1. Research examples
of early maps created by ancient craftsmen such
as the Greeks and the Egyptians. What
kinds of materials did they use? How did they
make their calculations? What were the maps used
for?2.
Profile early mapmakers and explain their
contribution to mapmaking. Possibilities include Eratosthenes, Hipparchus, Strabo, Ptolemy, Gerhardus Mercator and
Abraham Ortelius.
3. Briefly define
and describe longitude and latitude and their importance with
regard to maps and mapmaking.
4. Explain map scale. What are the differences
and/or similarities between large, intermediate
and small scale maps. Show the differences by
taking geographical areas and drawing them
according to the three different scales.
5.What happens
when you cross the International Date Line? Explain why.
6. What is the Prime Meridian? How and why was it
established?
7. Create a legend for a map of your choice,
i.e. city, town, region or province. Explain the
significance of each symbol in the legend.
8. What is remote sensing? How does it work and why
is it important? Is Canada active in the field? If
so, how?
9. Explore
various careers that rely on maps and explain how
maps are used in that particular profession. For
example, how do geologists use maps, field
surveyors, ship navigators, pilots, foresters,
engineers, historians, mineralogists, truck and
cab drivers, astronauts? What about those who
create the maps? How are computers used today for
the purpose of map creation?
10. (Recommended
for older students only) Take a field trip to a
local conservation area or provincial park where
there is an orienteering course. Divide the class
into groups and have them compete by navigating
their way through the course with only a compass and a map. Make sure the
competition is well-supervised drawing on the
experience of experts and that the terrain is not
too rough or secluded. Give prizes to the top
three teams. Serve cookies and hot chocolate.
Make it fun and exciting.
11. What are the
different types of maps and what are they used
for? Is it possible for a map to show more than
one type of information? How is this done?
13. Find an old
(50 100 years old) map of your community or a
community in the surrounding region. Can you
recognize any of the areas shown on the map?
Compare it with a modern map. Has the community
gone through many changes? Where have the changes
taken place, and why do you think they occurred
in those places. Don't forget influences such as
the environment and the growth of surrounding
areas.
14. Compare a map
of the world by an ancient or medieval cartographer with a modern world map. How accurate is the
ancient map? Are some areas more accurate than
others? If so, why do you think this is?
15. Decide on two
cities. Map 5 different ways to make it from one
place to the other. How many different types of
transportation does it take? Try to do it without
airplanes. What are the major landforms in you
way? Use the internet to help you map from place
to place. Then decide on the way that you would
go if you wanted to see the scenic route, and the
way you would go if you wanted to go in a hurry.