GIS Day Resources and Support

"We showed the students how GIS analysis can take a three-week job and turn it into a job that is finished in minutes."

Materials

The GIS Day Committee has compiled materials to assist you in the planning and implementation of your event. Here are a few items we recommend you read first:

The pdf files can be read using Acrobat Reader. If you do not have Acrobat Reader and want to inquire about it, please visit www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/. Please feel free to customize any of these documents (with the exception of the logo). We encourage you to provide us with comments and feedback on the enclosed materials along with any ideas or suggestions for GIS Day. On behalf of the GIS Day Committee, thank you for your participation in this global GIS event.

Show/Hide All Materials

Activities New!
For your convenience and ease of use, K-12 activities are organized by grade level. There are 3 types of activities to choose from: computer-based, noncomputer-based, and Internet links. Pick and choose whichever activities best suit your audience's needs and interests.

Please note that if you plan to take photos of your event, you must have a signed parental permission form for each child in the photo in order for us to use the photo on the Web site.
Free ArcExplorer Download
  • Find out about ArcExplorer 2
  • Go directly to download ArcExplorer 2—If you are going to demonstrate the Maplewood or Schoolbus Activities (above) and do not have ArcExplorer already installed, download ArcExplorer 2, not version 3, as the data for these activities is not compatible with ArcExplorer version 3.
Free ArcLessons Downloads
If you are a teacher looking for ideas about what to do with your students, or even a GIS professional searching for activities to present in your child's classroom this year on GIS Day, you have come to the right place. Visit the ArcLessons Web site where you can query and download a variety of LessonPacks that have been created by teachers for use in the classroom. With content touching multiple topics, including mapping and GIS concepts, social studies, sciences, business, communication, and art, ArcLessons will provide you with 200 different ready-made lessons of varying lengths and complexities to help expose your students to the incredible power of GIS technology. You can browse a list of lessons by category or use the search tools to find lessons in your area of interest. Good luck and happy lesson planning!
Agendas
Animated Movie
Learn how GIS affects your everyday life in this entertaining and informative Shockwave Flash animation movie of 14 vignettes showing how GIS affects your life, from alarm clock in the morning to dinner at night, in ways you never imagined! Great for kids and adults alike. This animation is now downloadable, so you can view it offline. Extract all the zipped files (1.2 MB), and open start.html in your browser.
Badges
This name badge template is editable to allow you to enter the names of the participants directly into the file; they may also be printed blank. The document is designed to fit the Avery Standard 5095-Name Badge format.
Business Cards
This business card template is editable to allow you to enter your information as a GIS Day Coordinator. The document is designed to fit the Avery Standard 3612-Business Card format.
Certificates
Both plain and digitally editable certificates of participation that allow you to personalize the participant's and event holder's name.

*Hint: PDF documents print out with better quality than MS Word documents.

Flyers
  • What Is GIS? (243 KB)—This flyer describes GIS through simple, easy-to-understand examples. This document may be given to all GIS Day participants.
  • GIS Day 2007 Flyer (2.29 MB)—This flyer is designed to be used in promotion of GIS Day. Use it to explain what GIS Day is and how others can get involved.
  • GIS Day 2007 Editable Flyer (2.77 MB)—Same flyer as above but contains an editable text box underneath the GIS Day logo that allows you to enter information about your event. Send this piece to all individuals invited to your event.
  • GIS Means...
    Set of 9 editable 8.5x11 GIS Day flyers to use as announcements or invitations. Fill in your event name and location. Focuses on 9 different areas where GIS makes a difference. Same set also available in poster sizes.
Games
  • Treasure Hunt—One of the games that was played at Kids' Camp at the 2003 ESRI International User Conference. A self-extracting zip file that contains the setup for the Treasure Hunt program. To install the program, run the TreasureHuntInstall.exe program, then run the seteup.exe program that is extracted. The treasure hunt provides an excellent learning tool for K-1 kids learning the different continents. In order to complete the game, the person playing must correctly guess continents and complete a series of clues and puzzles along the way. The clues and puzzles include counting, matching, and logical questions.
  • GIS Day Memory Game—ShockWave Flash Animation—Play it now. This computer memory game challenges you to search for matching GIS pictures on a grid. The memory game has three levels and is fun for all ages.
  • Downloadable Memory Game.zip (for Macintosh)—This computer memory game challenges you to search for matching GIS pictures on a grid. The memory game has three levels and is fun for all ages. (571 KB)
  • Downloadable Memory Game.zip (for Windows)—This computer memory game challenges you to search for matching GIS pictures on a grid. The memory game has three levels and is fun for all ages. (566 KB)
GIS Day Demo
This presentation shows you how to create your own demonstration of "A Day in Your Life with Geography and GIS." Data instructions and a demonstration script are included.
GIS Day Proclamation
Check to see who made GIS Day proclamations last year, then send the appropriate letter below to your public official. Here's help from the National Governor's Association in contacting your governor. Many have e-mail addresses; you can copy the content of the letter (making sure to fill in the blanks first) and e-mail their office today! Revise the proclamation template document (#3 below) and attach it if you can. And here's some help from the U.S. Conference of Mayors in contacting your local mayor. Find out how to contact your county officials by visiting their Web site; county Web sites in the U.S. frequently have the format http://www.co.countyname.stateabbreviation.us (e.g., www.co.cook.il.us) or do a search on the Web for your particular county.

