Redlands, California—June 15, 2015 — To support Esri's initiative to provide a free ArcGIS Online subscription to every K–12 school in the United States, the company has teamed with GISetc to produce the Earth Science GeoInquiry Collection.

This free set of instructional materials uses ArcGIS Online web mapping and analysis tools to enhance middle school earth science lessons. GISetc is an award-winning, longstanding publisher of GIS curricula materials for primary and secondary school students.

"Earth Science GeoInquiries provide a substantial change in the way we, as educators, use mapping and geographic analysis with data and concepts from across the science of earth systems," says Tom Baker, Esri manager for education. "Broadly, GeoInquiries introduce mainstream K–12 students and teachers to the power of web mapping in a standards-based, teacher-friendly activity, complete with modern web technology, live data, and inquiry-oriented investigations."

The collection contains 15 web-mapping activities that correspond with and extend map-based concepts in leading middle school earth science textbooks. The activities use a standard inquiry-based instructional model, require only 15 minutes for a teacher to deliver, and can run on any device. In addition, the activities harmonize with  Next Generation Science Standards.

Activity topics include the following:

• Topographic Maps
• Remote Sensing
• Minerals/Mining
• Rock Types
• Landforms
• Plate Tectonics
• Earthquakes
• Volcanoes
• Mountain Building
• Freshwater
• Ocean Features
• Ground Wind and Temperature Patterns
• Weather
• Storms
• Climate Change

Esri plans to release high school level GeoInquiries for US history later this year. Teachers, GeoMentors, and school administrators can learn more at  esri.com/connected.

Esri is a supporter of the  ConnectED Initiative.

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About Esri
Since 1969, Esri has been giving customers around the world the power to think and plan geographically. The market leader in GIS, Esri software is used in more than 350,000 organizations worldwide including each of the 200 largest cities in the United States, most national governments, more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies, and more than 7,000 colleges and universities. Esri applications, running on more than one million desktops and thousands of Web and enterprise servers, provide the backbone for the world's mapping and spatial analysis. Esri is the only vendor that provides complete technical solutions for desktop, mobile, server, and Internet platforms. Visit us at  www.esri.com.

About GISetc
GISetc's mission is to provide cutting-edge GIS professional development, curriculum and software support to K–12 and post-secondary schools, educators and students. Their goal is to advance education, improve quality of curricula, provide authentic research and learning projects, and to provide training and skill development in an atmosphere of discovery. Learn more at  http://gisetc.com/.

Esri, the Esri globe logo, GIS by Esri, ArcGIS, www.esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective trademark owners.

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Jim Baumann, Esri
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