This interactive map of New Jersey displays real-time water data from USGS observation stations, paired with current weather conditions.
Students can view water levels, water quality, precipitation, cloud cover, drought, aquifers, watersheds, and more.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The map is fully customizable by turning on or off the various layers.
There is an easy-to-use "measure" tool that allows users to quantify any distance on the map.
Additional Prerequisites
Click the layers button in the top right corner of the page to select the features to be displayed on the map. Click the legend button (next to the layers button) for details on how to interpret the map.
The FAQ link under the tools tab is helpful when learning how to navigate the page.
This resource link is specific to New Jersey, but anywhere in the US can be viewed by selecting a new area of interest in the toolbar on the left side of the page.
Differentiation
In geography classes, students can create customized maps using layers, and look for patterns in the spatial distribution of various features.
In science classes, students can use these maps to observe the uneven distribution of water and discuss the geological processes that may be to blame.
Students can zoom in on the map and explore the characteristics of their specific region or neighborhood within New Jersey.
Many of the observable items like hurricanes, droughts, precipitation, and flooding can be related to climate change. Check out this lesson plan for middle school, this video, or this article to connect extreme weather and climate change.
Scientist Notes
This map presents real-time data on New Jersey's physical features such as the state of groundwater level, flood risk, air quality, and other environmental variables. This is ideal for classroom use.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
HS-ESS2-5 Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-1 Construct a scientific explanation based on evidence for how the uneven distributions of Earth's mineral, energy, and groundwater resources are the result of past and current geoscience processes.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Geography
D2.Geo.1.6-8 Construct maps to represent and explain the spatial patterns of cultural and environmental characteristics.
D2.Geo.3.6-8 Use paper-based and electronic mapping and graphing techniques to represent and analyze spatial patterns of different environmental and cultural characteristics.
D2.Geo.1.9-12 Use geospatial and related technologies to create maps to display and explain the spatial patterns of cultural and environmental characteristics.
D2.Geo.3.9-12 Use geographic data to analyze variations in the spatial patterns of cultural and environmental characteristics at multiple scales.