Send received proclamations to Caitlyn Mitchell, GIS Day Coordinator, ESRI, 380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100. If available, hard copy preferred, but digital okay too. The URL of a proclamation already on a Web site is also acceptable.

Also, consider sending your elected official a "thank you" note for making the proclamation in the form of a GIS Day postcard!
  • Proclamation Letter—Repeat Governors—This proclamation template targets governors, or other public officials, who made GIS Day proclamations in a previous year. Use it to request their proclamations again this year.
  • Proclamation Letter—New Governors—This proclamation template targets governors who have not previously made a GIS Day proclamation. Use it to persuade new governors to declare GIS Day 2008 in their states.
  • Proclamation Template.doc—This is a template for the actual proclamation.
GIS Day Logos
GIS Day logos have been provided, allowing you to choose from a variety of different file types. Some of the logos are in Encapsulated PostScript file format (.eps). An .eps file is easily imported into a variety of graphics programs. Use this logo to create posters, flyers, T-shirts, buttons, and so forth. The usage guide explains how to use the file and is to be given to the person responsible for printing. Color, black-and-white, and grayscale versions are included.

Please do not alter or customize the GIS Day logos in any way.
International Translations

French

German

Italian

Spanish

International Posters
Invitation
  • Editable Invitation Template—This two-sided invitation template document allows you to digitally insert your own event information, print it, fold it in half, address, and mail it.
  • Invitation Template—This two-sided invitation document has blanks where you can manually insert your own event information, print it, fold it in half, address, and mail it.
Patch and Pin
Now Available: GIS Day/Youth Mapping Patch and Pin
More than 10,000 GIS Day/Youth Mapping patches and 4,000 GIS Day/Youth Mapping bronze pins are now available to promote to GIS Day participants and events. These patches and pins are now available in the GIS Day Gear store at www.gisday.com/gear.

The availability of the GIS Day/Youth Mapping Patch is part of our ongoing effort to provide materials that assist organizations in promoting the importance of geography to young people. Interested individuals and organizations, such as the Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, 4-H Club, and others, can use the GIS Day Patch as part of their GIS Day celebrations and educational activities.

Approximate size of the patch is 2". The pin size will be approximately 1-1/8". Final designs may vary.
Posters New!
Plot out these posters and display them at your event or around your office. The posters help build momentum for GIS Day. Refer to them when you are explaining what GIS is. Editable Posters
These two posters were designed to allow you to add information (150 characters) relevant to your event such as time, location, a brief description, etc. The editable text box is found on the bottom of the GIS Day poster and in the green column on the right-hand side of the collage posters. Use these posters to promote your event. Forestry Posters
  • GIS—The Power of Information (6.31 MB)—As fires ravaged the forests of the western United States, the USFS communicated timely and dynamic information about the fires and their suppression operations to users of the World Wide Web.
  • GIS—Information Beyond Boundaries (5.72 MB)—Even though the boundaries of the resources that a land manager administers can be clearly defined, the information required by these stewards to work effectively continues to grow. GIS has become a vital tool to help manage the data and applications to use these resources wisely.
  • GIS—Making Maps Reality (5.77 MB)—Geographic information systems allow us to create digital models of reality in order to help us better understand the natural systems of our world and the effects of our efforts to manage them.
  • Download all three posters.
PowerPoint Presentations
Please note that all PowerPoint presentations contain helpful notes for more detailed information on each slide.

General

  • Geography and GIS.ppt—This presentation discusses general reasons why geography matters to all of us. Use this presentation at your event to educate and inform.
  • GIS Day Introduction.ppt—This presentation may be used to introduce GIS and GIS Day to an adult audience.
  • Screen Shots.ppt—Included are screen shots of various GIS applications in PowerPoint format. Plot screen shots out in a large format and post them on a wall at your event. Use these maps to assist in illustrating how GIS is used across many different industries/markets. Ask participants to guess what GIS problem/issue is being identified/solved in each screen shot.

