Sharpsburg Elementary LibGuide

Learn how to make your own salt-dough map with the instructions on this webpage. This type of map is a 3D version of a flat, paper map. You begin by cutting out the shape of the country out of cardboard. Then, mix flour, salt, water, and cream of tartar in measured amounts. The fun part is then putting this mix on the cardboard. The mix is stiff enough that you can create mountains where there are mountains in the country, and rivers, and valleys. When the dough is dry, you can paint it. What are some of the other things you can do with the map? This activity helps you find out what you can see on maps; how to create a map key; and help you understand geography.

Take a look at a map of any continent in the world. Whether you are studying for a geography test or just exploring maps, this site has many options for map viewing. There are current political maps of each continent and some historical maps, such as the trails of Lewis and Clark in the United States. Some continents also have a physical map, showing mountains, deserts and rivers. Each map also has a legend to help you.

n this map makers game, you color in countries that are part of a particular region of the world. The catch is that you are only allowed four colors and no countries next to each other can be the same color. They must be different colors. You have a choice of four regions to color: Central America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. The game will give you audible and written instructions on how to proceed. On the right side, the game will keep track of how many countries are properly colored. Once you have colored the map correctly, the game will play a celebration tune.

Have you ever used a map? In this animation, a father makes a simple map for his daughter to mark the places they will go that day, which include the library, the bank, the park, and the grocery store. The daughter gets to pick out the order they will visit these places. Notice the places that are closest to her home, which helps her decide the order to visit them. Can you draw a map of your neighborhood?

Maps can be helpful tools for getting from one place to another or finding out where certain things are located. In order to use a map you need to be familiar with cardinal directions and you need to know how to read a map. You can become an expert at reading a map with the help of this collection of interactive web sites. You will learn about a map key, how to determine cardinal directions, and what symbols found on maps represent.

The Library of Congress houses this collection of panoramic maps from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The panoramic map was a popular way to represent a subject, and was drawn as if viewed from above at an angle. The maps illustrate street patterns, buildings, and major landscape features in perspective. Students can browse the collection of more than 1,700 maps by subject, title, or geographic location. Canadian cities and provinces, and American cities and states are all represented in the collection.