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November/December 2000 Copyright © Information Today, Inc. |
| On the Road with CyberBee | ||
| by Linda C. Joseph, Columbus (Ohio) Public Schools, Library of Congress | ||
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November/December 2000 Copyright © Information Today, Inc. |
| On the Road with CyberBee | ||
| by Linda C. Joseph, Columbus (Ohio) Public Schools, Library of Congress | ||
[Editor's note: URLs mentioned in this article appear in the chart that follows.]
Our
lives are filled with destinations, whether it is a jaunt to a fast food
restaurant or a trip to a favorite vacation spot. In each case, we need
to know the directions. Sometimes we simply know how to go from point A
to point B, other times we have to study maps. Think about how you give
directions for navigating to your house. Do you say turn east, west, north,
or south on such and such a street; or do you say left or right? Do you
provide landmarks like turn east just after McDonalds or if you pass the
fire station you have gone too far? If the landmarks were not there, would
people be able to find the street or your house? When you have been given
directions, have you ever gotten lost? How many times did you have to stop
before someone could give you more precise instructions? We know that understanding
how to read different kinds of maps, plot routes between two points, and
interpret the data in a concise manner are important concepts for students
to learn. Where on the Web can we find tools to help us? Let CyberBee show
you the way.
Maps
Atlapedia
Find facts, figures, and
statistical data on geography, people, history, and economy in the Countries
from A to Z section. Maps of the World serves as a quick reference to full-color
physical and political maps organized by regions. A nice linking feature
allows you to toggle between the physical and political maps.
Color Landform Atlas
of the United States
The Color Landform Atlas
of the United States supplies a topographic, satellite, county outline,
and postscript map for every state. An 1895 Rand McNally Atlas provides
maps for states during that time period. On the 1895 maps, railroads are
shown instead of roads because rails were the primary mode of transportation.
States are listed alphabetically on the main page. The ease of use will
appeal to students.
Flags and Maps of the
World
Based on information from
the CIA World Fact Book, this easy-to-use site is perfect for students.
Click on a continent, then choose a country. A large color flag and map
are returned, ready to print for a report.
How Far Is It?
This service uses data
from the U.S. Census and a supplementary list of cities around the world
to find the latitude and longitude of two places and then calculates the
distance between them (as the crow flies). It also provides a map showing
the two locations, using the Xerox PARC Map Server.
Map Machine—National
Geographic
Locate broad geographical
areas with this sophisticated interface. Political/satellite maps are returned.
You can print, save, or e-mail the images.
Map Generators
Expedia
MapBlast
MapQuest
Yahoo! Maps
Are you looking for a map
that you can use on your school Web page, driving directions to the amusement
park, or a place to save maps you find? Several sites allow you to create,
save, e-mail, and link to maps. MapBlast has a cool feature where you can
select icons to represent places you designate by clicking on the map.
Expedia provides an overview of the region on the same page. MapQuest appears
to have the most up-to-date mapping system for new roads. Yahoo! utilizes
MapQuest, but has its own easy-to-use interface. While these map services
are great tools for finding places, you need to keep in mind that the maps
are not totally accurate.
Historical Maps
American Memory Map Collections
Seven categories of maps
from 1597 to 1988 are presented in this amazing collection. Categories
include cities and towns, immigration and settlement, conservation and
environment, military battles and campaigns, discovery and exploration,
and transportation and communication. Specially designed software from
Lizard Tech allows you spectacular zooming capabilities.
Cultural Maps—University
of Virginia
Color-coded U.S. Territorial
Maps show the progression of Westward expansion from 1775 to 1920. For
example, on the 1775 map, the original 13 Colonies, other British territories,
and foreign claims are shown. From 1790 to 1920, maps are available in
10-year increments. Exploring the West from Monticello: A Perspective in
Maps from Columbus to Lewis and Clark is another presentation from a special
exhibition at the Alderman Library, University of Virginia. Discover and
learn about the travels of Lewis and Clark and the need for accurate mapping
of the American West.
Hargrett Library Rare
Map Collection
Over 800 historic maps
make up this collection that is not limited to, but emphasizes the state
of Georgia and the surrounding region. The collection spans nearly 500
years, from the 16th century through the early 20th century. New World
maps reflect how cartographers imagined the land from the perspective of
the early explorations of the Eastern coastline, as well as more mature
images from expeditions further inland. Other sections cover Revolutionary
America, Revolutionary Georgia, Union & Expansion, American Civil War,
Frontier to New South, Savannah and the Coast, and Transportation.
