This week we learned how to personalize and share custom maps on Google Maps. Our task is to customize a map and then create a lesson plan in which the students would use the map or make maps of their own. I must put a disclaimer out there that I have no background in education, therefore what follows is more of a lesson 'idea' and less of a 'plan'.
My map is based on my little local town of Marcellus. The assignment I propose is to use the following community map of Marcellus as a way to talk about civics, community, government and how our public services are related to how the community works.
View Marcellus Community Walking Tour in a larger map
First we would talk about what makes a community, for example, the firestation, schools, library, and government buildings are funded by taxes. The newspaper plays an important role outside of the government as a--hopefully--impartial reporter of the facts that surround a news story. Churches and local businesses play a role in supporting community activities, either through direct monetary support, or by sharing their facilities to make the activities possible.
Then the class would take a walk around our community and visit the places marked on the map. We might not venture inside all of the buildings, but instead stop and talk about the role each place plays in the community.
During the walking tour, the students would in turn take photos of the places we visit with the digital camera.
Later in class we could upload the photos to flickr or photobucket and then link them to the individual places. We could also add information about each place that we had visited to the posted information. As an example, I've linked the library to the library's website.
Finally, we could share the maps with fellow students and parents.
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