• The GEODE Initiative has developed a full-year high school environmental science course called Investigations in Environmental Science: A Case-Based Approach to the Study of Environmental Systems (CASES).  CASES is available from It's About Time Publishers.  Click here for more information. 

• The GEODE Initiative has developed two 6-8 units for middle school Earth science that are in press.  They will be available by Fall 2007.  They are Planetary Forecaster, a unit on the relationship between physical geography and climate, and Earth Structures and Processes, a unit on plate tectonics.

• The Saguaro Project is in the final stages of developing high school Earth science units for My World to be published in 2007.

• The Investigating with GIS (I-GIS) Project at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science has created curriculum materials for studying the impact of mining runoff on stream and river ecosystems.

• The Ocean Explorers project at the Center for Information Processing and the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary has developed My World activities to study marine sciences.

• Additional My World GIS activities can be found at the ESRI ArcLessons website. 

Below is a listing of downloadable activities and resources created by the My World team at the GEODE Initiative and by other My World users.

How to Install Activity Center Files: For the files in the Activity Center, copy the .m3vz files into the data folder of the My World installation folder on your computer. On a PC it will be C:Program Files>My World GIS>data. On a Mac it will be in Applications>My World GIS>data (Depending on your version number the exact name of the folder my differ). Once the m3vz file is copied to the data folder, My World will add it to the All Projects data library. When you open My World, select the "All Projects" data library and drag the project of interest to the Layer List. This will cause My World to open the project file.

Please contribute your own activities! We  encourage all My World users to submit your own activities for use by others. All submissions are reviewed by our project team.  Click here to upload your own activity to the My World Activity center. It will appear immediately on this page as an unreviewed activity.  A member of the My World team will test the activity and contact you with any recommendations for improvements. 

