Exploring Maps

Introduction:

Exploring Maps is an interdisciplinary set of materials on mapping for grades 7-12. Students will learn basic mapmaking and map-reading skills and will see how maps can answer fundamental geographic questions. The map images and activities in this packet can be used in various courses, including geography, history, math, art, English, and the sciences. The full set of instructional materials details lessons and classroom activities on the topics of 1) location, 2) navigation, 3) map information, and 4) exploration and includes a comprehensive teaching guide. Each of these four topics has individual lesson plans and in class activities broken up into 50 minute classroom sessions, some include homework exercises

Objectives:

• To understand the principals of map representation.
• Students will learn how to navigate space on maps and determine distances based on map scale.
• Learn how mariners used navigation tools to find their way.
• Explore how surveyors record landscape features.

Instructions:

Use this online teaching packet to teach students basic mapmaking and map-reading skills.