The Geography and Maps Division of the Library of Congress does a wonderful job of Tweeting out interesting maps in their collection. I’ve never visited Holyoke, Massachusetts however this particular bird’s eye view with its artwork and detail Tweeted out by @LOCMaps drew me in.
Then recently in the Library of Congress blog Minerva’s Kaleidoscope Resources for Kids & Families there was an interesting post Zooming in On Panoramic Maps explaining the history and detailed creation of Panoramic Maps.
“In order to enrich their maps with detail, panoramic cartographers spent time studying cities and towns from the vantage point of nearby hills as well as from the street level.”
So taking a closer look at the Holyoke map by zooming in, then using digital 3D maps to find a specific building that remains today, I explored the history history of that locale.
Observation is a key skill and as students spend more time locally in neighborhoods an observation map making lesson where they can add to or draw out details gives them practice with that skill.
Numbered in this album are steps they might take (with the Holyoke Map as a model) before they explore their own neighborhoods/cities and add delightful details to their own Panoramic maps.