 Unreviewed         Reviewed and Awaiting Revision

     Reviewed and Approved

Name		Status		Description
Analyzing Asia's Population using MyWorldGIS				We all know that Asia is the world’s largest continent in terms of both land area and in population. However, Asia’s population is wonderfully diverse, with a tremendous variety of countries, regions, cities, and rural areas containing a wide variety of people of different cultures—customs, languages, religions, and more. These characteristics vary across space and through time. We will use MyWorldGIS to explore Asia’s population.You will discover how the size of age groups within a population can have powerful effects on the country. Understanding the dynamics of a population can help a country's leaders plan for a healthy and stable future. Files: Author: Margaret Chernosky and Joseph Kerski Author Institution: Bangor High School Author Email: mchernosky@bangorschools.net Teacher Docs: Analyzing_Asia_MyWorldGIS.doc Data: Asia_data.zip My World Version(s): : 4.1 Subject: Geography Level: High School Duration: Week-long Unit Comments: This lesson was written by Joseph Kerski, ESRI to celebrate the Geographic Alliance Network focus on Asia. The design and questions are Joseph's; Margaret translated the lesson for MyWorldGIS.
Cherokee Removal Activity				The Cherokee Removal is a collection of primary and secondary source materials for the high school classroom. Materials included for download here are the two GIS based activities that are part of a larger collection of Cherokee Removal teaching resources found at: http://www.intimeandplace.org/cherokee/ The complete collection also includes written, photo, and static map items and related activities. The goal of the unit is to allow students to gain a more thorough understanding of this important event in American history as they compare and contrast various views of Cherokee life through the information available in a federal census of the tribe made in 1835 at the time of removal. The GIS activities make this possible by providing access to census data that can be interpreted within the context of a variety of more traditional historical sources. Sample lesson materials are included here, but teachers are encouraged to adapt the resources in the collection to best meet theirs and their students’ needs. Files: Author: Rick Thomas Author Email: rthomas26345@msn.com Teacher Docs: Cherokee_Activity_Docs.zip My World Version(s): : 4.0 Additional Data: Cherokee.m3vz Subject: Geography Level: High School Duration: Week-long Unit Comments: GIS files for this project are uploaded as indicated above, but they are also available through the In Time & Place web site at: http://www.intimeandplace.org/ along with a variety of additional primary and secondary materials on the Cherokee removal.
Chicago Schools (1/1)				The Chicago Schools unit demonstrates the use of USGS aerial photography and topographic maps in the Chicago area. It is a good introductory "hook", especially for students in Chicago. There is also a version of this project that demonstrates My World's ability to connect to a remote data server (in this case TerraServer) and access aerial photography. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Teacher Docs: MW_Introductory_Demo_final.pdf My World Version(s): : 4.0 Data: Chicago_Schools.m3vz Additional Data: Chicago_Schools_wTerra.m3vz Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity
Dust Bowl Activity				The Dust Bowl is a collection of primary and secondary source materials for the secondary classroom.   Materials included for download here are the two GIS based activities that are part of a larger collection of Dust Bowl teaching resources found at: http://www.intimeandplace.org/Dust Bowl/ The complete collection also includes written, photo, and static map items and related activities.  The goal of the unit is to allow students to gain a more thorough understanding of this important event in American history as they compare and contrast the traditional interpretation of the event with more recent conclusions.  The GIS activities make this possible by providing access to census and agricultural data from 1930 and 1940 along with soil and climate data from the the middle of the decade of the 1930s when the dust storms were at their peak. Sample lesson materials are included here, but teachers are encouraged to adapt the resources in the collection to best meet theirs and their students’ needs. Files: Author: Rick Thomas Author Institution: Author Email: rthomas26345@msn.com Teacher Docs: Dust_Bowl_Lesson_Materials.zip Data: Dust_Bowl.m3vz My World Version(s): : 4.0 Subject: Geography Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments:
