Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

Follow National Park Rangers on a remarkable journey in these 360-degree videos. Guides take viewers into the most interesting, yet unknown, places in six different park locations. Choose a park to begin your journey, then after a short introduction, explore locations dragging the mouse or cursor around to view these sites from every angle. As you explore, guides provide additional information on each location.

tag(s): alaska (20), florida (10), hawaii (7), landforms (38), national parks (27), states (122), utah (2), video (257), virtual field trips (80)

Create an image from any area on a map using Map Stack. Type a location to find it on the map, and then personalize from several options. Change the size of the covered area in the box by adjusting the arrows in or out. Click the map to move it around to fit in the box how you like, or set the image size in pixels. One interesting option is the drop-down box to change the look of the map. Use this box to view terrain, toner, and watercolor options. When finished, click "MAKE" to create your image, go to the URL provided to view the image and download to your computer.

tag(s): images (269), landforms (38), maps (209)

Learn the definitions of longitude and latitude and embark on a treasure hunt! Find the correct coordinates before the pirates get to the treasures! As you correctly answer problems, you are moved to more difficult levels.

tag(s): coordinates (15), earth (185), latitude (10), longitude (9), map skills (56)

PBS site connected to their series on the Spanish Conquistadors Pizarro, Cortes, Orellana and Cabeza de Vaca. There are excellent multi-media presentations, an interactive timeline, a teaching guide, lesson plans, and PDF worksheets covering each of the American cultures. This site provides good historical background on the conquistadors and would be a great supplement to a unit on early American exploration. While the site certainly suggests that we consider the ethical implications of conquest, it is not heavy handed.

tag(s): aztecs (9), mayans (10)

Google Maps gives you live visuals of any location, ideal for planning a trip, picturing the relationship between places, and viewing physical characteristics of almost anywhere in the world. Type or paste in an address and click "search maps." If you click Satellite or hybrid versions of the map, you will see actual satellite images of the terrain. Zoom in and out, use the street view "orange man" to walk among the buildings and trees, or plan and share a route easily with Google Maps. Using your (free) Google membership allows you to save favorite places and more. Find businesses and other features near a specific map location: hotels, restaurants, schools, parks, and more. Google Maps has become more and more sophisticated, now offering many features previously only available in Google Earth, such as opening and/or saving placemarker files. Unlike Google Earth, Google Maps does not require software installation and does not use as much bandwidth for constant reloading. You can even play a tour of places you mark in Google Maps. They just keep adding more features! Google Maps is available as a free app for Android and iOS, too. The handy embed codes let you put any Google Map in a web page, blog, or wiki. Of course you do not need a membership or any special skills to simply SEE, share, or navigate a map. Membership gives you more ways to save.

tag(s): DAT device agnostic tool (143), directions (12), maps (209)

This multimedia site, based on a Smithsonian exhibit, provides in-depth documentation of the Panama Canal's fascinating history. Start with the brief introductory slide show - and be sure to have your speakers on! Students can discover the purpose behind the construction, how the route was selected, what life in the Canal Zone was like, and many little known facts about the project.

tag(s): south america (36)