Drawing A Map

Overview:

This activity is designed to access how many students know about maps. A good activity to use at the beginning of a map unit. Students can then see the accomplishment when they see the difference in their "before and after" maps.

Connection with the Curriculum: Geography, listening

Teaching Levels: Grades 4-6

Connection to Oregon State Content Standards:

1.Read interpret maps, charts and graphs to explain spatial relationships.

Connection to National Geography Standards:

Standard 1 How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools and technologies to acquire process, and report information from a spatial perspective.

Materials: white paper 8 1/2 x 11 for each student

Procedure:

Explain to the students that each direction will be given only once, so they must listen carefully.

  1. Turn your paper so the shorter sides are on the top and bottom.
  2. You are going to draw a map of a park. The top side of your paper will represent the north side of the park. The scale of this map is 1 inch equals 1 mile.
  3. The park is 7 miles wide and 10 miles long. Draw the boundaries of the park.
  4. The entrance to the park is on the southern boundary, three miles from the southeast corner of the park. Draw the entrance.
  5. A creek runs through the park in a northeast direction from the southwest corner of the park. Draw the creek.
  6. There is a flagpole one mile directly east of the entrance. Draw the flagpole.
  7. A bridge crosses the creek three miles south of the northern boundary of the park. Draw the bridge.
  8. A bridle path starts one-half mile west of the entrance and runs directly north until it meets the creek. Draw the bridle path.
  9. Trees line the eastern side of the creek. Draw the trees.
  10. There is a campground two miles from the western boundary and one mile from the northern boundary of the park. Draw the campground.
  11. There is a playground one mile from the eastern boundary and four miles from the southern boundary. Draw the playground.
  12. Make a key and a compass rose for your map.
  13. Color your map.

Students will repeat this activity after they have completed activities during the mapping unit.

Suggested Assessment:

Scoring Guide for Drawing A Map

4
All rules of cartography are followed for the final map.
The required scale is used. All required features are shown and in the correct location.
A key shows colors and symbols explaining the items shown on the map. The map is oriented correctly.
The map is neat and attractive.
The cartographer’s name is shown at the bottom of the key.

 

3
Most rules of cartography are followed for the final map.
The required scale is used. Most required features are shown, and in the correct location.
A key shows most of the colors and symbols explaining the items shown on the map.
The map is oriented correctly.
The map is neat and attractive.
The cartographer’s name is shown at the bottom of the key.

 

2
Some rules of cartography are followed for the final map. Scale is inaccurate.
Some required features are shown, and in the correct location. A key shows some of the colors and symbols explaining the items shown on the map.
The map is oriented incorrectly.
The map is not neat and attractive.
The cartographer’s name is shown at the bottom of the key.

 

1
A few rules of cartography are followed for the final map.
Scale is inaccurate.
Few required features are shown and in the correct location.
A key shows few of the colors and symbols explaining the items shown on the map.
The map is oriented incorrectly.
The map is not neat and attractive.
The cartographer’s name is shown at the bottom of the key.