Resource Library

The EPA Web site is extensive, comprising more than 300 homepages and between one and two million pages of HTML text and PDF files. The Browse EPA Topics feature is an efficient tool to navigate through Web site content. Search results include basic information, pertinent laws and educational resources relating to that topic.

The University of Minnesota has partnered with National Geographic to develop this innovate GIS mapping tool for educators. This website will help teachers use real data to convey how decisions are made and better understand geographical impacts on society.

ESRI, Inc.’s website provides several data sets and lesson plans using GIS technologies applied in physical and earth sciences. The lesson plans cover areas from earthquakes, tsunamis and tectonic plates to watershed dynamics. Also included are labs that focus on gathering GPS data so students are exposed to the data-collection aspect of GIS technologies.

This National Geographic lesson uses maps created by the Wildlife Conservation Society and helps students understand how GIS and other mapping tools have helped researchers develop programs to mitigate human development for conservation efforts.

What is GIS?

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide useful and creative ways to advance our understanding of the world. GIS technologies allow us to visualize data spatially through maps and can be applied to topics such as land use, population dynamics, geological features, and wildlife distribution. Most GIS analytical software use data from GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) devices or digitalized maps, aerial photography and satellite images.

The USGS and the American Geological Institute have partnered to make a GIS database readily available to educators and the general public in a CD or DVD-format. This data highlights natural hazards, population growth, water resources, and mineral distribution that can provide real-life examples of lessons you may be highlighting in your classroom.

This dataset contains seven activities covering several physical and cultural geography topics, including: climate, population density, relief, mining, manufacturing, earthquakes, faults, volcanoes, tsunamis, and fires. Each activity builds on the data, skills, and concepts learned in the previous activity, and all are based on ArcView (GIS) software from ESRI, Inc.

This USGS-developed activity proposes a hypothetical scenario where students are asked to determine the effect mines and landfills will have on the water quality in a watershed in Montana. Students use EPA, USGS and National Hydrography Dataset data to examine this Montana watershed.

This USGS portal provides information and links to lesson plans that utilize aerial photography, maps and GIS. There is a GIS-Based Lessons section including topics such as Exploring the Titanic, Analyzing Hurricanes and Exploring World Demography. There is also an Activities and Lessons for Exporing the Earth section, with activities not requiring GIS.