Title of Lesson: What is a Map?#158

National Standard: 1 How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information from a spatial perspective.
State Standard: 10

Teaching Level: E

Introduction: encourage students to bring in a map from home

Objective/Purpose: to begin discussion about maps, what they can tell us, how we can use them

Materials: maps, paper, pencil

Procedure: Option I
1. display a variety of maps in the classroom
2. have students observe them quietly
3. in a group have students share their ideas about "What is a map?"
4. come to an agreement for a class definition of maps
Option II
1. Without any discussion, looking at any maps, etc. ask each student to draw a map - whatever the word "map" means to them
2. Ask each student to quickly share what they think a map is
3. Record answers for everyone to see
4. Analyze answers for similarities
5. Come to an agreement for a class definition of maps

Evaluation/Assessment:
- Do the students understand maps give us information?
- Do they understand how they can begin to use the information ?

Reflection: How successful was this lesson? Did all students benefit? Were there any surprises? What might you do differently another time? Please note any changes that will make this lesson more effective and useful in the future and pass them along to the NHGA. We appreciate your comments.
Thank you.
The authors. *

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Original file name: 158rtf - converted on Tuesday, 20 October 1998, 20:56