Students will examine a variety of different types of maps, including political, topographical, land use and resource, weather and population maps to investigate the versatility of maps and how they are used for different purposes. By exploring the development of maps, from the ancient Babylonians through the Age of Exploration and onto the use of satellite imagery, students gain an understanding of how cartography changes due to advancements in human knowledge and technology. Students are also exposed to the very important concepts of how maps reflect geologic events, like earthquakes and volcanoes, and how these events affect the land, as well as to how people use and therefore influence the Earthb2ss surface. A History of Maps takes students inside the Library of Congress and the Amazonia Center at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., to see how satellite maps are produced. A teacher's guide is included and available online.

Features: discussion questions & activities.