Today was New Orleans Day for our kindergarten.  As part of the Kindergarten Global Education Unit, kindergarteners investigated the New Orleans community. Throughout this unit, the girls focused on the following essential question:

"What are the values, experiences, and cultures of our New Orleans community?”

Part of their study was to take a streetcar ride.  I then made my first Story Map using ArcGIS.  It incorporates their voices, artwork, and a primary source photo of what the building or location used to look like.  I had the best time putting this together.  And I am already thinking of other ways to use primary sources for story maps!  

(I also love that the Zooming in and out of the map is called "map choreography."  Yes, I used jazz hands as I was putting it together!)

Sadly, Albums cannot yet be shared to Groups in the Network, so check out the Link to this Album of Maps from Classic Literature in the TPS Commons. 

  Celia Roskin  an Educational Resources Specialist at the Library of Congress and a TPS Teachers Network Mentor, outlines for us in the Teaching with the Library Primary Sources Ideas for Educators blog a super webinar on Teaching with Maps in the Classroom.  Lots of ideas and timestamps on the webinar included!  Geography and history teachers will certainly want to listen in.  Thanks Celia!

 You might want to check out  Jacqueline Katz  album post Cross-Cutting Concepts in Science that has an engaging look and analysis questions on a Map from Chronicling America.

"The Black Elevation Map is a comprehensive guide to the black cultural sites, black historical landmarks and black owned businesses which can be found in America's towns and cities. This new interactive map uses data from a number of sources to show the concentration and locations of black owned businesses and black historical markers across the country.

If you open the map menu and select 'Tour the Culture' you can select to view one of eleven guided tours of the black cultural data shown on the map. These include tours of restaurants that fueled the civil rights movement, the work of black architects,  and venues that helped shape American music."

Posted by Keir Clarke  6 - 8    9 - 12    Social Studies/History    Library    Art/Music    Black culture