Atlas+Design+Challenge+II

For our atlas, we decide as a class to shoot for a target audience of grades K-4. Presumably this will address the question “Who will read the maps?”. Now we must concern ourselves further with questions like “What resources are available in terms of both time and equipment?”, and “What data is available for the composition of the maps?”.

To answer the first, we will be making use of the wiki. This will allow use to employ hardware and software from anywhere, at anytime. Obviously access to the web and to appropriate software is critical to success, but, we will be able to share our work through postings to the wiki. The idea here is to exploit the wiki as a tool for collaboration. As far as time goes, I think you all are aware of the time constraints we are under.

To answer the second question, we must further discuss ‘audience’ and ‘content pages’. Our audience is grades K-4 (and their teachers). Thus, the content of our atlas should fit with the standards for those students.

SO, in a sense, this week’s blog assignment is a continuation of last week’s.

To establish a solid footing for our continued and future collaborative efforts, we must:

1) Review these guiding documents: a. Overarching goals of our atlas. b. What Makes a Good Learning Activity? c. Five geographic skills to be learned by the end of the Fourth Grade

2) Continue our atlas discussion with a detailed and specific focus on the K-4 audience.

3) Examine some Geography lesson plans geared to the K-4 audience.

4) Examine (and play) some Geography Games geared toward a K-4 grade level.

NOTICE - I have added a propose an atlas page to the Atlas discussion links. Please post your ideas there, and comment on others.

..patrick

To the Map Geek Blogs, post haste! Return to the Weekly Blog Topics. I wanna go home.