The Polar Regions: Arctic Maps & Images

Xpeditions

An offering by National Geographic, this site provides the best free printable maps on the Internet for educators. Choose your location and then choose detailed or basic. Once you have chosen a continent or region, one can choose a portion (e.g., a state or province). There is no Northern Hemisphere map, but the map of Canada can be very useful as can the map of Alaska (North America, United States, Alaska). Use it with your study of the Iditarod or with literature relating to the polar regions.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 2: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

Map Machine

This site by National Geographic is great. Type "Arctic" in the search box to the left. Then click Go. You will be given a choice of maps to see. The tundra maps are interesting. You can then zoom in or out or pan up and down to see the area. You can also e-mail yourself the map you choose. Can be a little slow to first load especially in middle of the day. It's worth the wait.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 2: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

Earth Viewer

This allows your students to see the earth from any latitude and longitude. Look at it at different times of day to see where it's night and where it's day. It's way cool!

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 2: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring

Provides a lovely map showing permafrost zones in the circumpolar region. The explanations of how the scientists get these measurements is quite interesting and could be a useful adjunct to studies of global warming in the classroom.

Nature of Science Standard 12: Understands the nature of scientific inquiry
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 2: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

Canadian Arctic Species Maps

If your class is studying the ecology or the animals of the Arctic, this is the site for you. Choose an animal or bird link. You will see a picture and a description of the animal. Then choose one of the seasonal distribution maps and you can see where this animal can be found during that season. Great for those comparison exercises.

Life Sciences Standard 6: Understands relationship among organisms and their physical environment
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

Maps of Regions within the Arctic Rim

Beautiful maps that are easy to read and easy to "zoom in" both in printed and when projected. Some of the cities on the maps also have associated fact sheets that can be reached by clicking on the city name.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
ISTE Student Technology Standard 2: Uses technology productivity tools
ISTE Student Technology Standard 5: Uses technology research tools

Arctic Environmental Atlas

An online GIS map that lets you turn on different themes and then see particular aspects (e.g., select topography and then see volcanoes). It works quickly and well and is a lot of fun to use. This map also provides zoom features. This site truly shows the potential of hooking data to online maps.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
ISTE Student Technology Standard 2: Uses technology productivity tools
ISTE Student Technology Standard 5: Uses technology research tools

Current View of Sea Ice in Northern Hemisphere

Shows the extent of sea ice in the Arctic daily. You may want to archive the data over several months to show students how the sea ice changes over the seasons.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.
ISTE Student Technology Standard 2: Uses technology productivity tools
ISTE Student Technology Standard 5: Uses technology research tools
ISTE Student Technology Standard 6: Uses technology for problem-solving

Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Maps

You can preview these maps and then download a map of incredible detail and beauty. The vegetation zones map is excellent for those classes studying the different biomes of the arctic.

Life Sciences Standard 6: Understands relationships among organisms and their physical environment
Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

Northern Hemisphere

Houghton Mifflin provides a nice look at the Northern Hemisphere. This one seems to look better online than printed.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

Relief Map of the World

This beautiful relief globe from NESDIS can be seen from many different perspectives. Use the pull-down to see different views of the earth. Can help students visualize the use of latitude and longitude.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 1: Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, etc.
Geography World in Spatial Terms Standard 2: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment.

UCAR Digital Image Library

Type the word "Arctic" or "glacier" in the search box or choose "Modeling" or "Climate Change" from the pull-down and explore the wonderful images that can be used in your classroom free of charge.

Geography World In Spatial Terms Standard 3: Understands the characteristics and uses of spatial organization of Earth's surface.
Geography Environment and Society Standard 14: Understands how human actions modify the physical environment.
Geography Environment and Society Standard 15: Understands how physical systems affect human systems.

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