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Map-palooza!


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Keywords: interactive, document camera, compass rose, symbols, map key, map legend, second grade, geography, maps, pirates, creating a map, reading a map
Subject(s): English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Reading, Geography, History
Grades 1 through 5
School: Jouett School, Mineral, VA
Planned By: Chrissy Youel
Original Author: Chrissy Youel, Mineral
materials: document camera, worksheets/printed activities about maps, page protector, dry erase markers, books about maps/geographical places (such as Pirates by Gail Gibbons), projector, laptop, screen

*Gather several worksheets with activities you want your student to complete. In this case, we were studying maps, so I focused on map legends, compass rose, and using a map. I also included a read aloud book that realistically, was too small to sit in a group and read. Instead, using the document camera, it was large enough for everyone to see and comment on, down to the smallest detail!

*Review with students previous knowledge (in this case, we reviewed the 7 continents and 4 oceans with a singing game).

*Using the document camera, place the worksheet inside a page protector (there will be a slight glare, but turning off the light seemed to help; some cameras come equipped with anti-glare lenses). Present the activity as you would an interactive white board activity (students taking turns coming up and marking on the sheet with the dry erase marker, class participation, etc.). I used the same page protector, inserting different sheets in it.

*Our culminating activity was a book on pirates. Before reading, we talked about how and why pirates would use maps. We read the book (shown on the document camera) Pirates by Gail Gibbons. Students then created their own "treasure map," making sure to include a map legend, symbols, compass rose, title, and date.





Comments
My students had a blast with these activities! Their new favorite tool is the document camera! It was important for them to get the practice using the maps and its different elements, but we also felt good about "saving" the environment by not using 22 sets of each paper. It was also a time saver - what would take my kids several lessons to complete was done in one lesson. All the students were highly engaged, as they were fascinated by the images displayed by the camera, their classmates involvement, and being able to "agree" or "disagree" with someone's answer.
Cross-Curriculum Ideas
Obviously, the document camera can be used for any type of activity and subject, from reading aloud a book, to completing a classroom activity to displaying notes for your students to copy.
Follow-Up
Students enjoyed sharing their treasure maps. It was a great way for students to use their creativity to display knowledge learned from the geography unit. You could also have the students use the document camera to display their maps to the class, pointing out the different map elements, as well as the "perils" of their island to prevent others from finding their treasure!
Links: Social Studies Second Grade: Blast in the Past Room (for activity sheets)
Materials: Projectors, Projector Screens
Other Items: 1 page protectors/package of 25 (non glare), $8 each, total of $8.00
1 laptop computer, $500 each, total of $500.00
1 AverMedia document camera, $499 each, total of $499.00
1 Expo Dry Erase Markers set/6 + eraser, $10 each, total of $10.00