National Geographic Society’s Giant Map of North America Visit to Colorado Springs September 2009

Teachers at West Middle School

Students at West Middle School experience People on the Move

Children at the Pikes Peak YMCA’s after-school program explore the map

Brian Kates, Facility Director Comments from Brian Kates, Facility Director On behalf of the staff, volunteers, children and families who were involved in various capacities with the coordination and implementation of the traveling map, I want to thank you and all associated with this project for allowing us the opportunity to play host over the weekend. We at the community center are always looking for unique ways to provide an educational, social and physical experience to our customers and this map successfully met all three objectives. This was truly an, "If you build it, they will come" type of project. My own son, who is 5 years old, expressed to me that of all the venues at our block party - food, inflatable slide and obstacle course, dunk tank, music - his favorite was the map. Another testimonial that I heard was of a child walking on the Canadian portion of the map when he stumbled upon called "Pickle Island". I think you can guess where the conversation quickly traveled at that point. The intrigue and uniqueness of this exhibit is what I think ultimately brought in the crowd.

Whole families at the Sand Creek Library explored North America with middle school teacher Barbara Fletcher

Finding state capitals at the Sand Creek Library

Checking the course of the Mississippi River

Rolling the giant die at Galileo School of Math and Science

Students eager to explore at Remington Elementary School

Check out the suspended globe at Remington Elementary School!

Remington Elementary had a National Geographic “Giant Map” of North America come to the campus for a two day visit.  This was because of the support from the Colorado Geographic Alliance @ UCCS and their fine coordinators Steve Jennings and Rebecca Theobald.  A BIG “Thank you!” to them for including D-49 and Remington / Patriot Learning Center. UCCS transported the map and assured us all of the resources and materials were available and ready for use.  A special thanks to Jodi Fletcher for her support coming out to Remington and Patriot.  She worked with students and teachers as they covered many map skills generated from grade level standards. All students and teachers had a wonderful and unique experience with the map. Sincerely, Mark Brown, Principal Remington Elementary, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Patriot Learning Center, Falcon, Colorado

Members of the COGA Steering Committee investigate the Giant Map following their September 19, 2009 meeting at the Fountain Branch Library

Home-schooling families explore the globe in Fountain

Our students loved the activities and the map Our students loved the activities and the map. They were actually engaged in seeing the places they were learning about on a much larger scale. We are anxious for the next map to visit Carmel! Sarah Krider, Geography Teacher

Thanks for the chance to be a map minder of the Giant Map of North America at the Meadows Park Community Center this afternoon.  The map took up most of the floor space of the gym at the center, and was one of the activities for a neighborhood festival held there today.  I was pleased with how well the kids who visited understood how to interact with the map, and how many different ideas could be brought to play.  And play they did!  No one seems to think of Geography as a "school" activity when you are in your stocking-feet on a giant map.  While the appeal of physical geography is that the features appear on the map (lakes, mountains, landform features, states and capitals), with smaller groups or older kids, we could ask more thoughtful questions.  "Why is Hawaii way over there?  What does it mean that mapmakers have to compromise?"  Of course, the reason it was such fun for me is that it was fun for the kids.  I mean, when a five-year-old at a festival that includes a bounce-castle and cupcakes says the best thing he did there was play on the giant map, you really have something! - Chuck Theobald, Community Volunteer Map Minder

Learning about geography is appropriate for all age groups!