Workshop

Primary Sources: Maps

Workshop Objectives

By the end of the Primary Sources: Maps workshop, each participant will be able to:

1. locate maps in the American Memory collection.

2. view American Memory maps using the MrSid viewer.

3. identify three different types of maps found in the American Memory collection.

4. utilize the graphic organizer to analyze a map.

Workshop Outline

I. Discuss the American Map Collection

a. Activity:  Learning Page / Features & Activity / Zoom Into Maps

i. Discuss the introduction

ii. Analyzing a Map:

1. What are maps and what do they do?

2. What common characteristics do they have?

3. Graphic Organizer (handout)

a. Most maps have a title, which often includes temporal information.

b. Maps have orientation, which includes compass direction and geographic relationships within an established area.

c. Maps have a source, or author, which often gives insight about its intended purpose and reason for creation.

d. Maps may have a legend explaining the symbols used and a scale showing how distance is represented.

e. Many maps use grids to show lines of latitude and longitude.

4. What can be learned from historic maps?

a. In addition to teaching geographic understanding, maps do an excellent job of illustrating change over time.

b. They personalize history by giving evidence of familiar landmarks and of people, their beliefs, and the political policies of an era.

b. Activity:  Collection Connection (with a partner)

i. Select a collection that contains maps

  (handouts: Collection List & Collection Connection Overiew)

1. Note: Be sure a collection is only selected by one group

ii. Read through the sections

1. US History

2. Critical Thinking

3. Arts & Humanities

iii. Complete the Collection Connection Overview Worksheet

iv. Share the results with the class

II. Map Activities: 

a. Population Density

i. Work with a partner

ii. Complete the Population Density Map Activity Handout

b. Using the information you collected, write news article about the changes in US population.  Change Over Time

i. Divide into 5 groups

ii. Pass out the Activity Packets

iii. Go over the directions

Point out that the handout is online with active links

iv. Share the groups results

III. Map Activity Handouts – Sample Activities

(Samples in training notebook)