Title:   Community Map
 

Grade Levels:  3-4
 

Subjects:  Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Art
 

Learner Outcomes:

  Students will illustrate pictures of their homes.
  Students will observe how to use Mapblaster.
  Students will create a map of their town including bus routes and
       home locations.
Duration of Lesson:

1 - 45 minute session
 

Materials:

  5 x 7 index cards, yarn, adding machine tape
  Bulletin Board or large wall
  Markers, crayons, and colored pencils
  Trace or use Ellison machine patterns to make buses


Technology Tools/Courseware:

  Online--Mapblaster
  Digital Camera
  Color printer


Teacher Notes:

  Prior to teaching lesson, use a digital camera to photograph school
     and community landmarks; print photos.
  Get Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) signed by each student and
     parent.


Procedures:

  Share the following poem with the students:
Maps
Maps help us figure out
where we need to go,
which states we have visited,
and which we'd like to know.
Maps show lakes, mountains, rivers,
north, south, east, and west.
Maps show parks, beaches, cities,
But do not pick the best.
See how our nation lies
between the Atlantic and Pacific?
Maps name all four oceans-
they're wonderfully specific.
--Carol Weston
  Tell students they will create a map of their own town showing
     school bus routes.
  Handout index cards, ask students to draw and color pictures of
     their homes, write name on front of card.
  Demonstrate how to use Mapblaster.  Print a community map.
  Assist students in creating a map on bulletin board.
  Add students' homes
  Add bus cutouts with numbers.


Modifications:

Teacher will assist special needs students with the drawing of their homes as necessary.
 

Enrichment Activities:

Use bus schedule to compute time in minutes for each bus driver to complete his/her given run.
Students will be able to locate maps of other towns using Mapblaster.
 

Evaluation/Assessment:

Teacher's observation of students' cooperative participation in group activity and data collection.
 

State and National Standards:

English Language Arts--3.2, 3.29, 3.83, 3.90, 4.18, 4.93
Social Studies--3.29, 3.36, 3.46, 3.51, 3.52, 4.43, 4.44, 4.50, 4.51
Math--3.43, 3.49, 4.41, 4.50, 4.52
Art--3.1, 3.9, 3.26, 4.13, 4.16

National Standards

References:

Mapblasterweb site
Moore, Helen.  A Poem a Day.  Scholastic, Inc., 1997.
 

Authors:

Burnsville Elementary School

  Brenda Bleigh-bbleigh@access.k12.wv.us
  Sandy Post-spost@access.k12.wv.us
  Debbie Smith-dasmith@access.k12.wv.us

 
 
Intro. Page
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5