Introduction



About the project.... Despite the fact that our students today have access to GPS systems, or at least apps on their smart phones, etc., we believe that the all students should have the ability to read a map. Too many times, the GPS systems fail us, and we end up in the some strange location. Or perhaps, the everyone is tired of hearing.... "Recalculating, recalculating! Turn around now!"

Comparison Information and Table



Story Line: 1. Bob is getting his shoes on to go out the door. Jill asks where he’s going. “California!” he answers, then leaves and waves goodbye. A moment later, he returns. “Hey, do you happen to know where California is?” “Where’s you map?” Jill asks. “My what?” (Concept: What is a map?)

2. Bob is looking at the map, exited. “This is great! I’ll be back from California in no time!” Jill: “Oh? Are you going to fly there?” Bob: “People don’t have wings, silly! No, I’m going to walk!” Jill: “That would take you weeks!” Bob, pointing at the map: “No it wouldn’t! Look how close California is! It’s only like six inches away!” (Concept: Scale)

3. Bob, looking at the map, kind of scared. Jill: “Bob, what’s wrong?” Bob: “That map may have been made by pirates… or monsters… or worse!” Jill: “What are you talking about? You bought it at Wal-Mart.” Bob: “But look! It has a LEGEND on it! It may be a spooky legend!” (Concept: What is a legend on a map?)

4. Bob, looking at the clouds in amazement. “Wow!” Jill: “Whatcha looking at, Bob?” Bob: “I’m trying to see Santa’s workshop!” Jill looks up. “In the clouds? Why would Santa’s workshop be up in a cloud?” Bob: “That’s the North pole up there!” Jill: “Bob, the north pole is not in a cloud.” Bob, pulling out his map. “Oh yes it is! Look, my map says that ‘north’ is ‘up’!” (Concept: East, West, North, South)

5. Bob is running on a treadmill. Jill: “Hey, Bob. I thought you were going to California?” Bob: “I am! I’m just worried I’m going to get all fat like Greenland!” Jill: “Like what? Greenland?” Bob pulls out a globe. “Yes! Look on the globe. Here Greenland is young and fit. See how skinny it is! Now look at this map. See how much weight it’s gained! Poor thing!” (Concept: Distortion translating globe to a flat map.)

6. Bob, walking in the door. Jill: “Back from California already?” Bob. “I couldn’t find it.” Jill: “But you had a map!” Bob: “I did, but I drove for like eight hours and the ground never changed colors!” Jill: “What are you talking about?” Bob: “If the ground changed colors, I would know I was in a new state. See on the map? Georgia is blue, Alabama is red, Mississippi is green…” (Concept: Types of maps, including political, topographical, etc…)