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Program
1. Write the names of cities, states, countries, and major physical features from the continent or United States map you are working with on separate index cards.
Create one index card for each student. Tape one of the index cards to each student’s back.
2. Select a player to go first and have him or her stand in front of the group.
Select a player to go first. The player cannot see the place written on their card, but the rest of the students can.
3. Have the rest of the students refer to a map to familiarize themselves with the place.
Have students consult one of the large maps from the MapMaker Kit you are working with to pinpoint the location of the item on the player’s index card. Make sure the map is available so students can answer the player’s questions correctly; however, the player should not be able to see the map.
4. Have the player guess the place on their card.
The player must guess what the place is by asking geographic questions with “yes” or “no” answers. For example: Am I in South America? (yes) Am I on the West coast? (yes) Am I a river? (no) Am I a country? (yes) Am I long and skinny? (yes) Correct answer: Chile.
5. If the student has not identified their place correctly after a predetermined time, allow the rest of the class to offer hints.
Provide a time limit; for example, three minutes. After that, allow the group to help the player by using the map to give hints until the player either guesses or cannot answer correctly.
6. Continue the guessing game.
Have each student take a turn as the player, if time allows.
Subjects & Disciplines
- Geography
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- ask and answer “yes” or “no” questions about the characteristics of a place to help them identify an unknown city, state, country, or physical feature
- refer to a large map to correctly answer questions about a city, state, country, or physical feature
Teaching Approach
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Hands-on learning
- Simulations and games
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
- 21st Century Themes
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Critical Thinking Skills
- Remembering
- Understanding
- Geographic Skills
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
National Geography Standards
- Standard 4: The physical and human characteristics of places
What You’ll Need
Materials You Provide
- Index cards
- Markers
- Transparent tape
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Optional
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector
Physical Space
- Classroom
Grouping
- Large-group instruction
Other Notes
This activity is for use with any of the continent MapMaker Kits, or the United States MapMaker Kit. Select your area of geographic study from the resources provided and go to the corresponding MapMaker Kit page to download your map.
Background Information
Geographers use maps to show information to others. You can display physical, political, or cultural information, or use maps to illustrate specific themes and topics.
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Activities
- None
Vocabulary
large settlement with a high population density.
geographic territory with a distinct name, flag, population, boundaries, and government.
naturally occurring geographic characteristics.
political unit in a nation, such as the United States, Mexico, or Australia.
Tips & Modifications
Modification
If you have limited time, have students play the guessing game in pairs or in small groups.
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Concept of Place
One of the oldest tenets of geography is the concept of place. As a result, place has numerous definitions, from the simple “a space or location with meaning” to the more complex “an area having unique physical and human characteristics interconnected with other places.” There are three key components of place: location, locale, and a sense of place. Location is the position of a particular point on the surface of the Earth. Locale is the physical setting for relationships between people, such as the South of France or the Smoky Mountains. Finally, a sense of place is the emotions someone attaches to an area based on their experiences. Place can be applied at any scale and does not necessarily have to be fixed in either time or space. Additionally, due to globalization, place can change over time as its physical setting and cultures are influenced by new ideas or technologies. Learn more about the physical and human characteristics of place with this curated resource collection.
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Greek City-States
The Greek city-states were the dominant settlement structure of the ancient Greek world and helped define how different regions interacted with each other.
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Mapping Your State
Students research political, physical, and cultural features of their own state or district and work collaboratively to create a state tourism map.
-
Map That Game Board
Students identify human developments in one of six geographic areas in the United States. Students use Google Earth to research the area, identify potential human barriers to migration in that region, and create a map to visualize their research that becomes their game board.
-
Concept of Place
One of the oldest tenets of geography is the concept of place. As a result, place has numerous definitions, from the simple “a space or location with meaning” to the more complex “an area having unique physical and human characteristics interconnected with other places.” There are three key components of place: location, locale, and a sense of place. Location is the position of a particular point on the surface of the Earth. Locale is the physical setting for relationships between people, such as the South of France or the Smoky Mountains. Finally, a sense of place is the emotions someone attaches to an area based on their experiences. Place can be applied at any scale and does not necessarily have to be fixed in either time or space. Additionally, due to globalization, place can change over time as its physical setting and cultures are influenced by new ideas or technologies. Learn more about the physical and human characteristics of place with this curated resource collection.
-
Greek City-States
The Greek city-states were the dominant settlement structure of the ancient Greek world and helped define how different regions interacted with each other.
-
Mapping Your State
Students research political, physical, and cultural features of their own state or district and work collaboratively to create a state tourism map.
-
Map That Game Board
Students identify human developments in one of six geographic areas in the United States. Students use Google Earth to research the area, identify potential human barriers to migration in that region, and create a map to visualize their research that becomes their game board.