JDMcDsblog

Maps from Memory

Originally uploaded by jmmcdgll

First year were asked to examine a map for 5 minutes. They were then asked to draw an outline of their chosen continent, and add as much details as possible. I thought this example particularly effective in terms of the shape and proportions for South America. The pupil has also placed the names of selected countries in more or less the right order. What is most interesting is the techniques adopted by my pupils to try to memorise the information. Quite a few traced the outline of the continent on the Atlas page with their finger Some drew the whole outline and then added the detail; others started at the west and moved east, adding detail at each stage before moving on. I think there’s scope for more research into effective ways of how pupils make sense of, and memorise, spatial data.
More examples can be viewed at Flickr.