Classroom Session 4
How do I feel in the school grounds?
What can we work out about our local area from an aerial photograph?
Download this session as a print-friendly PDF
Here is how this session was taught:
Learning Objectives
To complete the digital maps and record how we feel about places within the school grounds.
Learning Outcomes
To add between three and five emoticons each to the map to show information that is important to them as individuals (provides an opportunity for personalised learning).
Resources
- the pupils' digital maps as created in Classroom Session 2
- Computer suite loaded with chosen software
Organisation
Whole class group in the ICT suite plus four adults (two adults support children from the Autism Unit) OR half class group working with two adults plus SLA's for children with autism.
Teaching the session
Preparation for the lesson: prepare the emoticon symbols using the Soft Teach programme 'Symbol Draw'. Load the icons into the 'keys folder' within the Local Studies software . Download Getting Started with Local Studies for further help. Alternatively, if you are using another software programme you could ask children to draw their own symbols and these could be scanned and then collected together into a resource folder.
We begin the session by choosing an emoticon icon and dragging this to the appropriate place on the map. Then we added a 'hotspot' to the map. In Local Studies this hyperlinked icon opens up a small window into which both text and an image can be inserted (see below).
The children were asked to place between three and five icons each on their map. Viewing the accompanying PowerPoints should help you to visualise how this session worked. If you are not using Local Studies then will need to plan ways in which recreate this session with your chosen software.
Download: How do I feel in this place? (PowerPoint)
Download: Mapping our feelings about the school and grounds (PowerPoint)
Where next?
Use the completed maps as a resource to support an informed conversation as to why children hold that view of place, and to see if that view is shared. From there, continue to explore together if that view is reasonable, and if not, gently challenge the perspective with reasoned alternatives using geographical information. Through conversation, geographical thinking is being refined and the quality of thinking raised (see Swift, 2004).
It is now time to explore the pedagogy and thinking behind these sessions of work.
Reference
Swift, D. (2004) 'Emoting with Maps', OS Mapping News, Issue 27, Winter 2004, pp. 12-15
Course Menu
Comment on this page
Comments made by GA members appear instantly - make sure you're logged in! Guest comments will be sent to a moderator for approval.
Current conversations
What our website visitors are talking about.