This page lists, links to, and briefly describes files developed for the purposes of teaching social studies using geospatial tools (primarily Google Earth and My World GIS). Most, but not all, of these files have been developed at Lehigh University by students in the Teaching and Learning with Geospatial Tools (TLT 368) course taught by Dr. Hammond.
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Description: Provides a path from the expedition's starting point to its terminus on the Pacific Coast. Includes images from places and encounters along the way, and makes use of the Rumsey historical map collection to include the engraved map produced from the expedition's sketches.
1804 - 2005: The Louisiana Purchase & Native American Displacement
Extensive Google Earth file – incorporating GIS data and historical map overlays – developed by the Teaching American History project at Portland State, 2008: LA_Purchase_Native_GoogleEarth.kmz
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Description: Still very much a work in progress. Overviews events in the European and Pacific theaters.
GIS fileset on World War Two casualties developed by Eric Budge, summer 2011–see fileset page.
Description: World-wide (country-by-country) and American (state-by-state) figures for casualties (civilian as well as military) during World War Two. Great for getting across the points that (a) this is truly a world-wide conflict, and (b) the scale of human destruction is staggering, especially once you consider some of the non-US contexts.
1945-1955: Post-WW II and the Establishment of : NATO and the Warsaw Pact
MyWorld GIS file developed by Richard Rosenblum, fall 2012 NATO WP.m3z
Description: MyWorld GIS file with post WWII country boardersborders, NATO and Warsaw Pact countries and entry dates, and associated important cities.
1950s USA: Interstate Highway System; Levittowns
Highway system: Google Earth file developed by Tom Hammond & Rich Rosenblum, 2013: Interstate Highway System ver02.kmz
Description: Displays cities in selected northeastern states (PA, NY, OH, NJ, MD, DE) to illustrate some of the reasoning behind the development of the interstate highway system. Cities are rank-ordered by population, demonstrating how the interstates link population centers together. Students can be prompted to notice the density of highways around state capitals, illustrating their political power relative to their size. The instructor can zoom in to show beltways and secondary highway systems.
Development notes
Includes selection from Matt Fox's world-borders.kml.
This file wasLevittowns: Google Earth file developed by Greg Freeman, 2013: Levittowns ver02.kmz.
Description: Locates and dates three Levittowns outside of the NYC and Philadelphia metro areas.
Development note: These files were developed for use with students in Pennsylvania; however, it can be adapted to other geographic contexts.
1962: Cuban Missile Crisis
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