Creating library maps: a fifth-grade geography and comparison lesson

Library Lesson Plan

Target Grade

Lesson Plan: Mapping the Library

Target Grade Level: 5th Grade

Time Frame: On Class Period

Lesson Plan Overview

In this activity, students will learn about maps, and how libraries are like maps. Students will fill in fun facts on a world map, and may utilized the library atlas' and other geographic resources to fill in the maps. The students will compare their school library with another library (or libraries) -- your town library, for example, or a virtual library -- and identify their most important features. Then students use their observations to create a map of the school library that can serve as a guide for others.

Students will

Fill in a world map with fun facts (Handout of World map).

compare and contrast their school library with at least one other library, identify the prominent features of the libraries and their functions, create a map that illustrates the layout of the libraries, their features, and their functions.

Teacher Will

Supervise Lesson Plan.

Introduce students to key concepts.

Help students with computer use.

Bridge knowledge gap between what students currently know and goals of lesson plan through using conceptual ideas to relay information (functions of maps, for example).

Materials Needed

chart paper and marker for Teacher.

large paper and markers for students.

Handouts of Venn Diagrams and World Maps.

Internet access.

Laptop with projector (optional).

Printout of World Fun Facts, found at this address:

Prior Knowledge Students Must Have:

Basic understanding of use of maps.

Understanding of function of library.

Basic computer search skills.

Basic artwork skills to create functional map of library.

Good understanding of English language.

Lesson Plan

On Maps: Hand out World Map Handout, and World Facts Handout. Have them fill in the World Facts handout on their next free library period for extra credit to hand in (individual activity).

Questions:

1. How do maps show oceans and continents?

2. Tell me one thing you think you know about a place on the earth (not their home state!). Write these down, sometimes they are truly "keepers" and make great tee-shirts for the parents ("Top 10 things my kid knows about the world").

3. Label each ocean and continent.

4. Why do we use maps? (have students answer randomly).

Brunswick Middle School Library Virtual Tour

** as students tour the library, have them determine whether your school's library has some of the same features as the library they are visiting. Discuss those features as a class.

Provide students with an appropriate Venn diagram (the Venn handout may be reproduced to hand out to students) or draw one on chart paper or the chalkboard. Label one of the diagram's circles with the name of your school library, and one (or more) with the name of the library(ies) you visited in person or virtually. Have students identify the features of the libraries, and write them on the chart. Have students tell you where to place the features:

Place them inside the "Your School Library" circle if they apply only to your school library.

Place them inside another circle (labeled "____ Library") if they apply to that library, but not to your school library.

Place them in the middle section of the diagram (where two circles intersect) if they apply to both your school library and another library you visited.

When you have finished, ask students to name any other features of either library and add them to the diagram.

Exercise:

1. Now have students close their eyes and think about the layout of your school library. Have them get a clear mental picture of it.

2. On a large sheet of paper, start a drawing of a map and give the students a point of reference such as the front door. Now give each student their own map drawing supplies (paper and markers) and have them start with the front door as a visualization point.

3. Have the students label each section of the library map. (More capable students might create individual or group maps.)

4. When they have completed the maps, on additional paper have students write a description of each part of the map "the door is at the front of the library, near the water fountain…."

5. Put the additional information on the map and display it.

6. Now have the students do their own personalized maps for hallway display.

Introduce this activity just before open house or another event at your school, and have parents use the student-created guide to navigate the library! Older students and accomplished writers can supplement the map with an entire handbook of information about the library.

Extension activity: Humor: What you learn with pleasure you never forget! Poke fun at books, reading, and the library with the Library Jokes handout. Then put your young comedians to work on their own library humor!

Assessment

This lesson is designed as a group activity that can be evaluated by the teacher through observation.

Attachments: Handouts.

VENN DIAGRAM Handout: Venn Diagram

HANDOUT: WORLD MAP

Mapping a World of Facts

Read these interesting facts about the world in which you live. Then find on a world map the place mentioned in each fact. Write then number of the fact on the map where you find that place.

1. Did you know that the Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% of the world's oxygen supply? The rainforest's Amazon River contains more water than the next eight largest rivers in the world combined.

2. Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country. Its ice represents

70% of all the fresh water in the world.

3. Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. Did you know that the word

Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village"?

4. Damascus, Syria, is the oldest continuously inhabited city in existence.

5. Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world located on two continents.

6. In the 1930's jazz musicians traveled from city to city. They used the slang expression

"apple" for any town or city. Therefore, New York City, New York, became "The Big Apple."

7. The smallest island that is a country is Pitcairn Island. It is less than 2 square miles in size.

8. The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy. It reached that size in the year in 133 B.C.

9. Parts of the Sahara Desert might not receive a drop of rain for ten years.

10. The world's highest waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela, is 15 times higher than Niagara Falls.

HANDOUT: WORLD of FACTS

Library Jokes

Knock knock.

Who's there?

Rita.

Rita who?

Rita lot of good books!

What did one math book say to the other math book?

"Do you want to hear my problems?"

What do planets like to read?

Comet books.

What do you get when you cross an elephant with a computer?

A lot of memory.

What part of a computer does an astronaut like best?

The space bar.

Why did the computer sneeze?

It had a virus.

Where do computers take their pets when they get sick?

To the Intervet.

How do librarians file melted marshmallows?

According to the Gooey (Dewey) Decimal System.

What did the spider do inside the library computer?

It made a Web page.

When the cold wind blows, what does a book do?

It puts on a book jacket.

HANDOUT: Library Jokes