National Geographic giant traveling map coming to Sharpstein March 6-8, 2009
What better way to teach young people the power of maps and the limitless depth of geography than a gym-sized map on which they can explore, travel from place to place, hop around, compete, collaborate and have lots of fun?
That's exactly how local students will get to explore North America, courtesy of National Geographic, when a giant 26 by 26 foot map makes a stop at Sharpstein Elementary School next week.
The map will be located in the Sharpstein Elementary School Gym and is open without charge to the public on Friday, March 6, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., then on Saturday and Sunday, March 7 and 8, from noon to 5 p.m. Everyone is invited. Just remember that socks are required for walking on the map.
The huge map, designed for grades K-8, tours with a trunk full of accessories, including interactive games, geography adventures, atlases and books that teach students about the physical characteristics of North America as well as its rich history and varied cultures. Some of the activities included are "A Tale of Twenty Cities," in which students explore the physical and economic reasons behind the locations of North American cities, and "Grocery Store Geography," in which bean-bag-tossing skills are called upon to test students' knowledge of where foods are produced in the continent.
National Geographic Traveling Maps are produced by National Geographic Live! -- the live events division of the National Geographic Society. ":Experiencing a map of this size can really awaken a student to the power of maps and the limitless depth of geography, " says Dan Beaupré, National Geographic's director of education partnerships. "The result is an experience that is a cross between geography and a gym class."
To learn more about the Giant Traveling Map project, visit www.ngsednet.org/giantmaps.
For more information, contact Mary Cortinas at Sharpstein Elementary School, 527-3098.
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