Earth Science: Climate Change				The Climate Change unit is a series of activities that uses My World to allow students to explore the melting of the Greenland Ice sheet and decreasing salinity levels in the North Atlantic. The impacts of these changes are examined in Europe. This activity is a 2-day activity. In the first part of this unit, students divide into two groups. Group A explores the question "Is Greenland melting?" Group B explores the question "How has the Salinity in the North Atlantic Changed?" In the second part of this activity, students from Group A and Group B join to address the question: "How are climate and ocean currents interlocked?" All documents needed to complete the activity are contained in the file named Climate_Change_Documents.zip while map views for the activity are posted in the three additional data fields.   The student documents for the activity are arranged in four parts: an introduction, Group A part one, Group B part one, and Part Two.   Files: Author: Betsy Youngman (with the My World Team) Author Institution: Phoenix Country Day School Author Email: Betsy.Youngman@pcds.org Teacher Docs: Climate_Change_Documents.zip My World Version(s): : 4.0 Additional Data: Climate_Change_Greenland.m3vz Additional Data (2): Climate_Change_Oceans.m3vz Additional Data (3): Climate_Change_Impact.m3vz Subject: Environmental Science Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity
Earth Science: Glacier Activity				In the Glacier Activity, students will use My World to investigate the conditions in which glaciers exist, glacier movement, and other features of glaciers.  The activity is in four parts, and designed to last 3-5 days.  The introductory files include a 1-page Teacher Guide, 2-page document to help you prepare students for the activity, and a student assessment with blank student answer sheet and teacher answer key. Part one investigates the conditions that support glaciers, and includes a My World map view, a student activity sheet and blank answer sheet.  Part two investigates the movement of glaciers, and includes a My World map view, a student activity sheet and blank answer sheet.  Part three investigates the land features that show evidence of glacier retreat, featuring photos of Glacier National Park and Kettle Moraine.  Includes two My World map views (for Glacier Park and for Kettle Moraine), a student activity sheet and blank answer sheet.  The final part of the activity explores the possible impacts of glacier melting on humans.  It includes a My World map view and a teacher guide for leading students through the activity. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Student Docs: Glacier_Activity_Student_Docs.zip Teacher Docs: Glacier_Activity_Teacher_Docs.zip My World Version(s): : 4.0 Data: Glacier_Conditions_Part_One.m3vz Additional Data: Glacier_National_Park_Part_Two.m3vz Additional Data (2): Glacier_Kettle_Moraine.m3vz Additional Data (3): glacier_human_impacts_Part_Four.m3vz Subject: Geology Level: High School Duration: Week-long Unit
Earth Science: Plate Tectonics Activity				The goal of this more open-ended activity is to let the students add different layers of data that support the theory of plate tectonics. This is 2-day activity. This activity requires the use of a My World "data library" that is located in the data field below. A data library is a folder of data that is added to a project by the user.  The plate_tectonics.m3vz file, which can be found in the additional data field below, is included for teacher use. Students will create their own My World project file using the data library provided here.  The student and teacher documents located in the .zip files below contain all directions needed to carry out the activity. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Student Docs: Plate_Tectonics_Student_Docs.zip Teacher Docs: Plate_Tectonics_Teacher_Docs.zip My World Version(s): : 4.0 Data: Plate_Tectonics_Data_Library.zip Subject: Geology Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments:
El Niño and Kelp Activity				This lesson examines the El Niño phenomenon and its impact on the kelp forest of Catalina Island, the southernmost of the Channel Islands Files: Author: Betsy Youngman Author Institution: Phoenix Country Day School Author Email: Betsy.Youngman@pcds.org Student Docs: El_Nino_and_Kelp_student.pdf Teacher Docs: El_Nino_Teacher.pdf Data: El_Nino_and_Kelp.m3vz My World Version(s): : 4.0 Subject: Environmental Science Level: Middle School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments:
Great Migration Activity				The Great Migration is a collection of primary and secondary source materials for the secondary classroom.   Materials included for download here are the two GIS based activities that are part of a larger collection of Great Migration teaching resources found at: http://www.intimeandplace.org/Great Migration/ The complete collection deals with the movement of African Americans from the southeastern United States to the industrial north in the first  decades of the 20th century.  In addition to the GIS activities the unit also includes more  traditional primary and secondary resources including: letters, speeches, newspaper articles & editorials, songs, and photographs. The goal of the unit is to allow students to gain a more thorough understanding of this important event in American history through a rich variety of sources. The GIS activities provide access to census data from 1900 and 1930 that allow students to examine conclusions about the event by a variety of historians over the last 80 years in a manner not possible until recently. Sample lesson materials are included here, but teachers are encouraged to adapt the resources in the collection to best meet theirs and their students’ needs. Files: Author: Rick Thomas Author Institution: Author Email: rthomas26345@msn.com Teacher Docs: Great_Migration_Lesson_Materials.zip Data: Great_Migration_I.m3vz My World Version(s): : 4.0 Additional Data: Great_Migration_II.m3vz Additional Data (2): Great_Migration_III.m3vz Subject: Geography Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments:
