National Geographic Maps: Tools for Adventure
Grades 2-4 have been using this wonderful resource this week as we try to hit some skills that address areas of need for our upcoming standardized test.
These map games have proved across all grade levels to be engaging and educational. Some of the map skills these games require students to apply are:
- reading grids
- understanding symbols and reading map keys
- following directions
- plotting routes on a grid map
- reading a gradiometer map
- identifying countries, states, and capital cities on a map
- generally using maps for game specific information.
Games include Explore a Pyramid, Explore Mars, Find the Sunken Treasure, Adventure Island, and GIS in Action. The Family Adventure game allows students to choose trips that go by land or sea, and allow students to take a briefly informative trip around various parts of the world, such as the Caribbean, Washington, D.C., Marco Polo’s Route, and Arctic to Amazon, among other trips. Games include sound effects, excellent graphics, and even some very realistic CG videos. It’s definitely a great social studies/geography resource.
