Making personal maps
Grade Level: 5-6

Overview When using maps, many students have difficulty relating to distances. A map is a pictorial representation of places. People who are familiar with a place draw maps. We can all draw our own maps, which can be interpreted.

Purpose The purpose of this activity is to better acquaint students with maps.

Objectives Students will be able to:
i. Make a map of a specific area
ii. Provide a readable legend
iii. Make a map that could be used

iv. Relate better to maps in general.

Resources/MaterialsConstruction paper, Rulers, pencils, erasers.

Activities and Procedures
i. Each student should determine the distance from home to school. This could be based on an estimated distance for those whose homes do not situate on a plotted route. The distance should be given in kilometers.
ii. On a large sheet of paper, guide the students to plot home, school and area between. Landmarks, buildings and fields should be indicated proportionately in size and distance.
iii. Guide the students to make a scale showing distance on land represented by a specific distance on the paper.
iv. So that anyone reading the map could make sense out of it, the students should provide a legend. Special symbols should be used to represent some of the features.

v. The students should be encouraged to try to read the maps produced by their colleagues.

Tying it all together You will notice that students enjoy using a copy of another`s map to see if they can get from school to a friend`s house. You will also observe that students seem to be more comfortable with reading maps after this exercise. Assessment Ask the children to grade the maps drawn by their classmates

Suggestions/Modifications

  • Students may work in groups to draw maps to their favorite local spots.
  • Students may display their maps throughout the room.
  • Have the students choose the top place in the world that they would like to visit and draw a map depicting how they would get there.
Author(s) Esther Fair, McKinley Middle School; Coffeyville KS

http://www.col-ed.org/cur/