Invisible Boundaries: Created by CIPE				This lesson has students examiine the distribution of sea surface tepaerature across the Channel Islands region. By careful examination of the distribution of key fish species the students find the "invisible" boundary, temperature. Files: Author: Betsy Youngman Author Institution: Phoenix Country Day School Author Email: Betsy.Youngman@pcds.org Student Docs: MW_Invisible_Bound10_6.doc Data: Invisible_Boundaries_2.m3vz My World Version(s): : 4.0 Subject: Environmental Science Level: Middle School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments:
Japanese American Internment				Japanese Americans living in the "military zone" along the Pacific coast of the United States, were sent to internment centers throughout the western part of the country following the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the start of war in the Pacific in 1941. Internment followed on over a half century of discriminatory immigration and land ownership laws against Asians in general and Japanese immigrants specifically. It represents the degree to which racial and cultural intolerance can be carried when mixed with the fear and hysteria of war. And it was not formally recognized in the national conscience with an apology and reparations until nearly a half century after the war's conclusion. The history of the event represented in the documents included in the Japanese American Internment site is at once a story of immigration, significant constitutional issues, racial discrimination, and the lengthy amalgamation of cultures. The GIS activities included here are part of this larger collection of internment materials. In addition to the GIS activities the unit also includes more traditional primary and secondary resources including: letters, court records, government documents, newspaper articles & editorials, propaganda posters, political cartoons, art work, and photographs. The entire unit can be accessed on the web at: http://www.intimeandplace.org/Japanese_Internment/ Sample lesson materials are included, but teachers are encouraged to adapt the resources in the collection to best meet theirs and their students’ needs. Files: Author: Rick Thomas Author Institution: Author Email: rthomas26345@msn.com Teacher Docs: Japanese_Internment_Lesson_Materials.pdf My World Version(s): : 4.1 Subject: Geography Level: High School Duration: Week-long Unit Comments:
Kelp Location Activity				This lesson examines the key oceanographic factors that contribute to the global distribution of the kelp forest. Files: Author: Betsy Youngman Author Institution: Phoenix Country Day School Author Email: Betsy.Youngman@pcds.org Student Docs: Global_Kelp_Student_Docs.zip Teacher Docs: Global_Kelp_Teacher.pdf Data: Global_Kelp_Location.m3vz My World Version(s): : 4.0 Additional Data: Global_Kelp_All_Data.m3vz Subject: Environmental Science Level: Middle School Duration: 1-3 day Activity
Mapping Freedom's Trail: The Undergound Railroad				Mapping Freedom's Trail GIS lesson accompanies Maine Public Broadcasting Network's (MPBN) television production,  "The Underground Railroad in Maine". http://www.mpbn.net/maineexperience/segments.html .This lesson incorporates both teacher-directed activities and a student-directed webquest investigating Maine’s role in the Underground Railroad. Imbedded in the webquest is a GIS mapping project with instructions and data. The GIS project can also be used as a stand alone activity. Students will use My World GIS to create maps showing possible Underground Railroad paths and locations important to Maine’s African American history. Each student will construct their own GIS map as well as engaging Maine African American History content. Instructions are also included for a hand drawn paper version of Maine’s Underground Railroad map. This lesson can be adapted to analyze the movement of runaways in other states. MPBN generously shares this lesson with all teachers. Files: Author: Margaret Chernosky Author Institution: Offered by Maine Public Broadcasting Network Author Email: mchernosky@bangorschools.net Data: URRdata.zip My World Version(s): : 4.1 Subject: Geography Level: Middle School Duration: Week-long Unit Comments: Teachers and students can watch the television segment on line at http://www.mpbn.net/maineexperience/segments.html.
My World Intro Activities: (1) A First Tour of My World				This introductory activity provides a basic tour of My World designed to help first-time users gain basic exposure to My World's key features. The activity consists of a worksheet only and uses data that is already shipped with the My World software. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Student Docs: My_World_Introduction.doc My World Version(s): : 4.1 Subject: General Science Level: Middle School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments: This introductory activity has been updated to reflect the changes made in the latest edition of My World. Changes have been made to screenshots and text.
