7th Grade  Project 4 weeks

Map Quest: Navigating Our Community

Angelia E
7.G.3
7.G.1
7.G.6
7.RC.1
7.RC.5
+ 4 more
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Purpose

The purpose of this project is to engage 7th-grade students in a hands-on exploration of maps as tools for understanding and shaping their communities. Through creating detailed maps that incorporate cultural and historical landmarks, students will develop a deeper understanding of their local environment and its connections to broader geographic regions. This project fosters self-directed learning, critical thinking, and a strong academic mindset by encouraging students to reflect on their place within the community and the world. Through collaboration, feedback, and innovative problem-solving, students will gain insights into how maps can influence perceptions and address community challenges.

Learning goals

Students will develop their skills in using historical maps to identify geographical changes over time in Africa, Asia, and the Southwest Pacific. They will enhance their understanding of the location of countries within these regions and explore how climate and landforms impact human activity and settlement. Through self-directed learning, students will engage in critical reflection, using feedback to refine their mapping projects. They will cultivate a sense of place and identity by connecting with community stories and landmarks, fostering a deeper understanding of how maps can address and solve community challenges.
Standards
  • [Indiana] 7.G.3 - Use historical maps to identify changes in Africa, Asia, and the Southwest Pacific over time. (E)
  • [Indiana] 7.G.1 - Formulate a broad understanding of the location of countries within Africa, Asia, and the Southwest Pacific. (E)
  • [Indiana] 7.G.6 - Describe the limitations that climate and landforms place on land or people in regions of Africa, Asia, and the Southwest Pacific.
Competencies
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Students will create a series of detailed maps that highlight cultural and historical landmarks within their community, incorporating stories and insights gathered from local interviews. These maps will be presented in a 'Virtual Map Gallery' where they will be accessible for peer and community review and feedback. Each student will also prepare a written or oral presentation explaining the significance of their chosen landmarks and how these contribute to understanding and addressing community challenges. The final product will be a comprehensive digital or physical map exhibition that showcases their learning and critical reflections on the role of maps in shaping community identity.

Launch

Kick off the project with a "Mapping Our Stories" event where students engage with community members to collect stories and insights about local landmarks. Students will conduct interviews and gather personal anecdotes, which they will incorporate into their maps to enrich them with personal and historical context. This initial exploration will set the stage for students to understand the significance of cultural and historical landmarks and how these elements contribute to the community's identity and challenges.

Exhibition

Students will curate a 'Virtual Map Gallery' where they showcase their maps, which highlight cultural and historical landmarks in the community. Each map will include narratives from community interviews, providing personal and historical context. Classmates, teachers, and community members will be invited to explore the gallery and leave comments, fostering a dialogue about the maps' insights and the stories they tell. This exhibition will culminate in a live virtual event where students present their maps and discuss how these landmarks shape community identity and address challenges.