Redlands, California—Education software publisher Maps.com has released its Field Trip Library series, which is powered by the Esri Story Map platform. Using this platform, students are introduced to fundamental geographic information system (GIS) concepts while exploring global culture, regional patterns, and major historical events through interactive maps. Field trips are enhanced with classroom materials such as videos, news stories, and activities designed for Common Core and state standards aligned teaching.
Field Trip Library is available as a paid enhancement to the company’s Maps101 product, which currently reaches over 1.7 million students across North American and international schools. The 10 introductory lessons include
- Lewis & Clark
- Christopher Columbus
- Salem Witch Trials
- Holiday Celebrations from around the World
- Spanish Influence on Texas and the Southwest
- World War I
- Word War II
- The Civil War
- Nile River
- World Energy Consumption
Thirty-day trials are available for new visitors to the website, and two field trips (World War I and Gift of the Nile) are freely available to all visitors so they can see what it is like to explore with interactive maps.
“As a former social studies teacher, I would have loved having my students work with these,” says Charlie Fitzpatrick, Esri K–12 education manager. “History comes alive when you can see the whole story, and it is much more powerful in a map you can dive into. Field Trips rock!”
For more information about Field Trip Library, visit www.fieldtriplibrary.com.