Monday Night Musing #7 - Maps

Salvēte omnēs!

I am a huge fan of maps, yet they don't find their way into my classroom very often. Reflecting on why this is the case brings me a fairly simple answer - I used to teach Social Studies, and in order to meet geographic standards, my counterparts and I would include maps with each unit in some way. I did not develop the same habit or pattern with language teaching, so maps tend to be something to build a unit around or as a way of keeping things fresh.

So what's are some ways to use maps?

#1 - Traditional Maps - Whether on paper or on a screen, students learn about the Greco-Roman world from maps like this one:

They can color them or add in the details on a blank map, etc. There is certainly some value to be derived from this, but this is a quick post and I'd rather keep moving. But just to be sure you've heard of it, there are plenty of free quality maps from the Ancient World Mapping Center.

#2 - The Quizlet Diagram - Using Quizlet's awesome diagram feature (more on this in a future blog post), you can create a game where students identify locations within a diagram, picutre, or map. Great for formative assessment, filling a little bit of class time, and for the fast processors who enjoy trying to get the best times. Here's an example that includes the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

#3 - The Interactive Map - Using tools like Google Maps, which allow students to explore more in-depth than a 'traditional' map. I had students do this for a lesson this year when we had only studied three of the Seven Wonders. Honestly, it was a 'be your own sub day' so I didn't think too hard about it except that it allowed me to facilitate and guide students instead of having to perform or lead the whole group. here is an example:  Student Three Wonders Map

#4 - The Custom Map - Incorporating geography, spatial or temporal mapping into a narrative. If you are a fan of Anne Matava's Story Scripts, TPRS, or Asking A Story, then you know the value of having characters travel through space (and or time). Each year my students read a story based on ideas from Goldilocks and one of Anne's original scripts. It involves a character whose journey home from school takes her to multiple houses along the way, and because it is a script, it allows for a lot of customization of story details by the students in class. Here is an example of that story turned into a meandering 'map' using Google Drawings:

I really do enjoy this story each year, and I also like to have students create this map because their final products can be reused for so many post-reading activities. A big hit with the students is Picture Sentence Flyswatter.

Okay, there's probably more to say on maps but my time is up! Feel free to share how you use maps in the classroom. See everyone next week!