Map collections and resources: Teaching with maps

This library guide will introduce you to Stanford Libraries map collections, services, and related resources.

Teaching with maps

There are many resources available that will get you started in teaching with maps (and more), or engaging learners with maps (and more). We will share these resources below, and please let us know if you know of others that should be added!

Aerial Photographs Tutorial
Colorado School of Mines, Christopher Thiry
This crash course (tutorial) will teach you a basic understanding of how to use and interpret historical aerial photographs (air photos).
Lesson Plans and Study Resources
National Geographic
What's the best way to prepare your students for the GeoBee? Here are some activities and lessons from National Geographic Education that can help your students learn more about topic areas that frequently appear in GeoBee questions.
Map Men
Jay Foreman and Mark Cooper-Jones
Two men with a passion for geography have joined forces to make a YouTube series all about the world's weirdest and funniest maps.
National History Day | Maps Edition
Stanford University Libraries
A digital exhibit that can be used as a guide for finding, analyzing, and using maps in projects.
Smith Center for Cartographic Education
Osher Map Library
Classroom activity kits, virtual field trips, downloadables and more for teaching map and geospatial concepts.
Teach with StoryMaps
University of Minnesota
Discover assignment prompts, guidelines for instructors or students, exemplary student work, and other materials to leverage StoryMaps and ArcGIS as a teaching tool.
Teach with the Newberry's Collections
The Newberry
Primary sources selected by educators, with essays and discussion questions for use in the humanities classroom.