Map Lessons: The Route to Improved Geography Skills

by Gary Hopkins, Education World

To celebrate National Geography Awareness Week, we bring you five lessons that employ maps to teach geography and a wide variety of other skills.

"When I got to the third grade, that's when I discovered the earth because I had my first geography book... In the third grade room, there was a globe spinning on its axis, and the world was mine, and I feel it's been my oyster ever since. It's whatever I can make of it and make of myself in it."
-- Albert Murray, writer on American culture

Five Lesons for Teaching About Maps

1. Create a Country
   Students apply geography skills to create a map of an imaginary country. (Grades 3-12)
    
2. Global Economy: A Simple Activity
   Encourage students to discover how we rely on our global neighbors by collecting data about where in the world the goods we use every day are produced. (Grades K-12)
    
3. Comparing Countries
   A graphic organizer helps students compare and contrast two neighboring countries. (Grades 3-12)
    
4. Memorable Maps
   This "memorable maps" lesson provides students with a visual record of just how much they will learn about geography this year! (Grades K-12)
    
5. Earth at Night
   Students use maps to identify the ten cities highlighted on an image of Earth at night as seen from space. (Grades 3-12)

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