Perry-Castaneda Library
Map Collection
Hundreds of maps are available
from the University of Texas at Austin, which houses the Perry-Castaneda
Library (PCL) collection, a good source for contemporary and historical
material. Since the PCL maps have no copyright, they can be downloaded
and used for school projects.
Gazetteers
Getty Thesaurus of Geographic
Names
Search for nations, cities,
villages, and physical features such as mountains and rivers. Information
about the place includes latitude and longitude, a notation about the origin,
and physical characteristics of the region, statistical data, and a bibliography
of sources.
U.S. Gazetteer
This Gazetteer can be searched
using name and state abbreviation or 5-digit ZIP code. Once you have looked
up the place name, you can view a map and customize it using a wealth of
options related to 1990 census data.
USGS Geographic Name
Server
A variety of geographic
features can be queried on the USGS database. Features range from airports
to cities to steams. Detailed information such as elevation, population,
description, and history notes about the feature is displayed. Clicking
on the Show Feature Location reference will result in the generation of
a zoomable map pinpointing the feature’s geographic location. This is a
very slick database with lots of help menus to assist you in your search.
Lessons
Mathematics of Cartography
What exactly is a map?
What is the history of mapmaking? What mathematics do you use with maps?
These questions and more are answered. Excellent map problems test the
skills of young mathematicians in I’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place and
The Three Evil Dictators. In addition, there is a wonderful chronology
about the history of mapmaking.
Teaching with Historic
Places
Imagine trekking in the
footsteps of pioneers, visiting historic places like Clara Barton’s house,
or planning a virtual trip to roadside attractions while learning about
geography. Teaching with Historic Places suggests many engaging activities
to do with students. It is one of the best sites on the Web for ideas about
integrating geography into the curriculum.
Working with Maps—USGS
Geared for grades K-3,
the premise of the lessons are based on the story about a little girl who
visits an imaginary amusement park. She ends up on an unplanned balloon
ride that gives her different views of the park. Students investigate the
concepts important to reading maps as they weave their way through the
story.
On the Road with Students
On the Road with your students
might involve a map activity in which students think about the route they
take to school and map it by drawing the streets, labeling them, and marking
any important landmarks. They might hypothesize the actual distance by
measuring their stride and counting the number of steps it takes them to
go down one block and multiplying that by the number of blocks they walk
to school. The entire class could walk and measure a school block. If that
is not possible they could research the approximate length of an average
block. Another activity might involve students determining how fast they
walk by dividing distance by time to get their walking rate. (r=d/t)
Students who ride the bus can map out the bus route as well as the route their parents take when driving them to school. This would make a good comparison of time in a car verses time on a bus. Is there a major time discrepancy? Which is faster?
After they have mapped out their route indicating north, south, east and west with specific directions of how to travel from home to school, have students compare it with one suggested on MapQuest or another mapping Web site. Distance and time can also be compared when walking or riding the bus. Students may write about what variables, such as topography, cause their times to differ. Descriptive writing of their journey to school through the seasons may produce thoughtful prose.
By hanging a large map of
the neighborhood in the classroom, students can find their home and pin
small flags on the spot. Then, hang a city map and mark the locations again.
This can be extended to state, country, and world maps. This exercise will
help students in conceptualizing exactly where they are in the world and
perhaps in thinking of the journeys all children take every day.
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| Maps
Atlapedia
Color Landform Atlas
of the United States
Flags and Maps of the
World
How Far Is It?
Map Machine—National
Geographic
Map Generators Expedia
MapBlast
MapQuest
Yahoo! Maps
Historical Maps American Memory Map Collections
Cultural Maps—University
of Virginia
Hargrett Library Rare
Map Collection
Perry-Castaneda Library
Map Collection
Gazetteers Getty Thesaurus of Geographic
Names
U.S. Gazetteer
USGS Geographic Name
Server
Lessons Mathematics of Cartography
Teaching with Historic
Places
Working with Maps—USGS
|
Linda Joseph is the author
of Net Curriculum: An Educator’s
Guide to Using the Internet, published by CyberAge Books. The recipient
of numerous awards, in addition to her work in the Columbus Public Schools
and the Library of Congress, Linda is a part-time instructor for Ohio State
University. Communications to the author may be addressed to her at Columbus
Public Schools, 737 East Hudson Street, Columbus, OH 43211; 614/365-5277;
ljoseph@iwaynet.net.
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