LC21
Supporting 21st Century Classrooms in La Canada
This month’s newsletter is devoted to maps--and how they can add value to any classroom or lesson.
How can you use maps? If you’re looking to inject something new into an existing lesson, why not bring in digital maps? Scroll down through this list to see a huge variety lesson plans, broken up by subject.
As you scan the resources below, you’ll find some that are a perfect fit for a lesson in your class. But others--even ones that may seem unrelated to your content--might spark a new idea in your mind, so I encourage you to keep an open mind, along with a sense of innovation.
Here is a list from DitchThatTextbook.com that gives a bunch of ideas, such as:
#1. Important locations in a historical event —Have students plot locations on a MyMap, filling in additional details as well as historic or current photos and links to more information.
#7. Turn statistics into a visual aid — Looking at the top 50 cities for obesity or fitness? Studying population statistics? Add that data to the description.
#9. Provide parents with an interactive map for a field trip — Give parents clear, interactive information about your trip with a MyMap. Plus, they can click the “Directions to here” button right from your map!
Here are some other resources worth checking out:
As always, please contact David if you’d like help putting together a new lesson, or would like some support as you try something new.
English Language Arts
Many ELA teachers know about Google Lit Trips: these are resources created by fellow teachers that bring a novel to life by showing the locations mentioned in a story, or trace the plot across a geographic location. What about having your students create their own version? It’s not difficult, and you’ll be amazed at the level of engagement.
Students can also incorporate maps into informational reading and writing activities, or creating or expository writing. In my ELA class, we always started a story by seeing where it took place on a map--and we could discuss culture, history or a location, and points of interest that are featured in the story.
Tourbuilder: Another valuable activity that will captivate your students is Tourbuilder, where kids can build a guided tour on a map, complete with photos, videos, and descriptions of each location. It takes some of the ideas listed above and digs deeper. In fact, the Lit Trip for Anne Frank, below, is a combination of both tools. David has worked with some classes on this already and is happy to support you in your classroom.
History/Social Studies
Mr Bizier’s Civil War Battles: Great inspiration for ways to use Tourbuilder.
HistoryPin.org: Check this out for inspiration--and to learn about the historical significance of local points of interest.
David Rumsey’s Historical Map Collection: Old maps laid over a modern Google map. Very cool.
US History Tours (Pre-Columbian Sites and Their Significance, The Revolutionary War, The Lewis & Clark Expedition, Indian-Removal, The Path to Civil War Civil War Battles, and more.)Science
Science classes could have students generate their own maps based on a scientific phenomena, whether it's landforms, migration patterns, locations of major earthquakes, annual weather patterns, or even the spread of disease. Challenge students to create a word problem finding the most efficient route to a destination, whether in time, effort, cost, or carbon footprint.
Geological Features of Yellowstone
Maps and Multimedia in Science Classrooms
A Complete Guide to Using Google Earth in the Geoscience Classroom
Math
Math classes could could learn about area by estimating how many Ohios could fit into a Texas, and then find the total square miles of a place to check their guess.
Maths Maps is a really cool activity to show how math can be applied in real-world situations. Click this link to learn more about it. Maths Maps
More real world math activities here: Google Earth Math Walks
In Karen Gilmour’s 2nd grade class, students are using maps for geography, world cultures, and math. Check out the pictures below to see her students in action.