Parents' Guide to

Maps101

By Erin Brereton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Rich resource for history, geography, and civics materials.

Website http://www.maps101.com
Maps101 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this website.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What’s It About?

MAPS101 is a website that offers support materials in history, geography, civics, and earth science -- and let's not forget about the maps. It provides hundreds of maps kids can view, download, and print. In addition to reference atlases, maps in Spanish, antique city maps, and very simple maps for kids in kindergarten through third grade, you can check out geography news items, geography quizzes, and map-related crossword puzzles. You also can customize maps using the Map Sketch tool. With more than 4,500 items on the site, there's certainly no shortage of things to look at. Teachers can see resources that relate to the Common Core Standards and lesson plans. The site also offers news updates, games, and other activities on women's history, geography, and other topics. Annual subscriptions are $400 to $650 and provide a school with unlimited remote access (meaning kids can use the site from home as well).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

For teachers, there are lesson plans, a geography glossary, and other items; they also can view a list of activities that correspond with Common Core Standards. The site's page organization could benefit from some additional ways of dividing up content; you can search by location, keyword, or subject, but the long list of topics on many of the pages can make scanning for subjects or meandering difficult. Still, kids and adults should enjoy getting quick hits of information from the site's interactive maps and other resources; Maps101 presents an impressive amount of information in an interesting, engaging way.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why learning about history and geography can help society. What events, such as the civil rights movement, have helped people in the U.S. advance and make significant changes?

  • Talk about how life differs in other countries and cultures. Ask your kids: Did anything on the site sound very different from day-to-day life in the U.S.?

Website Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended website lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate