Google Maps- Lesson Plan Idea

View Larger Map

My Lesson Plan:

I will be setting up a Global Scavenger Hunt for my second graders at Hiawatha Elementary School in Okemos. I will give each student his/her own "map" and then they will have to follow the directions on the map in order to see all of the sites in the scavenger hunt. Students' maps may not all look the same as they have choices for some of the destinations in the hunt. Here is an example of the map that each student will receive.

1.) Find our starting point on your google map: your school, Hiawatha Elementary in Okemos, Michigan.

2.) From Okemos bring your camera along and go take a picture of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France! Learn how to say "hello" in French while your here!!

3.) For your next destination, bundle up and go to a place where you think penguins live! Write about an interesting fact about penguins in your travel journal.

4.) After visiting with the penguins, put on some sunscreen and head over to any island in the world. How do you know that this place is an island?? What is the name of the place that you are at?

5.) Your last destination should be where you think you will find Pyramids. What do the pyramids look like? Draw a picture of what you see in your travel journal!



I think that this activity will be beneficial in that it allows for students to explore the geography of the world. They have the opportunity to choose their own countries to visit at times, but will also have to follow a few directions to arrive at a certain destination on the map, as well. This type of activity is helpful in allowing a child see how they fit in globally, and also to explore places they are interested about around the world. I also created lines on my map that show the direction from place to place. On the last trip from an island to the pyramids, I left the line off so that students can try and figure out the path on their own.

For gifted students I can ask them to tell me directions they traveled (east, west, south, north) or even give them prompts about latitude and longitude.

Students will all be able to follow my example map, but will then make a google map of their own. They will have a "travel journal" with them so that they can write down their experiences at each destination and also draw pictures of what they see.

Students that may struggle with this activity may use the Internet as a search guide. For example, if a student doesn't know what type of climate that penguins live in...they may use a search engine such as google to do some quick research in order to figure out where to travel for their scavenger hunt.