Maps Lesson Plans

Learners explore the relationship between a scale drawing and actual distance. In this mapping lesson, learners use an amusement park map to determine distances and what they would be like in real life.

Students access prior knowledge and locate the North and South Poles on the map. In this mapping lesson, students understand the position of the United States relative to the poles. Students answer questions about the globe.

Learners develop icons to represent the function of various parts of the brain and use these icons to label maps of the brain. They conduct Internet research, complete a worksheet, and create their brain map.

Students analyze and act out characters from a novel.  In this novel lesson, students create a story map.  Students complete a questionnaire after the role play and mapping activities.

In this lesson learners are introduced to the concept of mental maps and their development. They transfer geographic images to a sketch map providing visual reinforcement and a means of discussion and assessment.

In this lesson students view a quicktime video of basketball players going from Atlanta to Springfield, Mass. In this scaling lesson, students use a map to calculate the distance of the trip and the length of travel time. In this lesson students apply ratio and proportions to calculate measurements.

Students evaluate maps using the TODALSIGs basic map analysis system-see Map Elements worksheet. They create a map of Alaska using TODALSIGs. Students brainstorm what elements maps should have.

Students construct a topographic map of the Denali National Park. They identify different elevations and record historic landmarks in student science journals.

This lesson has students explore maps to discover historical information about their local area.  In this mapping and history lesson, students use panoramic maps of their own town/city to interpret historical information.  This lesson has students also place themselves into the fact that they are creating new history. 

In this lesson students complete pre reading, writing, during reading, and interdisciplinary activities for the book Mapping Penny's World. In this reading lesson plan, students complete journal entries, go over vocabulary, answer short answer questions, have discussions, and more.