LESSON PLANS

SECTION ONE: HOW MAPS ARE MADE

• 7 WHO NEEDS MAPS? This worksheet introduces maps and their uses by looking at different types of people who rely on maps - and seeing how they use them.
• 9 THE MAKING OF MAPS This lesson plan explores the idea that a map is a miniaturised, stylised representation of reality, as students examine a number of examples and see how they were conceived and created.
• 11 MENTAL MAPS Accurate maps rely on a clear conception of what is to be shown - as students demonstrate by creating practical maps themselves, and testing their effectiveness.
• 13 SKETCH MAPS Map creation at its simplest is explored in this lesson where students create a series of progressively more complex sketch maps and see whether or not they work.
• 15 THE KEY TO COLOUR This worksheet looks at the use of colour and keys in maps, with students demonstrating their understanding of the concept by creating a number of keys using colour and shading.
• 17 KEEPING TO SCALE Students explore the idea of scale - how actual situations may be represented on paper, with the correct proportions preserved. A number of enjoyable practical exercises underline the fundamental importance of this concept.
• 19 DIRECTIONS TO WORK The idea of a map as a series of directions is explored, with students looking at various examples, and then creating more and more complicated direction lists themselves.
• 21 CLASH OF SYMBOLS How maps use symbols and what different symbols can mean. The importance of continuity in the use of symbols is also shown as students create practical examples.

SECTION TWO: HOW MAPS ARE USED

• 23 TREASURE MAPS This worksheet introduces the practical use of maps as students follow directions to unearth the treasure - and then have a go at creating a treasure map of their own.
• 25 MAPS ON HOLIDAY A practical lesson plan in using maps to plan a holiday - from the overall itinerary, to finding your way from the airport to the hotel.
• 27 GET CO-ORDINATED! The concept of co-ordinates is introduced in this lesson. Students examine several examples - and then have a go at using co-ordinates themselves to specify particular map locations.
• 29 GRID REFERENCES - FOUR FIGURES This basic tool of map reference is explored through a series of practical exercises and location-spotting activities which students try out on one another.
• 31 GRID REFERENCES - SIX FIGURES The more sophisticated six-figure system of reference is explored through a series of practical exercises and problem-solving scenarios.
• 33 ORIENTEERING The skills learned in previous lessons are tested by this practical exercise in the use of maps, grid references and compass.
• 35 CAVE MAPS Examines maps of cave systems and drainage tunnels, where visible references are few and far between.
• 37 STAR MAPS Students explore the practicalities and benefits of mapping the sky - not only to plot the position of the stars, but also our own position on Earth.

SECTION THREE: MAPS OF THE WORLD

• 39 MAP STORIES The first real-world map that students encounter is put to the test in a series of exploratory exercises.
• 41 GOT THE A to Z? The conventions, advantages, and limitations of city maps are examined as students undertake a number of practical exercises using an A to Z.
• 43 TOPOLOGICAL MAPS An example of a topological map is examined in this lesson plan, after which students create their own examples of accurate topological maps.
• 45 MILES OF HOURS Time and distance maps are explored using the example of railway maps, with students showing their understanding by creating a railway map of their own.
• 47 LET'S GET PHYSICAL Students look at physical maps, and then create a practical example of their own.
• 49 GOING UNDERGROUND Examines how geologists use maps to show sub-surface strata, with practical examples. Students then test their understanding of geological maps through a series of interactive exercises.
• 51 MAPPING THE WORLD Students discover how maps in atlases are created, using various different projections. The limitations of projection are explored as students attempt to create atlas-style maps of their own.
• 53 MONEY MAPS Students see how economic maps work as they examine a number of examples, and then have a try at creating an economic map of their own local area.
• 55 BY AIR AND SEA Students learn to consider the Earth as three dimensional through examining air and sea routes and the factors which affect such journeys.
• 57 ALL CHANGE Students examine the London Underground map, and test their understanding of it by planning a series of increasingly complex routes.
• 59 WEATHER REPORT The weather exists independently of maps - but they are vital to track its progress, as students discover in this practical lesson.
• 61 COUNTRY MAPS Students consider the nature of political maps and plot recent changes to the map of Europe.

Additional Resources: Online Assessment

Preview tests forRocks andCoasts delivered via our Yacapaca assessment system.

These tests are part of a larger assessment resource which can be foundhere.