Dave Wirth and Nan Youngerman's classes created maps of their classroom by using a grid system placed on the classroom walls. Evenly spaced numbers run along the top of one wall, evenly spaced letters along the top of the other. If a student is familiar with a map of his or her own classroom, the next logical step is to map the schoolyard. You can make maps of your schoolyard using a similar grid system, or by using GPS and GIS by marking points and boundaries over a basemap.
Students can examine what percentage of their school grounds are permeable.
School Research Site Maps Lincoln Elementary School Students from Jeff Maas and Dave Wirth's classes created this GIS map of wildlife sightings from observations taken during April and May of 1997. They plan to make similar maps each year to compare the levels of diversity. Click on the Pothole Map to see what the numbered points represent. Regional Maps Historical Maps Taking a look at regional maps can aid in watershed study. The Wisconsin Maps and Geographic Information Systems Resources page gives a list of Wisconsin maps to study.