Working with Street Maps

Subject Area(s):

• Geography

Grade Level(s):

• 5th-6th Grade

Description:

Using a Louisville, Kentucky Street Map, the students will gain an appreciation of map layouts and uses. They will learn to locate places on the map using an index. They will also learn to plot courses on the map and measure distances.

Goals & Objectives:

Goal:

Students will demonstrate an understanding of the format and layout of street maps.

Objectives: 

• Students will be able to locate individual places on the map.
• Students will be able to plan routes and measure distances.

Materials:

We will use the class set of Louisville and Vicinity Maps.  We will also use the video Visions of adventure [videorecording] world geography using maps and globes : volume 1 / Executive producer : Timothy J. Barker ; producer/director : Michael E. Hull ; written by Jeffrey Blackmer. World geography : using maps and globes : volume 1.

Procedures:

Week 1 - View the Video which will give an overview of maps in general.

Week 2 - Show the students the Louisville Map, its orientation and its index.  Explain the use of the index and grid markings.  Give the students a list of places to find on the map.

Week 3 - Continue looking up places from Week 2's list.

Week 4 - Give students a starting and stopping point.  Have them plan a route between the two locations.  Have them measure the distance between the two locations. 

Assessment:

Students will show the teacher the various places they have located and describe the route they planned.

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

• Develops and uses successful strategies for locating information.

Uses information accurately and creatively

• Integrates new information into one's own knowledge.
• Applies information in critical thinking and problem solving.

Information Skills and Subskills (K-16)

Planning

• Formulates a search strategy

Exploration

• Uses indexes and search engines

Collection

• Locates relevant information within selected sources
• Identifies and extracts relevant information from selected sources
• Recognizes when sufficient information has been obtained

Organization

• Summarizes/synthesizes/classifies final information

Presentation

• Assembles organized information for presentation
• Presents results

Evaluation

• Determines ways to improve future research process and results
• Subject: Geography

National Content Standards (K-12)

The World in Spatial Terms

• Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, and other geographic tools and technologies