My Maps for easy content creation

IMWCA17: My Maps for Easy Content Creation

My Maps Examples

Data Downloads & LINKS

hands-on activity #1

  1. Create a new map. In your web browser, go to mymaps.google.com
  2. Click the red "Create a new map" button.
  3. Click on the word "Untitled map" in the lefthand panel. Give your map a title and description.

hands-on activity #2

  1. Add a point. There are two ways to do this:
    1. Find the place you want to mark on the map (pan and zoom). Click the placemark button (under the Search bar), then click the map where you want to add the marker. Add a title (place name) and description (what is this place?), then click "Save".
    2. Search for the place in the search bar by name, address or lat long. Click on the correct search result, then in the pop up that appears click "+Add to map". In the pop up that appears, the title (place name) has already been filled out by the search results, but you need to add a description (what is this place?). To do this, click the pencil icon in the pop up to make the point editable, then type in the description. Click "Save".
  2. Add a line. Click the "Draw a line" button under the search bar and select "Add a line or shape" from the drop down box. Click on the map to draw your line. Double-click the end point to end your line. Then add a title and description and click "Save".
  3. Add a polygon / shape. Click the "Draw a line" button under the search bar and select "Add a line or shape" from the drop down box. Click on the map to draw your line. Finish by clicking on the first point to end the polygon drawing. Then add a title and description and click "Save".

hands-on activity #3

  1. Change your base map style. At the bottom of the lefthand panel, click the arrow next to "Base Map". Click on one of the base map options.
  2. Change your icon style. Hover over a placemark and click the paint bucket that appears. Then click "More icons". Choose an icon and click "OK". Then color the icon by selecting from the color palette.
  3. Change your line or polygon style. Hover over a line or polygon and click the paint bucket that appears. Select a new color from the color palette and move the width slider to see the width of the line or border change.

hands-on activity #4

  1. Add a photo to your map.
    1. Click on a placemark, then click the camera icon in the pop up.
    2. Choose any of the options to add a photo (upload from your computer, take a picture with your web cam, get a photo from your Google Photo Album, search for a photo with Google image search, etc.). When you find the photo you want, click "Select" to add it to the map.
  2. Add a video to your map.
    1. Click on a placemark, then click the camera icon in the pop up.
    2. Click the More option to get a drop down box and enter the YouTube url of your video or search for a video add. When you find the video you want, click "Select" to add it to the map.

hands-on activity #5

  1. Download this spreadsheet: Stzuminus_PlaceNames_LongLat.csv
  2. Click the Add Layer button.
  3. Import the spreadsheet: Click "Import" and browse your desktop to select Stzuminus_PlaceNames_LongLat.csv.
    1. Location columns: Select two columns - Lat and Long
    2. To title your markers: Select - Hul'q'umi'num' Name.
  4. Style the placemarks:
    1. Under "Untitled Layer", click "Uniform Style", then click the drop-down box "Uniform Style".
    2. From the drop-down, select "Style by data column.
  5. Label the placemarks:
    1. Under "Untitled Layer", click "Styled by Use Description".
    2. Click "No Labels" and select "Hul'q'umi'num' Name" instead.

hands-on activity #6

  1. Download Chemainus13.kmz
  2. Click "Add layer".
  3. Click "Import" then select the kmz. A polygon should load on your map.
  4. Hover over the polygon and adjust the color.

more practice

Below is a My Map of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, styled by type (Cultural, Natural or Mixed). Can you recreate this map?

  • Find a list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a format that can be imported into My Maps.
  • Create a My Map and import the data.
  • Style by category type.