Developing a spatial perspective in the geographically informed student is more than map skills. It requires nurturing a state of the geographically inquiring mind. This lesson seeks to give students mental palette tools to pick out, conceptualize and label characteristics of a place as they experience it in spatially meaningful ways. Further, to instill a skill as habit, students need to be given multiple opportunities to practice and apply them. My intent would be to have the students use metal mapping throughout the year as another form of journaling or literature response.
Students understand how distinct physical and human characteristics shape places and regions.
Read and make geographic representations to locate and describe locations, distances, and directions and scale. Students will identify the features of their mental maps using these terms. Pass out a sheet of unlined paper to each student. The purpose of the map is to provide directions to your friend who would like to visit you at your school. Assume that they know how to get to Kaneohe, but do not have knowledge of the layout of the area.