Mapping Mistakes (one-day lesson)

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Overview

In this lesson, students will examine several maps that represent the geography of North American incorrectly. Students will consider the obstacles faced by early explorers in mapping unexplored territory. For homework, they will consider what these maps tell us about how mapmakers' built on each other's knowledge.

Learning Goals:

  • Students will examine early European maps and learn about persistent geographic errors.
  • Students will begin to think critically about why early explorers may have perpetuated these errors.

DAY ONE

Website Materials:

Step 1: 10 minutes: Introduction

a) Pass out “Ortelius’ Atlas” worksheet (if students have already used this worksheet in another lesson, ask them to retrieve it).

b) Share student responses to question #3.

c) Ask students to free-write in response to the following prompt:

A number of early European maps contained major mistakes about the geography of North America. Why might this have been the case?

d) Share student responses.

Step 2: 30 minutes: Examine maps

a) Arrange students in groups of three and hand out “Mapping Virginia,” “Mapping California,” and “Sea of the West.”

b) Have students answer questions in groups.

Step 3: 10 minutes: Discussion

a) Share student answers.

b) As whole class, discuss the following:

  • Did the information in these worksheets surprise you? If so, why?
  • What do these maps tell you about the people who made maps?

Homework

Respond to the following prompt:

Using the maps you've examined today, what can you say about how mapmakers influenced each other. In other words, how did a mapmaker use the maps of the explorers and mapmakers who preceded him?

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Responses to this assignment will vary, as it calls primarily on students' imagination. However, in order to meet standards, a student should make either one of the following points:

  • Mapmakers had difficulty dismissing attractive geographical dreams (i.e., Ortelius, Sea of the West, Mapping Virginia).
  • Mapmakers did not systematically build on each other's representations (i.e., Mapping California).

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