Distance Detectives
Suggested Time: 60
minutes
Overview
Students will take a course in order to become “Distance Detectives”.
The course involves performing fun, interactive activities around
calculating distance and reading maps. As Distance Detectives, they will
be able to identify various types of maps, name the features of a given
map, interpret the data, and even draw their own!
Vocabulary
- Map
-
Cartography
-
Cartographer
-
Topography
-
Legend
-
Scale
-
Symbol
-
Compass
Objectives
- Students will learn about the various types of maps and why they are
so important, even in the age of smartphones.
-
Students will be able to identify the features of a map including the
legend, scale, and symbol.
-
Students will learn about the compass directions.
-
Students will apply their knowledge to their present surroundings,
making fun maps of their own.
Next Generation Science
Standards
- PS1-6. Asking Questions; Planning and Carrying Out Investigations;
Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information
Common Core Mathematical
Standards
- OA. Operations and Algebraic Thinking
-
NF. Number and Operations—Fractions
-
MD. Measurement and Data
Required Project
Materials
- Regular maps of various kinds (topographic, road, etc.)
-
Toy detective badges and/or pocket maps (such as those from
http:// www.pocketmaps.com ).
-
Large project paper and pencils
-
Rulers
-
Compass
-
Stickers of various types
-
Color pens
Multimedia Resources
- Are We There Yet, Daddy? Virginia Walters and S.D. Schindler.
http://amzn.com/ 0142300136
-
There’s a Map in My Lap! (Cat in the Hat’s Learning Library.)
Tish Rabe and Aristides Ruiz.
http://amzn.com/0375810994
-
National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas: Maps,
Games, Activities and More for Hours of Backseat Fun . Crispin Boyer.
http://www.amazon.com/National-
Geographic-Kids-Ultimate-Atlas/dp/1426309333/ref=sr_1_2?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394944697&sr=1-2&keywords=maps+for+kids
Optional Multimedia
Resources
-
Me on the Map. Joan Sweeney and Annette Cable.
http://amzn.com/0517885573
Before the Lesson/ Background
Information
Homework from Previous
Session:
The Lesson
Part 1: Reading Together (15
mins)
- Read Are We There Yet, Daddy? with the students. This book is
good for interactive reading, so have the kids identify locations and
match them with the map provided with the book.
-
Note that with the availability of smartphones, many people use GPS
instead of maps. Ask the students to think about and discuss why it is
still important to know how to use maps.
Part 2: Map Detective School (25
mins)
- Announce to the students that they have enrolled in “Distance
Detective School”. Graduates will receive a detective badge (which
may be a pocket map or other item).
-
Work back and forth between There’s a Map in My Lap! and
regular maps. Work with the students to identify the type of map
they’re looking at and what its format is. Then have the students
identify the legend and other important features of the map.
-
Work with the class to complete some simple distance operations.
-
Divide the students into groups. Each group should play at least one
game or do an activity from National Geographic Kids Ultimate
U.S. Road Trip Atlas.
Part 3: Final Project (20
mins)
- Now the students will map the school! Each group should work on a
different section of the school, making an effort to draw it to scale.
-
Students should use stickers or draw pictures to identify fun features
along the way.
-
Have them come up with “funny facts” about their area of the school.
-
Finally, the groups will put their maps together on the wall and share
their funny facts with each other.
-
Host a mini graduation ceremony and hand out the badges and/or maps as
prizes! Everyone who completed the course is now a Distance Detective.