North East Region of Sunderholm Detailed Map from RPGMapshare
Trying to get your students more involved in creative writing? Understanding map concepts in social studies? How about just looking for something creative that involves collaboration and critical thinking?
As a classroom teacher, I did an activity that involved map creation at least a couple times a year. Whether it was a scenario for creating geographical and social structures for an imaginary community or giving students a nudge to start coming up with fictional story ideas–even making grid map reading challenges for classmates. Most students seem to enjoy working with maps when you’re not asking them to color explorer routes of the 1500’s or find the latitude and longitude of Buenos Aires.
First, some map making/fantasy map gallery digital resources. Although it seems like a lot of these are used for role-playing games (never did really get into those), they could have good application for the classroom.
Dungeons Unlimited: Maps and Mini-Grids
University of Texas Historical Maps Library
Some possible activities:
1. Starting with a map, create your own country. Divide political boundaries, assign and name cities, rivers, mountain ranges, and lakes. Note how the climate is different in some regions, and how that affects the people living there. Write a historical timeline for the country. Create and draw the currency used. Describe current leaders and popular customs. Design the most important national holiday and some traditions associated with it. The list goes on for possibilities with this activity.
2. (Great group activity) You and the people in your group have been stranded on an island. You’ve explored and now know enough to design a map of the island. Decide where the best area to build your shelter would be. Specialize your group and decide which tasks of survival will be assigned to which group members. Decide how you will protect your shelter from storms and wild animals. Note on the map where resources like food, fresh water, and trees are located. Create rules for the members of your group. Using the map and creativity, work out a plan to keep some sort of signal visible in hopes of being seen by a passing boat or airplane, and get rescued.
3. Design a map of an area. It could be a forest, a space station, a city or town, a house, or even a cave. As you begin to add details and name places or objects on your map, think about how a story could be placed in this setting. Create a story that takes place in the setting you have created.
These are just a few ideas, but maps can be a starting point for some really meaningful and fun projects in class. Of course, consider using digital mapping tools!
Sometimes I just pause to listen to the conversations in the lab. I get so caught up helping certain students or maintaining overall smooth operation of lessons, that I don’t stop to smell the roses. Yep, a lot of little cliches in this post. It’s rewarding to stop and be that little fly on the wall, to unobtrusively look over shoulders and listen to their conversations. Hearing student conversations is not always difficult. With headphones on, they don’t exactly converse quietly.
Thursday afternoon, I had computer club. Though the kids had begged to play Secret Builders and put off our iMovie project until the next meeting, I was reluctant to nod and concede. I had Family Tech night to plan for anyway, so it worked out. But I finished the few last minute preparations and took some time to just listen and observe to all the hubbub in the lab.
“You ate all my food!” one of the girls shouts.
“You’re the one who unlocked your house…” Someone replies.
“That’s it. I’m coming in and kicking y’all out!” Laughter ensues.
It’s amazing to watch the kids absorbed in the digital world of Secret Builders. Another student is hanging out in Mello Drama, where you might find Shakespeare walking around, ready for a quick, emoticon-filled chat. Two boys are discussing the finer points of one of the strategy games.
“Who just turned me into a frog?” is a question I hear a lot.
I notice one girl sitting particularly quiet. So, I naturally go and take a peek at what she is doing. 
Humanities centered, it’s no surprise that Secret Builders has a romantic era, fancy story book that members can fill up with their own tales. She is quietly typing away, about 300 words into a story she has titled, “The Fairy.” Another of the quiet ones is absorbed in a game of chess.
I’m glad that I paused and watched them immersed in a digital world, but most interacting with each other at the same time.
