MYSTERY
Historians practice. In this lesson, students will consider the mystery question: "How can a map help us get where we want to go?” They will learn about the purpose of maps and consider that a map is effective if it gets us where we need to go. Then students will brainstorm about where and when they see maps. They will then learn key vocabulary and learn about cardinal directions.
A narrated slide deck is now available for this Mystery!
“As a second and third grade teacher for the entirety of my career I had long taught students history through inquiry. Seeing students explore history in this way has been SUCH a joy! Lightbulb moments galore! A teacher’s dream!...unlike lessons I had taught in the past, I didn’t have to find the primary sources. I didn’t have to research them. I didn’t have to write the lesson plan from scratch. I didn’t have to do anything but read the lesson plan… and teach the lesson!”
“I just used the first lesson in the Mapping Unit. It was so great to get students talking about what they noticed and also expand their thinking on how maps have a special purpose to the user.”
"I love that students got to look at REAL court cases! And it was so easy to use!"
"I liked the simplicity of the handouts. Not too much there to be overwhelming--just enough. Simple, clear directions. The photographs of the clues were great for the students to have."
This Mystery is included in the following Private i History Detectives Unit:
Why Do We Need Maps?
Other Mysteries in this Unit: