources about Lewis and Clark, Native Americans, and the physical geography of the United States.

Teaching About Lewis and Clark
Discover how to use USGS resources about Lewis and Clark, Native Americans, and the physical geography of the United States.

Teaching Geography Using Ground Photographs
Use tens of thousands of ground photographs from around the world from the American Mile Marker project and the Degree Confluence Project to teach about cultural and physical geography. 

Teaching with The National Map
Use the 21st Century Nation's Topographic Map to examine physical and cultural features of the landscape, through transportation, aerial photography, contour lines, river features, and much more.  

Teaching About Scale
Why understanding scale is important to the study of spatial phenomena, patterns, and linkages, what geography can and should contribute to the study of scale, and how educators can teach the concept of scale.

Teaching About Place Names
Why do places and features on the landscape have the names that they do, how can the study of names enhance geography education, and what resources can educators use to study toponyms?  

Teaching with DLESE Resources:  Digital Library in Earth Systems Education
Discover how to use the wealth of DLESE resources for teaching geography and science.  

Corny Geography
Use corn mazes to teach and learn about geography.

Analyzing the Earth Using Historical Topographic Maps
Discover why and how to compare historical to current topographic maps to explore landscape change, human-environment interaction, urbanization, and more.

Analyzing the Earth Using Historical and Current Aerial Photographs
Discover why and how to compare historical and current aerial photographs to explore landscape change, human-environment interaction, land use change, and more.

Examining River Systems, Watersheds, and Climate Using Historical and Real-Time Streamflow Data
Explore a wealth of geographic topics by examining historical and real-time streamflow information from the USGS.  

Teaching About and Using Geographic Coordinate Systems
Understanding and using latitude-longitude, UTM, and state plane coordinate systems to support geography and science education, GIS, and GPS in the curriculum..  

Using the Map Margin
How to effectively use coordinate systems and other information on USGS topographic map margins in teaching. 

Deforestation, Afforestation, and Reforestation
Distinguish between these terms when teaching about our changing planet. 

Teaching With NASA WorldWind
How to effectively teach with Virtual Globe technology, emphasizing NASA's WorldWind

Teaching With Google Earth
How to effectively teach with Virtual Globe technology, emphasizing Google Earth.  

Mapping Your Field Data Using GPS, Mapping Tools, and GIS
How to effectively use a variety of programs to make the most out of analyzing your field data in a spatial framework.

Examining Land Use Change Using Aerial Photographs
Sample high-resolution aerial photographs for 1995, 1999, and 2002 illustrating land use change in a small geographic area. 

Land and Water Lesson
Based on Land Subsidence in Phoenix, and Lakes in the Front Range of Colorado.

Volcano and Hurricane Lesson
Based on Mt St Helens map and Mobile Alabama flood map.

Coastal Processes and Geo-Resources Lesson
Based on coastal processes in Maryland, and sand and gravel in Colorado. 

Hydrology, Weather, and Mining Lesson
Based on analyzing maps in Rocky Mountain National Park, mine lands, and more.

Quizzes

USA Geography Quiz

40-question quiz to spark inquiry-based investigation about the USA's elevations, population, landforms, and climate with data taken from USGS and other publications.

National Parks Quiz

Match the national park with its landforms on a USGS topographic map.

Landforms Quiz

Match the landform with its representation on a USGS topographic map.

American Indian Tribal Headquarters Quiz

Match the American Indian Tribal Headquarters with how it looks on a USGS aerial photograph.