Giant map fosters learning and fun

National Geographic Giant Maps are enormously entertaining and educationally powerful tools for introducing geography and map reading skills. Thanks to the Oley Valley Education Foundation the Middle School possesses two of these giant maps: South America and Asia. During the month of February, all of Mrs. Breen’s seventh grade World Geography students utilized this map. Students learned map skills, the location of physical landforms and political borders, why South America is known as the “hollow continent,” how the Spanish conquistadors impacted civilizations such as the Incas, the importance of the discovery of the Strait of Magellan, and later the importance of the creation of the Panama Canal. Students also developed their interpersonal skills through numerous team-building activities. Many wonderful memories were developed while using the giant map, through physical movement and laughter.