Giant map of Africa! Posted on September 22nd, 2014 by

Several semesters ago Gustavus hosted the National Geographic’s Giant Map of Africa! We asked our Social Studies methods group to jump right into teaching! For our first day of class, we helped second grade students from St. Peter’s South Elementary explore the map.

In this activity, we asked students to estimate whether Africa is longer north-south or east-west. Then the second grade students used their bodies to find in the answer!

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Here are a few things that our teacher candidates had to say about the experience:

  • “I was able to connect with and teach students about Africa. It means a lot when you get the opportunity to put into practice what you are learning in your college classes! Sarah Larson, junior, Elementary Education major
  • “Using the Giant map created a learning environment that promoted engagement, physical activity, as well as fun.” Joshua Timmerman, senior, Elementary Education major
  • “The map represented one of the many diverse tools that can utilized in a classroom to enhance learning. Using the Giant Map of Africa provided students with a more hands-on experience that they couldn’t experience with a simple map in a classroom.” Brad Kluver, senior, Elementary Education major

We also made the local paper! Click here to read what the St. Peter Herald has to say about the event! (Jill Oxborough and Megan Schroepfer were quoted!)

I’m curious:

  • Have you ever had the chance to work with this type of map?
  • How can you imagine using this type of resource?
  • What questions do you have about this resource?
 


2 Comments

  1. Leah Johnson says:

    We saw this at Geofest! I talked to the lady at the booth who was handing out information about it and told her that it had been at Gustavus. I would love to see a lesson modeled that you could do with the large map. I think it was at Geofest where somebody talked about making a giant map within their classroom. Each student was assigned a certain part of the map and they worked on the floor together to put in the details that they were learning about. After the map was finished it was hung up within the classroom. Great hands on learning experience for the students!

  2. Elizabeth Olson says:

    I Love This!! I wish I could have one of each continent in my classroom in the future. Maybe slightly smaller to fit in a average size class. Not only does it allow the students to be hands on and using their bodies to learn but knowing they are one of few classes that get to use this specific map is pretty special. It is something that im guessing most of them will not forget.
    When I was in 7th grade my teacher, who happened to be my mom, used a large diagram when we were learning about the heart and the flow in and out. The students were oxygen or blood and we talked in and out of the different ventricles. It was a very memorable experience.
    Where do you get these types of resources?