Giant County Maps: Scavenger Hunt
RULES: No shoes allowed on the map. Please have students remove shoes before walking on the map. Socks Required. No writing utensil on map.
Grade Level: Grades K-6
Purpose: Students will identify geographical aspects of their county using the Giant County Map.
Estimated Time: Preparation: approximately 10 minutes (Scavenger Hunt questions will need to be created. Please share your imagination with the GENI office or others in your county J THANK YOU!)
Scavenger Hunt: 10-30 minutes (as determined by teacher)
Indiana Social Studies Addressed: relative to your county …
K.3.1 Use words related to location, direction and distance, including here/there, left/right, above/below,
forward/backward and between.
1.3.1 Identify the cardinal directions (north, south, east and west) on maps and globes.
1.3.2 Identify and describe continents, oceans, cities and roads on maps and globes.
1.3.9 Give examples of natural resources found locally and describe how people in the school and community
use these resources.
2.3.1 Use a compass rose to identify cardinal and intermediate directions and to locate places on maps and
places in the classroom, school and community.
2.3.2 Locate the equator and the poses on a globe and identify the local community, state and the United States
on maps.
2.3.3 Compare neighborhoods in your community and explain how physical features of the community affect
people living there.
2.3.5 On a map, identify physical features of the local community.
2.3.6 Identify and describe cultural or human features on a map using map symbols.
2.3.8 Identify ways that recreational opportunities influence human activity in the community.
3.3.1 Use labels and symbols to locate and identify physical and political features on maps and globes. Label a
map of the Midwest, identifying states, major rivers, lakes and the Great Lakes.
3.3.3 Locate Indiana and other Midwestern states on maps using simple grid systems.
3.3.4 Identify the northern, southern, eastern and western hemispheres; cardinal and intermediate directions; and determine the direction and distance from one place to another.
4.3.1 Use latitude and longitude to identify physical and human features of Indiana.
4.3.2 Estimate distances between two places on a map when referring to relative location.
4.3.3 Locate Indiana on a map as one of the 50 United States. Identify and describe the location of the state
capitol, major cities and rivers in Indiana.
4.3.4 Map and describe the physical regions of Indiana and identify major natural resources and crop regions.
4.3.8 Identify the challenges in the physical landscape of Indiana to early settlers and modern day economic development.
4.3.9 Explain the importance of major transportation routes, including rivers, in the exploration, settlement and growth of Indiana and in the state’s location as a crossroad of America.
Indiana English/Language Arts Standards Addressed:
SL.1 Develop and apply effective communication skills through speaking and active listening.
SL.2 Develop and apply reciprocal communication skills by participating in a range of collaborative discussions.
SL.3 Develop and apply active listening and interpretation skills using various strategies.
Objectives:
· Students will identify and locate physical and political features on a map.
· Students will use cardinal and intermediate directions to find locations on a map.
· Students will identify and locate physical regions.
· Students will identify and locate transportation routes.
Materials Required:
· Colored cones OR four other color-coded items to function as a map locator (such as bean bags – red, green, blue, yellow)
· Scavenger Hunt Questions: see the Indiana Scavenger Hunt examples; you will need to create appropriate items for your Giant County Map
Procedures:
1. Place the colored cones in the corners of the map: red in one corner, green in another corner, blue…
2. Allow students a few minutes to freely explore the map.
3. Divide the class into four teams: red, blue, yellow, and green (or whatever makes sense with the locator items that you are using).
4. Instruct the class they will be going on a scavenger hunt; once they find the answer; they are to place a colored cone on the map.
5. Read the first clue and allow the teams enough time to find the correct location OR distribute each team a list of clues.
6. For team play, once the cone has been placed, the next four students will get a cone and prepare for their question or allow time for the teams to place all of their cones.
7. The team to place all of their cones first will be declared the winner.
Assessment:
Students are able to place cones in the correct locations as described in the scavenger hunt.
Adaptations/Extensions:
The students can play as teams or can compete individually using pencil and paper at the side of the map.
Scavenger Hunt Questions: as an example for Indiana
Questions appropriate for your Giant County Map will need to be created
What is the Interstate highway running from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the state?
Which state borders Indiana to the north?
Which river borders Indiana to the west?
What is the state bird?
Which lake borders Indiana to northwest?
What is the title of the map?
What color is used to show county borders?
What is used to show historic canals?
What is the southwestern-most city shown on the map?
Which historical road travels north to south through the entire state?
Which state borders Indiana to the west?
What color is used to show an increase in elevation?
Where is the highest point in Indiana?
What is the state tree of Indiana?
What animal appears in the state seal?
How many stars are on the state flag? Why?
Which city would you find in Marion County?
Find one of the three National Parks of Indiana.
What year did Indiana become a state?
Which part of the state is higher in elevation?
Which two counties would you find Brookville Lake?
Which river forms Lake Freeman and Lake Shafer?
The Wabash River is a tributary to which river?
Mounds State Park can be found near which city?
Potato Creek State Park is located south of which city?
In how many counties would you find the Hoosier National Forest?
The Battle of Tippecanoe took place in which county?
Which longitude line runs just to the east of Indianapolis?
Which interstate highway runs through Fort Wayne?
What is the southern-most latitude line running through Indiana?
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