Source:
School Library Media Activities Monthly, (6:4, December 1989)

Grade Levels: 5, 6

Subject(s):

• Social Studies/Geography

Curriculum (subject area) Skills:
This activity may be used in connection with a social studies unit on map skills or on Antarctica.

Resources :
Maps of Antarctica
Map Grids

Instructional Roles :
Either the classroom teacher or the library media specialist (or the two cooperatively) may use this activity. The session(s) may be used as part of a general set of lessons on map reading.

Activity and Procedures for Completion:
The classroom teacher or the library media specialist may ask students how they think maps are made. Responses vary. The students may then be introduced to the process of map making with sound filmstrips produced by National Geographic. After reviewing the map materials, the students may be told that they will play the role of explorers one hundred or more years ago who are mapping a new land.

The library media specialist or the classroom teacher may discuss map grids and how to read latitude and longitude. After this introduction, the room may be set up with chairs arranged in strategic places which correspond to points on a grid. The students may be told that they must pretend that they are members of a mapping crew on a ship in a very cold climate. For effect, students may wear caps, etc. The students must map the area. Each chair represents a point where the ship stops to take bearings. On each chair, place a piece of paper listing the latitude and longitude of the spot. The library media specialist or classroom teacher may show the students how to use the points to make a mark on a blank map grid given to them. The students must use the grid to draw a map of the shoreline. In this case, the latitude and longitude coordinates represent a section of Antarctica.

After the students have marked the points on the maps, they may roughly connect the points to draw a rough sketch of the shoreline they have mapped. The students may discuss their maps and how difficult it must have been to develop early maps.

The following coordinates may be given to the students:

74.46s 136.51w
73.15s 126.06w
74.25s 114.10w
74.50s 102.05w
72.20s 99.00w
72.26s 78.10w
71.40s 73.45w
68.30s 68.30w
64.15s 57.45w
69.25s 62.10w
79.00s 40.00w
71.25s 12.18w
68.55s 34.00e
66.55s 50.00e
67.36s 62.52e
69.00s 76.00e
68.35s 76.00e
68.35s 77.58e
66.30s 109.30e
66.30s 128.30e
68.35s 154.11e
71.17s 170.14e
77.51s 166.37e

 
Evaluation :
The student will use latitude and longitude coordinates to fill in a map grid.
 
Follow-Up :
The students may:

 
• Compare their maps with several historical maps of Antarctica.
• Write a narrative as if they were explorers on a polar mapping expedition.