Activity #1:
As you learn more about your world, you begin to develop mental maps of the world you live in. On a piece of paper, sketch a map of the United States. Do not look at a reference map until you are told to do so! Use only your mental map of the United States. Mark the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River on the map. Now, mark the major cities listed below on your map sketch.
New York
Chicago
Philadelphia
San Diego
Dallas
Los Angeles
Houston
Phoenix
San Antonio
San Jose
Next, compare your sketch to a reference map. Answer these questions.
How many cities were correctly placed -
a) east and west of the Rocky Mountains?
b) east and west of the Mississippi River?
c) in the correct northern/southern half of the United States?
Task #1: Write a sentence or two about this exercise. Was there anything that surprised you about your knowledge of the cities?
Activity #2 :
On another sheet of paper, sketch a map of the world from memory. Try to put in as many continents, oceans, and countries as you can remember. Do not look at a reference map!
Now compare your map to a reference map. Answer the questions below.
a) Which continents did you include?
b) Which countries did you include?
c) Which of your country's neighbors did you include?
d) Why might a business person or government official need to have a good mental map of the world?
Task #2: In a sentence or two, share your thoughts on this exercise.
Activity #3 :
Use your mental map to answer the questions below. Do not check a reference map until told to do so!
You are in an airplane flying from:
1. Cairo to Nairobi. If the pilot says, "We are now flying over Zambia," should you be worried?
2. Rio de Janeiro to Lima. If the pilot says, “We are now crossing the Atlantic Ocean." Should you be worried?
3. Madrid to Tokyo. If the pilot says, "We are now over China." Should you be worried?
4. Denver to San Francisco. If the pilot says, "We are now flying over Tennessee." Should you be worried?
Now, look at a reference map. Find the cities listed in the statements above and write the country or state where each is located.
Task #3: Write a sentence or two discussing the outcome of this exercise.
Activity #4:
Think about your local community. Think about how your community is linked to other places. Sketch a map of your community that shows approximate locations of major highways, rivers, airports, and railroads. Now compare your sketch to a reference map.
Task #4:
1. Write a sentence or two discussing the outcome of this exercise.
Task #5:
Discussion question: Why might a police officer and business person need to be aware of transportation routes? Explain your answer and provide at least two examples to justify your statements.
