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
Objectives
Next Generation Science Standards
Common Core Mathematical Standards
Required Project Materials
Multimedia Resources
Optional Multimedia Resources
Before the Lesson/ Background Information
Homework from Previous Session:
The Lesson
Part 1: Reading Together (15 mins)
  1. 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.
  2. 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)
  1. 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).
  2. 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.
  3. Work with the class to complete some simple distance operations.
  4. 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)
  1. 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.
  2. Students should use stickers or draw pictures to identify fun features along the way.
  3. Have them come up with “funny facts” about their area of the school.
  4. Finally, the groups will put their maps together on the wall and share their funny facts with each other.
  5. 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.