Teach with GIS | Resources for Teaching with Maps for K

Enhance teaching and learning

Maps are powerful tools that expand students’ understanding of the world, its physical systems, and human populations. Interactive digital maps increase engagement and support deep exploration of subject material. With maps, students can gain greater understanding and build critical thinking skills.

K–12 educators can incorporate maps in social studies and STEM at any grade level. From individual or small-group work to map projects, teachers go beyond paper maps and engage students using maps of standard content.

What do you want to do?

Find lessons
Explore your world
Build your GIS skills
Empower project-based learning

Find lessons

Enhance student learning with easy-to-use activities for teaching common curriculum topics through interactive digital maps.

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A row of students sitting at their desks using tablets in a sunlit modern classroom

Explore your world

Investigate the world using 2D and 3D maps in National Geographic MapMaker. Curated, standards-based maps can support your existing curriculum.

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Concentration map of a coastline in red and yellow

Build your GIS skills

Access professional development to help you teach with maps, from foundational mapping skills to map authoring, data collection, and analysis.

Explore GIS courses

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Empower project-based learning

Let your students dive into solo and collaborative map projects. Use GIS to explore questions, generate data, and build maps to solve problems.

Explore project-based learning

Two college students examine a tree stump in a tree-lined field as a teacher holding a tablet speaks

Stories of GIS in the classroom

Innovative methods of teaching social studies with GIS

A Virginia social studies teacher uses ArcGIS to enhance lessons and engage students with modern technology.

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Geologist-turned-educator expands GIS access

At the West Virginia Department of Education, Dr. Erika Klose helps teachers and students access ArcGIS software across the district..

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GIS for STEM and SPED learners

A new GeoEd program introduces GIS to STEM and special education teachers and students in the geosciences.

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Challenging students to solve real-world problems

Learn how a sustainability challenge is helping young people gain vital workplace skills by using ArcGIS tools to solve real-world problems.

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Teachers and students map invasive slugs using GIS

A student-friendly Survey123 app helps track invasive slugs and snails—which carry parasites that threaten Hawaii’s environment—through a project led by the Big Island Invasive Species Committee.

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Louisiana high school students gain new skills with GeoStewards program

An after-school program uses GIS to boost students’ environmental literacy and help them develop research and communication skills.

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