Schools

Globetrotting in the Gym

Crofton Elementary School students are learning geography with a mammoth map in the school's gymnasium.

Toni Ann Shaffer’s fourth grade social studies class took off their shoes to navigate North America Tuesday morning.

 

Shaffer used her hour-long class leading students through interactive geography games.

Find out what's happening in Croftonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

“Find the state completely surrounded by water,” Shaffer told students.

Find out what's happening in Croftonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Twenty kids raced to Hawaii.

 

“Go to the Great Lakes,” Shaffer instructed students.

 

The group scrambled to fit their feet in the water bodies around Michigan. 

 

Shaffer showed students how maps indicate physical features and elevation among the states. One student pointed out how Western Maryland has a gray area that represents the high elevation not present on the eastern coastline.

 

“This way they get to use the terms from their social studies lessons,” said Principal Donna O’Shea. “It helps them understand it more.”

 

It’s part of National Geographic’s Giant Traveling Maps program. The monster map measures 35 x 26 feet and weighs 102 pounds. 

 

More than 300,000 students are expected to interact with this and similar maps during the 2010-2011 school year.

 

Twenty-three Crofton Elementary School classes will get two opportunities to use the mega map during the two-week period.

 

The CES students raised money this past fall to bring the map to CES. Students sold shopping totes made from recycled materials to raise $450 to reserve the map for two weeks. The principal said the fall  “Mixed Bag Sale” was part of the schools green initiative.

 

“From fundraising to learning on the map, they [students] get a better understanding of how everything impacts our Earth,” O’Shea said.


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