Learning + Design

Lesson Outline

These lessons are designed to explore how similar concepts can be explored in both analogue and digital spaces. The introductory and plenary sections of these 'Space' lessons are the same, but the main lesson content varies.

Introductory video: students explore a brief history of cartography and map making, from analogue to digital forms of maps.
Activity 1: students learn how plus codes work in Google Maps.
Activity 2: global treasure hunt. Students use plus codes on a digital map to explore the world.
Activity 3: local treasures. Students use plus codes to locate local sites of significance.
Plenary: Think-pair-share. Students discuss the challenges and surprises of working with analogue maps.

Learning design principles

Introduction: A brief history of cartography and maps

Maps have always changed for humans throughout history, find out how humans perceived the world throughout history by watching this Youtube video from KnowledgeHusk.

Activity 1: Understanding Plus Codes in Google Maps

What are Plus Codes?

Plus Codes are like street addresses for people or places that don’t have one. Instead of addresses with street names and numbers, Plus Codes are based on latitude and longitude and displayed as numbers and letters. With a Plus Code, people can receive deliveries, access emergency and social services, or just help other people find them.

Activity 2: Plus Codes Global Treasure Hunt

Space - Digital Maps

Make a copy of the slides

Thriving in a Hybrid World - Space

Download PDF Version

To set up your global treasure hunt you will need a the Google Maps mobile app. You will be designing a treasure hunt for a partner to follow.

Find your first ‘treasure’ location. This can be anywhere you would like to use as a starting point. Write down city, country, and the plus code, alongside “Location 1” in the table.
Write the name of a feature at that location: such as a place name, street name, or the name of a natural feature (rivers, streams, etc.) in the “Feature” column.
Find your next location, and repeat this process until you have ten locations.
Swap with a partner. To complete the treasure hunt, you must correctly identify all ten locations from the map.

Activity 3: Local Treasures

Instructions for students:

Visit Google Maps
Zoom in to encompass your local area
Identify six of your favourite sites and record the plus codes.
Swap grid plus codes with another student and try to find each other’s local treasures.

Plenary: Think-Pair-Share

What was challenging about reading these maps and finding locations?
What surprised you?

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