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Defining Location
Name: Allan A.
Status: Student
Age: 10
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: April 23, 2002
Question:
I am developing a web-based learning materials. One of
the topics I have to handle is "Location of Our District". My major
trouble has been how to introduce this topic, since I could not precisely
define nor describe what is mean by location? How can we tell where we
are located?
And in what circumstances do we really need to know where
we located?
How does the compass, and map come up into location?
Replies:
Do a web search on www.google.com for the term(s) "longitude latitude
places" or similar search terms, and you will find a lot of "hits" some even
with lesson plans with explanations of terms. The following URL is also a
good jumping off point:
http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/gazetteer
Given your age and the mention of "young ones," I would keep it fairly
simple. With older students, a teacher could talk about all sorts of compass
and map facts (like the Township and Range System and newer maps created by
satellite. I think small children (under about age 6) may not really
understand that a map is a representation of reality. For that I would use a
"neighborhood" map--houses, a school, church, etc. If you will be in an
actual neighborhood, use that one and take them outside to see it--point to
the building and say that we can draw it on a piece of paper, etc. The
simpler and shorter, the better. You'll be lucky to get 10 minutes. Older
kids (7-10) can handle a bit more. They may have some map reading skills
already, and you can show a globe, U.S.map, state map, city map, and
neighborhood map. A fun activity for this group would be some sort of
scavenger hunt using a map you've created for the area. In general,
introducing the topic involves demonstrating and teaching that location is
usually associated with the position of something else. You could start out
by "mapping" locations of people and objects in the room relative to windows,
desk, each other, etc. (or if outside, a big tree). Older kids may be able
to grasp the idea of a compass (if you have a Boy Scout manual, see when it
is introduced. When I was in Girl Scouts, I was about 9 years old when I
started learning about a compass). Good luck.
Pat Rowe
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