Education Blog

The November 2024 update to MapMaker is focused on workflows around information in the map. You can add pop-ups to sketches, create sketches from search results, see data in 3D without shadows by default, used an improved Map layers panel, and even close Map layers and keep working with an open table. And yes, of course we’ve added some new maps and layers that are ready for your classroom.

MapMaker has large catalogue of carefully curated maps and data for schools that supports a wide range of curriculum areas. This short blog will highlight three new additions to the collection that have an Oceans theme or connection:

Read on for Sea Surface Temperature, Ocean Currents in Motion and Sea Floor Crustal Age.

Have students color a map to demonstrate knowledge, plan a route, design a city, share where they've been or want to go... the possibilities are endless. Start by printing blank maps from MapMaker. Use the Black and White Outline basemap.

Use these GIS resources in your K-12 instruction as you head back to the classroom this fall.

Do you have a teacher you'd like to see bring maps into their classroom? Have you heard the buzz around MapMaker for the classroom? Now the Esri Academy course Use a map for classroom instruction introduces teachers to maps using MapMaker.

The June 2024 update to MapMaker brings improvements for working with sketches and sublayers. There are also better notifications if you've made changes you might want to save. And as we regularly update and add data, there are new maps and layers ready for your classroom.

In this webinar, recorded on July 31st at 10:00 a.m. (PT), learn about free resources that you can use in your classroom now, including maps, data, software, and activities. Discover how to quickly integrate spatial tools to enhance your teaching.

I recently conducted a full day K-12 workshop for educators.  This essay provides the content, data, and tools that I included in this workshop.  I am posting this so that the educators who participated can dig deeper into the tools after the workshop ended, but also for other educators to use. 

What is the first Earth Day you remember? What are you doing -- every day -- to help?

Want to have a little fun with earth science? Check out the "special days" using National Geographic MapMaker!