Lesson 1 - LearningThroughMuseums

Day 3: Communicating about Places with Symbols
● Time Allotment
60–75 minutes
Note: Preview the lesson and decide if you want to expand the map-making activity by providing
additional materials such as yarn and tape to physically connect points on a map or add borders. If
not, the materials listed below will be sufficient for this portion of the lesson.
● Materials
Materials for each student:
Plain white 8 ½” x 11” paper
Pencil
Colored markers, pencils, or crayons
Copy of Pre-Planner organizer
Copy of Map Maker organizer
Copy of Words and Writing organizer
Fiction or non-fiction texts that include descriptions of a place (you may use books from the
SCRMA or another series or trade books from the classroom or school library)
● Advance Preparation
• Prepare to display the reproduction of Hanging Entitled “Map of the Middle West” in
the classroom for student viewing.
• Review the Background Information section of this lesson about Hanging Entitled “Map of
the Middle West.”
● Vocabulary
compare
contrast
fiction
map key
plan
● Procedure
1. Demonstrate how to make a map by making one on the chalkboard. Choose a familiar place to
map. It can be a real place or a fictional place such as a place they read about.
2. First, list things you want to show about the place. Remind students of the kinds of things that
Hanging Entitled “Map of the Middle West” shows about the United States. Then ask students
to suggest symbols that could stand for those parts.
3. Make a map key. Put the symbols in the key and note what they represent.
4. List different places students can represent with maps. Set up the list in two columns, fictional
and real. Ask students to suggest places.
5. Give each student the Pre-Planner organizer. Ask them to choose a place to show in their map.
They can work individually or with a partner. They should complete the Pre-Planner first and
then create the map. Encourage students to be creative.
Art Institute of Chicago • 111