This is too good to leave in comments. A reader named Chris commented on my earlier post about NOAA maps with a list of sources.
Humans generally take in information much faster visually, and retain it longer. Maps provide a key tool for teaching history. The more the better, I think.
Chris wrote:
The NOAA data center is one of many really neat places to get data, images, and materials. Here are a few more (and let me know if you want more on any one topic, as I collect links like these – and happen to work in the field!):
Earth Observatory Science site. Free! One of the best sites out there.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Visible Earth:
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/Find Space Objects! Easy views from your location. Cool.
http://www.heavens-above.com/Space weather/environment. Great insight into the sun and upper atmosphere.
http://spaceweather.com/
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/Elevation, land use, maps, and lots of other GIS data:
http://seamless.usgs.gov/Learning technologies. Some fantastic educational materials:
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/index.htmlDirect Readout Data. Great images.
http://directreadout.gsfc.nasa.gov/Distributed Active Archive Center.
http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/www/More great free images.
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/Cheers!
Chris
