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10 Mapping Tools for Your Lessons

Abel Buell created the first copyrighted map of the United States in March of 1784. This week, we are sharing ten mapping tools you can use to create and share maps with your students. 

Grades K-12

Felt - Interactive Map Creator

Felt is a free map tool that makes creating and working with maps easy. Under the Use Cases tab on the top right, click Education to find ideas for teaching. Pin locations, add notes, color specific areas, add layers, and clip locations.

Grades 5-12

BouncyMaps

View maps from a different perspective. Show how large locations on the map would be based on criteria other than physical size. Choose from the provided topics to see maps change size proportionally to population, economy, religion, and other criteria.

Grades K-12

Bing Maps

Allow Bing to recognize your location, then map directions to anywhere. Features allow you to view current traffic, restaurants, and points of interest along the route. Choose different views for maps, including road, aerial, and street-side views.

Grades 3-12

Map Stack

Create an image from any area on a map. Type a location, then use the options to personalize the map. Change the size of the box's covered area by using the arrows to zoom in or out, then click the map to move it around as you desire.

Grades 6-12

Odyssey

Build interactive, map-based stories without coding skills. Click Create Story to begin and follow the prompts to choose a template for slides or a scrolling or animated story. Add story content, images, links, and more within the sandbox.

Grades 7-12

StoryMap JS

Story Map uses a map or pictures to tell a story. The simple editor in this tool syncs with Google Drive to create a storymap. The completed map is a sequence of slides about a map location or image that includes a heading, text, and pictures.

Grades 4-12

Zeemaps

Generate maps with unlimited markers quickly with this tool! No membership is required to create, save, or collaborate on maps. Enter a title, description (optional), an admin password for others to edit, and a starting location to create your map.

Grades 2-12

Sound Around You

Listen to soundscapes recorded all over the world. Find a place of interest on the map, listen to the recording, and read information about the location. Some locations have a link to a Google Maps tour. Students can also upload their own soundscapes.

Grades 4-12

Tripline

Tripline is a great way to visually put stories on a map. Use this tool to integrate literature, history, or another subject with geography. To create a trip, type in a starting point and select it from a suggested list of matching places.

Grades 2-12

ScribbleMaps

Use this tool to draw on and label any map available through Google Maps with no registration or email required! Create a colorful, personalized map by adding scribbles, labels, and place markers for geology locations, people, or other topics.

This Week at TeachersFirst

Our FREE spring OK2Ask virtual workshops are now open for registration! We are also sharing a blog post related to mapping and kindly ask for your input on our weekly poll.