My World Intro Activities: (2) Volcanoes and Earthquakes				In this activity, students will use My World to find the ideal location for a new hotel in the northwestern United States (i.e. California, Oregon, or Washington).  The ideal location will have to be near a sizable metropolitan area while at the same time being a safe distance from major fault lines and dangerous volcanoes.  Students will get considerable experience with My World's Analyze mode to find a suitable locale.  Included is a My World project file necessary to complete the activity. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Student Docs: Earthquakes_and_Volcanoes(2).doc My World Version(s): : 4.1 Data: Volcanoes_activity.m3vz Subject: Environmental Science Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments: This activity has been updated to reflect changes in the latest edition of My World. Both screenshots and text have been changed.
My World Intro Activities: (3) Map Design & Interpretation				In this activity, students will use My World to construct maps, learning what distinguishes helpful maps from unhelpful maps.  Students will edit colorschemes, symbols, and consider how best to represent data visually in a map.  Reflecting upon characteristics that make a map useful and becoming familiar with the different My World map tools will help students make quality maps and interpret maps not of their own design.  Included is a My World project file necessary to complete the activity. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Student Docs: My_World_Map_Design_and_Interpretation.doc My World Version(s): : 4.1 Data: A3_basicmap1.m3vz Additional Data: A3_basicmap2.m3vz Additional Data (2): A3_basicmap3.m3vz Additional Data (3): A3_basicmap4.m3vz Additional Data(4): A3_basicmap5.m3vz Additional Data(5): A3_basicmap6.m3vz Additional Data(6): A3_basicmap7.m3vz Subject: Environmental Science Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments: This activity has been changed to reflect the latest edition of My World. Both screenshots and texts have been changed.
My World Intro Activities: (4) Plate Tectonics				In this activity, students will use My World to investigate plate tectonics.  Using volcano, earthquake and elevation and bathymetry data, students will gain a deeper understanding of the theory of plate tectonics and its implications.  Included is a project file necessary to complete the activity. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Student Docs: Plate_Tectonics.doc My World Version(s): : 4.1 Additional Data: Plate_Tectonics.m3vz Subject: Environmental Science Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments: This activity has been updated to reflect changes made in the latest edition of My World. Screenshots, text, and the project file have been updated.
My World Intro Activities: (5) Developing Countries Activity				In this activity, students will consider how best to measure country development.  By comparing demographic trends such as percentage of land devoted to agriculture, percentage of population living in urban areas, illiteracy rates, and sanitation, students can reflect on the difference between developed and developing countries.  In the end, students will devise a definition of development and distribute mock funds to developing countries on behalf of the Foundation for World Improvement.  All data needed for the activity is packaged in My World. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Student Docs: Developing_Countries.doc My World Version(s): : 4.1 Subject: Environmental Science Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments: This activity has been updated to reflect changes in the latest edition of My World. Both screenshots and texts have been changed.
My World Intro Activities: (6) Solar, Wind, and Biomass Energy				In this activity, students will act on behalf of the city of Laramie, Wyoming to decide on the source of renewable energy that best suits the city.  Students will weigh the demands that solar, biomass, and wind energy present, using My World to investigate which type of energy plant is most sensible to build, and using equations included in the activity to calculate how much energy each source will produce.  Three project files accompamy the activity in the zip file available below. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Student Docs: Solar_Wind_Biomass_Energy.doc My World Version(s): : 4.1 Additional Data: Renewable_Energy.zip Subject: Environmental Science Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments: This activity has been edited to reflect the changes made in the latest edition of My World. Screenshots and text have been changed.
My World Intro Activities: (7) Changing Biomes				In this activity, students will answer the question, "How might biomes be different in 100 years?"  Students will use My World to assess the current distribution of biomes, examine the effects of cultivation and urbanization on biomes, investigate the historical progress of boreal forests, and see what projections have been made for the future of the Earth's biomes.  This activity integrates a wide variety of data, several project files, and My World functions.  The accompanying project files are available in a zip file below. Files: Author: My World Team Author Institution: Northwestern University Author Email: myworld@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu Student Docs: Biomes.doc My World Version(s): : 4.1 Additional Data: Changing_Biomes.zip Subject: Environmental Science Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments: This activity was edited to reflect the changes made in the latest edition of My World. Both screenshots and text have been changed.
