The fourth-grade team embarked on a cross-classroom 'road trip' across the U.S. this week and oh, what an adventure it was!
The 'road trip' served a dual purpose: it provided an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and understanding of map skills, and also allowed students to comingle with students from other classes while engaging with one another in an interactive community-building experience. In a time when we have access to sophisticated digital tools to navigate the world around us, learning basic map skills is an essential component of developing spatial reasoning skills. Spatial thinking helps us comprehend the phenomena related to spaces and places around us; it supports our ability to visualize and interpret data.
Students were provided a passport to explore and engage in a variety of interactive, self-directed, map-related learning experiences in each of the fourth-grade classrooms, including:
- using a map grid (the entire floor was transformed into a giant map grid) where students followed directions on a map in order to arrive at specific landmarks on the map grid.
- using QR codes with links to Google Maps to experience some of the most unusual tourist attractions in the United States, while identifying the state on a map, and its cardinal direction within the U.S.
- an integrated map experience where students used a map scale to measure the distance between two points on a map.
- a fact-finding game related to interesting features about each of the states
This week's guest bloggers reflect on their adventures. Enjoy!
I learned how to use a map scale and a map grid. A map scale is useful because you can find out the distance between two locations. A map grid is useful because it helps you find certain locations on a map. I can use a map grid to help my family on road trips so that we know how many miles to get to our destination. - @Coconut5
I learned that if you need to find where coal mines are located, you would need to use a resource map. If you want to go on a hike, you might want to use a physical map; and if you want to know what the climate is or temperatures are in a certain place, you would use a climate map. - @Rosita
I have learned countless things from this experience and working in a group provides me with more opportunities to learn. One thing I learned is how to use a compass rose to find states on a map. We also practiced using a map legend so that we could locate different things on a map. Having these skills will help me be able to get to different locations. - @Sn1p3r
I learned how to find the distance between states on a map. If I was ever driving in my car, without a cell phone or GPS, and wanted to go somewhere, I would need to know how to read a map and know what to do. Also, if I ever worked for a news channel, I would need to know how to identify important landforms. - @CookieDog
One thing I learned from this experience is how to tell the distance between locations using a map scale. This will help me in life because I'll be able to tell the distance between cities and towns on long roads so I know how many miles I will be driving. - @PotatoHead
I learned that maps aren't only used for navigation - you can use them to find almost anything! For example, if you need to find which states grow rice, you would use a resource map. I never even knew a resource map was a "thing". - @ApplePie
I learned the distance between states on a map. If I'm ever going on a road trip, I will know how far away certain places are that I'm trying to get to. - @iamadog697
I learned that maps can help you find anything. Maps can tell you where to find homeless shelters, and stores like TJ Maxx, Old Navy, and Target. Maps can also save lives. For example, maps can tell you where to find the closest hospital if you ever need one. - @TheRing
I learned that elevation maps show how high mountains are. If I'm ever planning to hike a mountain, I could use an elevation map to help me figure out how high the mountain is and how far I might want to go. - @McWhopper
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