Internet Field Trip: Maps, Globes, and Map Skills

• PRINT
• EMAIL

The start of a new school year is a great time to cover maps and map skills. After all, for the rest of the year nearly all of what we teach in social studies relies, in one way or another, on students' comprehension of basic map skills. Recently, I helped some brand-new teachers, as well as some veterans, and I checked out a variety of Web sites that would show the way to better mapping.

So, where to begin teaching students all about maps? The U.S. Geological Survey helps us to convey an understanding of maps with What Do Maps Show. There are four different lessons you can choose, including a map introduction, how to read maps, what you can learn from them, and topographical maps. I've used each of these, and you can, too, depending on the particulars of your classes. There's a helpful Teacher's Guide to get you started.

For older kids, I like to start with longitude and latitude so that students have a solid foundation upon which to build their skills.

Maps are diagrams showing different types of information about a place, such as rivers and roads. Try pairing a map of a locality with a different view, from the air, to compare features. My students are truly fascinated by different places around the planet, induced by yours truly, who has been lucky enough to travel to lots of different places, from the Arctic Circle to Greece's fascinating Corinth Canal. They jump at the chance to look, using an aerial view, at different places around the world. When using TerraServer, my students have just such a chance. I often use this to show them the various areas we study at any given time, because you can find any spot on earth. It's a great interactive activity, and certainly has a high "wow" factor among kids.

Cleveland, Ohio
Lists some of the many fun things to do in Cleveland, Ohio, such as visiting the Great Lakes Science Center or the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Printable Activities: Create Bookmarks, Greeting Cards, Door Hangers with the Characters from Kung Fu Panda
Fun end-of-the-school-year activities, including the "Create Your Own Printable" activity, in which students can customize their own designs to create bookmarks, cards, and door hangers.

Grade 4-6: Lessons, Printables and Activities
Celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month and the end of the school year with fun lessons, printables, and activities inspired by Kung Fu Panda, the new animated film from DreamWorks and Paramount.

LESSON PLAN	The Bunyans Lesson Plan In addition to being a great take on the Paul Bunyan myth, I use The Bunyans during author studies of both Audrey Wood and David Shannon. Students...
UNIT PLAN	Lewis & Clark Allows your students to follow Lewis and Clarks Corps of Discovery's exciting journey west from 1803 to 1806.
BOOK INFORMATION	Scholastic Atlas of the United States From coast to coast, the Scholastic Atlas of the United States illustrates every major geographical feature including: major cities and state capitals; interstate highways; lakes, rivers, and marshlands; forests and mountain systems; national parks, reservations and refuges. This book gives an introduction to the eight regions of the country and discusses in detail the unique qualities of each state and its people.