| Pull down the Landscape Picture. Ask two students to describe the
location of the airport. Tell the other students to listen carefully to
the descriptions offered by the students. Ask them if the two
descriptions were exactly the same. How were they different?
|
| Tell the students that asking someone for directions may not always
be helpful. That person may not know the location of the place you want
to visit. There is a much better way to find a location. Mapmakers use a
system to help you find different locations. This system is called a
grid system.
|
| Along the edges of the Landscape Picture is a series of letters and
numbers. Across the top and bottom of the picture appear numbers from 1
to 7. Also at the top and bottom edges of the map are a series of
"hash-mark". These small lines appear half way between the numbers at
the top and bottom of the map. Have a student circle these lines that
are half way between the numbers. Also, have another student draw a line
connecting the hash marks at the top of the picture with those at the
bottom.
|
| Follow the same procedure for the letters at the left and right
edges of the map. The letters progress from A-C. In between the letters
is a hash mark. Have a student connect the hash marks on the left edge
of the map, with the hash marks on the right edge of the map.
|
| Tell the students they have created a map grid system. A map grid
system is a series of lines that cross to form squares. The squares are
identified with a letter and a number. For example the train appears in
square C-1.
|
| Tell the students that in the next lesson they will use the grid
system to locate places. |
