Geography and Mapping-Understanding My Place in the World
Teacher: Mel Zastrow
Email: melissa.zastrow@mgschools.net
Course Description:
This course will explore how mapping can help us understand our place in the world. The course begins locally and expands throughout the trimester. Students will use mapping skills to map our school playground, create mazes, map trails, go geocaching and map Dane County Parks.
Driving Question: How can we use mapping skills to understand the world around us?
Unit 1
Mapping Basics
What are the basic components of a map?
Mapping Project 1: Map My Bedroom
Unit 2
Using Mapping for Design
How can we design our school playground?
Mapping Project 2: Map the Playground
Unit 3
How can we learn to read maps and use them to navigate?
Mapping Project 3: Swamplovers-Plan Our Trail
Unit 4
How can mazes help our brains?
Mapping Project 4: Design Your Maze
Unit 5
How can we use other navigational tools?
Understanding Geography Recap
Mapping Project 5: Map Your World
Unit 6
Mapping Project 6: Dane County Parks
Issues, Ideas and Concepts to Explore:
Components of a map
Designing to scale
Reading maps
Using maps to navigate
Other Navigational skills