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Activity #2: Create a Map of Issaquah

Meets EALR: Social Studies, Geography

1.1 use and construct maps, charts, and other resources

design a simple map of the community that displays information using symbols explained in a key

Objective: Students name all of the things a community has such as post office, library, school, park, museum, etc and create a map of their own community. They become familiar with a map of Issaquah, map symbols and features. Students create their own map of where they live and play.

Materials: Large paper (construction or butcher), pencils, pens, or crayons, basic map of Issaquah as a guide

Optional 3-D version: recycled boxes, empty containers, cans, etc., glue or tape

Teacher resource: article on Turf Maps if interested (it is not necessary to read this in order to do the activity with your class)

Procedure:

1. As a class, discuss locations that can be found in communities, “All communities have…”
2. Examine the map of the community of Issaquah.
3. Find the location of your school on the map.
4. Help students locate approximately where they live on the map. Discuss symbols on the map.
5. Students make a Turf Map. Students draw their own map of the area where they live, play, hang out, and travel. Students may want to show areas that a special, disliked, paths that they frequently travel, barriers, etc. The map does not need to be exact in scale, direction or size.
6. Discuss features that they might want to include such as their home, school, grocery store, park, library, museum, or beach.
7. Model how to use symbols and make a key or legend.

Extensions:

1. The group can combine neighborhood maps and make one large map of Issaquah on butcher paper.

2. Using the map of Issaquah, draw a large outline of the city on butcher paper. The teacher/leader will need to draw simple regional landmarks first to give participants a reference point. For example, the teacher/leader may draw the Lake Sammamish shoreline, their own school, I-90, Gilman Village, Costco, Cougar Mt., Squak Mt. etc. Once a basic outline of the city is laid out, the group can locate familiar roads and landmarks. This can become a three dimensional (3-D) map if the group makes buildings, houses, parks, etc. out of recycled materials such as old milk cartons, cereal boxes, cardboard, etc.