The Mysterious Monarch Butterfly				This activity was developed to help students understand that their community is connected to, and has relationships with, other places both near and far.  Migrating Monarch butterflies provide a perfect example since these insects travel great distances to breed and to overwinter.  They have specific habitat needs to support their long journey and every community that they visit can take simple steps to support this species.  Students will build and utilize skills in spatial thinking through (1) the use of a geographic information system, (2) reading and extracting information from maps, and (3) utilizing this information to solve a real world problem.  Teachers may extend this activity by participating in programs such as tagging or monitoring butterflies offered through Monarch Watch (http:// www.monarchwatch.org), Monarchs in the Classroom (http:// www.monarchlab.umn.edu/), or Journey North (http://www.learner.org/ jnorth/index.html). Files: Author: Michelle Simms and Robert Bednarz Author Institution: Texas A & M University Author Email: msimms@geog.tamu.edu Student Docs: Mysterious_Monarch_Butterfly.pdf My World Version(s): : 4.0 Subject: Biology Level: High School Duration: 1-3 day Activity
What is the Relationship between Educational Attainment and Poverty in Maine?				Understanding the Earth’s Landscape with Geographic Inquiry, Windows on Maine and My World GIS. This lesson will introduce students to Geographic Inquiry and  the structure of MyWorldGIS, while learning specific GIS skills such as finding raw data,quering datasets, symbolizing, editing tables, creating a map for print or inserting in a Power Point. The lesson can be adapted to any American state or Canadian province. Use ESRI's "USCounties" data set as the base dataset. Files: Author: Margaret Chernosky Author Institution: Bangor High School Author Email: mchernosky@bangorschools.net Student Docs: Education_Poverty_msc_07_edit.doc My World Version(s): : 4.0 Additional Data: USCountiesESRI.zip Subject: Geography Level: Middle School Duration: 1-3 day Activity Comments:
Where Do Fish Live? Activity				This lesson uses a combination of student generated and scientist generated data sets to look at fish species distribution and habitat in the Channel Islands. Files: Author: Betsy Youngman Author Institution: Phoenix Country Day School Author Email: Betsy.Youngman@pcds.org Student Docs: Where_Do_the_Fish_Live_student.pdf Teacher Docs: where_do_fish_live_Teacher.pdf My World Version(s): : 4.0 Additional Data: Where_do_Fish__Live.m3vz Subject: Environmental Science Level: Middle School Duration: 1-3 day Activity
Yosemite: First Visits, Lasting Impressions, Preservation				Parks for the preservation of landscape, wildlife, and history are found around the world today in places as different as Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Kenya. They owe their existence in large part to the example created by the United States beginning with Yosemite in 1864. Yosemite is special in several important ways. Geologically, the park is a series of glacially carved, white granite canyons, many over a thousand feet deep. The most spectacular of these is Yosemite Valley itself. Archeologically, humans have populated Yosemite on and off going back almost to the end of the last ice age over 10,000 years ago. Villages of Miwok and Paiute natives existed in Yosemite until shortly after first contact with European settlers in the 1850's. Their legends provide an important and interesting perspective on many of the park's most spectacular features. Historically, Yosemite has provided an important laboratory for the evolution of the national park idea. Writers like John Muir and Frederick Law Olmstead, artists like Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Hill, and Chris Jorgenson, and photographers like Carlton Watkins helped acquaint potential visitors and legislators with Yosemite's wonders in the late 1800s. Early Yosemite business people like Thomas Hutchings and David and Jeannie Curry helped shape how Yosemite was made accessible to visitors. And far-sighted national leaders like Teddy Roosevelt brought a broad vision of preserving special pieces of the American environment. Materials for download here include the GIS-based activity that is part of a larger collection of Yosemite teaching resources found at: http://www.intimeandplace.org/Yosemite/. The complete collection also includes written, photo, and static map items and related activities. The goal of the unit is for students to gain an understanding of the early history of the national park idea by examining the emergence of Yosemite as a park. The GIS activities allow a geographic exploration of the park by inviting students to travel the trails of Yosemite with early explorers, visitors, and the U.S. Cavalry. Sample lesson materials are included here, but teachers are encouraged to adapt the resources in the collection to best meet their and their students’ needs. Files: Author: Rick Thomas Author Institution: Author Email: rthomas26345@msn.com Data: Yosemite.m3vz My World Version(s): : 4.1 Subject: Geography Level: High School Duration: Week-long Unit Comments: