DEVELOPMENT OF GIANT STATE MAPSNational Geographic Alliance Network

GIS Colorado 2016 Winter Quarterly Meeting

Rebecca Theobald

Coordinator, Colorado Geographic Alliance

University of Colorado Colorado Springs

COLORADO GIANT MAP

GIANT

TRAVELING MAP

OF VERMONT

TO SCHEDULE

The map is $20/school day, and you must agree to transport the map to the next school on the list. The map rolls into an 8 ½ foot cloth bag that fits into most cars. A bag of lessons and props travels with the map, and is the size of a large duffel bag. To reserve the Giant Traveling Map of Vermont for your classroom, contact KeighanChapman.

http://www.vtgeoalliance.org/vermont-map-lessons-draft.html

PENNSYLVANIA ALLIANCE FOR GEOGRAPHIC

EDUCATION

MISSOURI GEOGRAPHIC ALLIANCE

MISSOURI STATE FAIR

After removing their shoes and putting on a pair of socks, participants were able to walk around on the map and were asked to think about the state of Missouri as they never had before. As they were led through a multitude of interactive activities they explored the map and placed different markers for counties, famous people, common crops grown in Missouri, animals, and used counting blocks to represent population. Youth and adults alike were able to learn about the state of Missouri in a way that they had never had the opportunity to before.

GEOGRAPHY

EDUCATOR’S

NETWORK OF

INDIANA

GENI - GIANT TRAVELING MAP OF INDIANA

EVALUATION

School Name/Dates of Map Visit: ____________________________________________

Please rate the following on a scale of 1 to 5: 5=excellent/exceeds expectations;

4=good; 3=average/meets expectations; 2=fair; 1= poor.

How did you hear about the Giant Traveling Map of Indiana?

List the approximate number of students, by grade level, who utilized the Map while at

your school:

Which prepared activities did you utilize with the GTM IN?

Did you conduct activities that were not part of the prepared curriculum? What were

those activities and how did your students use the GTM IN?

Do you think that the Giant Traveling Map of Indiana was an effective teaching tool for

your students? Why or why not?

Please include comments below regarding the map: appearance, resources in trunk,

curriculum additions/enhancements… THANK YOU!

WYOMING

WYOMING MAP DETAILS

The Wyoming floor map is 12 x 12 ft. It is based on a design developed by WYGISC, the UW Geography Dept., and the WGA. They have four maps that are currently in Laramie, Cheyenne, Wheatland, and Casper.

One of the maps is available for use free of charge, however, those using the map are responsible for transportation costs. The map is easy to fold and transport and can be easily moved by one person. Corresponding classroom lessons focused on the physical, political, and economic geography of the state are also available upon request.

The map identifies political boundaries, hydrologic and geologic features, major roads and railways, and historic sites. If you are interested in more information about the map please contact Germaine Wagner at gkwagner@outlook.com or Kirk Scheffler at wga@uwyo.edu. For a preview of the map please checkout this video created by Joseph Kerski!

COLORADO GIANT STATE MAP

Coming soon…

OVERVIEW

Goal: five maps with accessory trunks

Multiple grade levels

Interdisciplinary curriculum

Online atlas

TRUNK AND MATERIALS

LESSONS

CREATING A GIANT STATE MAP

Research

Budget

Personnel

Online Cartography

Lesson Plans

Materials

Management

Coordination with National Geographic

WHAT WE KNOW

One map is a gift from National Geographic

Education Foundation.

National Geographic is unable to address issue of

multiple maps until all state maps have been created

and produced.

National Geographic owns the cartographic files.

National Geographic is providing training for Alliance

Coordinators and teachers.

National Geographic is developing “Evergreen”

materials to use in all states.

PLANNING AND EXECUTION

Work with University to structure ownership of map

Maintain and manage map and materials

Develop online GIS atlas

Respond to inquiries about the map and curriculum

Determine public engagement and promotional

opportunties

Manage contacts and transport for map

Organize professional development

Teach lessons to students and general public

Update online GIS atlas

ROLE FOR GIS COLORADO

Provide expertise for online atlas creation, distribution, and use

Raise funds to pay staff member and finance travel for three years

Raise funds to purchase more maps

Encourage educators to have the map visit their classrooms

Brainstorm ideas for lessons and layers

Share information about the map with the community

Thank you for learning about this

tool for geography education

QUESTIONS?