K-12

  • Beginner.ppt—This presentation is appropriate for younger children. To keep the children's attention it is short, elementary, and concise.
  • Intermediate.ppt—This presentation is also suitable for children but is more detailed, targeting a higher age group.
  • GIS Day08.ppt—This presentation is a very interactive PowerPoint with audio and visual effects. This PowerPoint is appropriate for all ages.
  • GIS Journey.ppt—This presentation is appropriate for upper elementary school students. The cartoon character, GIS Gisa, takes them on a journey and teaches them how useful GIS technology is.

PPT Templates

Press
  • Media Guide—This document provides helpful hints for working with your local media.
  • Press Release Template—The press release template, in Word format, is to be used to announce your GIS Day event to local press and association newsletters.
Screen Savers
Use these screen savers on your PC(s) before, during, and after your GIS Day event. To begin the setup process, double-click on the install.exe file. Follow the wizard-driven instructions to load the file. Duplicate the screen saver onto a floppy disk or CD and give it to your GIS Day participants, or place it on your Web site for download.
  • GIS Day 2008 #1—This enjoyable screensaver features fun animations and a gallery of GIS Day event photos.
  • GIS Day 2008 #2—This straightforward screensaver features a bold reminder of this year's GIS Day date and a bouncing "I Love Geography" globe logo with celebrating stick people.
  • What Is GIS?—This screensaver uses a series of entertaining animations, informative definitions, interesting screenshots, and practical "Did you know?" questions to explain the key concepts that make up the science of GIS. Use this screensaver to teach someone about GIS in a few short minutes.
Signs
Use these signs prior to and during your event. All signs and banners have been provided in customizable PDF format.
School Proposal
This sample demonstration/presentation proposal letter can be sent to school administrators outlining your request to demonstrate to schoolchildren how geography, through the technology of GIS, affects their everyday lives.

Please note that if you plan to take photos of your event, you must have a signed parental permission form for each child in the photo in order for us to use the photo on the Web site.
Videos New!
  • 2008 GIS Day Promo Video (21.5 MB) New!
    GIS technology... GIS users... GIS Day... are making a difference in our world. Join us as we visit GIS Day events hosted by Loma Linda University, the Libraries of the Claremont Colleges, and Stantec Consulting Inc. This video offers insight into the many benefits of hosting a GIS Day event, illustrates how different organizations are celebrating GIS Day, and provides ideas and encouragement to the GIS Day community. We hope this video inspires you to join the tenth annual GIS Day celebration, Wednesday, November 19, 2008.
  • Layers of Our World—In this salute to GIS Day, ESRI uses ArcGlobe, 3D Analyst, and ArcMap to provide multiple perspectives of Earth. Special thanks to Digital Globe and EarthSat for their images used in this video. (112 MB)
    MP4 version (21 MB)
  • Layers of Asia: A GIS Journey Through our World. Visit India to see how geography and climate have influenced history, visit the Himalayas to see how mountain climbers use GIS to plan routes, and visit China to see how mega cities will emerge in the 21st century.
  • GIS Day Intro Video
    A 3.5-minute introduction by Jack Dangermond on the significance of GIS Day. Show this video as an introduction to your GIS Day event. Windows users should play this video file with Windows Media Player. Macintosh users should use Quicktime Player. An alternative player can be RealPlayer. (31.7 MB)
    A smaller version (12.9 MB) is also available.
    A streaming version (6.16 MB) is also available.
    An mp4 version (21.6 MB) is also available.
  • "GIS on The District"—During the 2000-01 television season, CBS's hit TV show The District showcased geographic thinking and used ArcView GIS in every episode. You can now view a five-minute movie titled "GIS on The District, First Season." The video is narrated by Lynne Thigpen (Ella Farmer on The District) and illustrates many of the basic concepts of geographic thinking using examples taken from the 2000-01 episodes.
Web Buttons New!
Choose from 5 different Web buttons to post on your Web site to display your participation in GIS Day 2008.
Web Page Templates
Download everything you will need:
  • index.html—This file is the main page containing background information on what GIS Day is, links to other GIS Day-related pages, and has room for you to fill in your own event information and/or add links in the sidebar to preexisting pages or pages you create using your blank.html file.
  • blank.html—This file is a blank page for you to use to create additional event information pages (such as a map to your office, a schedule of events or speakers, and/or pictures from your GIS Day 2007 event).
  • styles.css—Stylesheets for your GIS Day Web site.
  • Graphics—All the graphics that you will need to implement a Web page of your own.
White Papers
  • Hosting a Successful GIS Day—This white paper offers different event and activity ideas for GIS Day. Also included in this document is helpful event logistics information such as registration and invitation tips.
  • Geography Matters—This white paper is excellent pre-reading for your GIS Day event and will help start discussions within your classroom or organization about the vast array of applications and endless possibilities for GIS technology.

Treat/Gift Ideas for Your Event

These items are available for purchase from other vendors but could make good treats or give-away items for your events.