CLASSROOM LESSON 2:
Maps: Latitude and Longitute; Symbols and Legends
BOOK TITLE: The Lost City of Faar
AUTHOR: D.J. MacHale
LESSON PLAN AUTHOR : Kathleen Robbins
GRADE
LEVEL: 6-8
LESSON DURATION: 60 Minutes
OBJECTIVE
- Students will develop an understanding of using latitude, longitude, symbols and legends on a map.
- Students will demonstrate their map knowledge by creating a smaller scale map of a Cloral territory that includes latitude, longitude, symbols and a legend
MATERIALS
- Colored pencil, marker, crayon, or paint (preferred media for final map)
MOTIVATION
- In groups, have students look at maps of the world. Then have students discuss what they observe about the maps. (lines on the map, numbers, symbols, place names, colors, landforms, legends, etc.) Have students try and guess the significance of each of these characteristics.
NEW INFORMATION
- Discuss how the map with coordinates and symbols was used in the story to find the Lost City of Faar. The coordinates from that map are very similar to what we use to find things on maps.
- Define equator, prime meridian, latitude, longitude, symbols, and legends and determine how they are used on a map.
- Equator – An imaginary line that runs horizontally around the whole Earth equally dividing it into Northern and Southern hemispheres. It is also the starting point for measuring latitude
- Prime Meridian – An imaginary line that runs vertically around the whole Earth.
- Latitude – Distance north or south of the Equator. Each line of latitude forms an imaginary circle around the Earth.
- Longitude – Distance east or west of the Prime Meridian. Lines of longitude, which meet at the Poles, are known as meridians.
- The latitude of the North Pole is 90° N, and that of the South Pole is 90° S. The latitude of every point in between must be some degree north or south, from 0° to 90°.
- Longitude is measured in degrees east or west of the prime meridian. This means one half of the world is measured in degrees of east longitude up to 180°, and the other half in degrees of west longitude up to 180°.
- Imaginary lines of latitude and longitude intersect each other, forming a grid that covers the Earth and helps us locate points on it. The latitude and longitude of a point are called its coordinates. If you know the coordinates, you can use a map to locate any point on Earth!
- Symbols – A picture or object that stands for or represents something else on a map.
- Legend – The guide on a map that describes the symbols used.
MODELING/GUIDED PRACTICE
- The following are games and activities that can be used to allow students to practice their map skills. The three activities are differentiated and get harder sequentially. Decide where students need to start and encourage them to work up to the third activity.
- Crack the Code Mission (An online activity that allows students to practice using longitude and latitude to find cities around the Earth. Students should take the Crack the Code Mission, go to site, follow directions, and see if they can crack the secret code)
- Online Rags to Riches game game (Students use an Atlas to complete the online trivia game that starts out easy asking questions about map terms then advances to asking the students to find places using longitude and latitude.)
PRACTICE/APPLICATION
- Have students create a smaller scale map of a Cloral territory. Have the students use lines of latitude and longitude to create a grid, symbols to represent at least four places on the map, and a legend that describes the symbols used. (Students should use details about Cloral territories from the book)
- Have students do a rough draft on regular paper and a final draft with a preferred media on the created map paper. View these instructions on How to Make Old-Looking Paper for the final maps.
- When maps are finished, students can switch maps with a partner. Have each student find and record the latitude and longitude coordinates for each of the given symbols on the map. Check answers with partner.
CLOSURE
- Discuss with students what they learned about lines of latitude and longitude and how they can help us locate any point on Earth. Also discuss how symbols allow us to represent places on maps and legends describe these symbols. Encourage students to continue to challenge themselves and practice their new learned map skills.
EVALUATION
- Students will be evaluated using a rubric that looks for completion of their map, that it includes lines of latitude and longitude, has at least four symbols, and has a legend describing the symbols used. Students will also be given a completion grade for the partner map activity.
EXTENSION
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Have students create smaller scale maps of their home, school, community, or state using lines of latitude, longitude, symbols, and legends.
NCTE STANDARD 2
Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience.
NCTE STANDARD 3
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environments.
NCTE STANDARD 4
Students adjust their use of spoken, written, and visual language (e.g., conventions, style, vocabulary) to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences and for different purposes.
NCTE STANDARD 7
Students conduct research on issues and interests by generating ideas and questions, and by posing problems. They gather, evaluate, and synthesize data from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people) to communicate their discoveries in ways that suit their purpose and audience.
NCTE STANDARD 8
Students use a variety of technological and information resources (e.g., libraries, databases, computer networks, video) to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.
SOURCES
Battleship Game Printable
Crack the Code Mission
Rags to Riches
How to Make Old-Looking Paper
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