Satellite Images in the Classroom: Resources From the USGS EROS Center

The U.S. Geological Survey's Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offers free educational resources that show how satellite images help us understand a changing world.

Tracking Change Over Time

The Tracking Change Over Time lesson plan. USGS.

A lesson plan for grades 5–8 that builds geography, map-reading, earth science and problem-solving skills by having students compare Landsat images from different years with the free software MultiSpec, as scientists do to spot changes on Earth's surface. It can be used as a self-guided tutorial or a teacher-led lesson, and includes introductions to satellite images and remote sensing, MultiSpec instructions, and more detailed modules on particular uses. eros.usgs.gov/educational-activities

Earthshots

Each Earthshots page features a place and explains the changes its satellite images reveal, covering topics such as natural disasters, urban growth and glaciers. An "About Earthshots" page explains how the Landsat satellites work and what the image colours mean. earthshots.usgs.gov

Image of the Week

The Image of the Week gallery. USGS.

Earth's surface is always changing, through natural and human causes, with local to global effects. The Image of the Week gallery shows examples with short, clear explanations, and offers a free downloadable poster. eros.usgs.gov/imagegallery/image-week-2

Views of the News

Views of the News: the Rio Grande in drought, comparing Landsat 5 (April 5, 2008) and Landsat 8 (March 24, 2015). USGS.

When human impacts or natural disasters make the news, views from space can make sense of them. The Views of the News gallery uses an image slider to show changes on the land clearly, usually with a short description and a link to more. eros.usgs.gov/views-news

LandsatLook Viewer

Explore the Landsat archive in a web browser: LandsatLook shows natural-colour images from all of Landsat 1–8, lets users take screen captures, and makes it easy to compare images over time, with no special software or expertise. landsatlook.usgs.gov

Contact

EROS Center, 47914 252nd Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57198–0001 · 800-252-4547 · 605-594-6151

Sources

• U.S. Geological Survey, EROS resources for the classroom, Fact Sheet 2015–3046. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/fs20153046
• Two screenshots in the original, of pages built on commercial base maps, are not reproduced here.