Lesson plan of Cartographic Scales

Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

Main Objectives

1. Understand the concept of Cartographic Scale, its importance and how it is used to study and create maps.
2. Learn how to interpret and use the Cartographic Scale to determine real distances from map distances and vice versa.

Secondary Objectives

1. Develop map reading and interpretation skills, identifying their main elements and characteristics.
2. Apply the concept of Cartographic Scale in practical everyday situations, such as travel, urban planning, among others.
3. Encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the use of the Cartographic Scale.

Students should be able to explain what a Cartographic Scale is, how it works, and how to use it to determine real distances. They should also be able to apply this knowledge in practical situations, such as planning a travel route or analyzing a map of their city.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

1. Previous Content Review:

   • The teacher begins the class by briefly reviewing the concepts of maps, cartography and geographic coordinates, which were studied in previous classes. This is crucial to ensure that all students have the necessary background to understand the new content.
   • Quick questions can be asked to check students' understanding of these concepts, such as "What are geographic coordinates? How do they help us locate points on Earth?"

2. Contextualization:

   • The teacher presents two practical situations where the Cartographic Scale is fundamental: the first can be the planning of a trip, where the map scale is used to determine the distance between the starting and ending points; the second can be urban planning, where the scale is used to represent the proportion between the real dimension and the dimension represented on the map of a city.
   • The teacher emphasizes the importance of using the scale correctly to avoid errors in the interpretation of maps and in the decisions made based on them.

3. Problem Situations:

   • The teacher proposes two problem situations that involve the use of the Cartographic Scale:
     1. "You are planning a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles. You have a map where the distance between the two cities is 10 cm. If the map scale is 1:100,000, what would be the real distance you would travel?"
     2. "You are analyzing a map of your city and notice that the representation of the park closest to your home is very small. When checking the map scale, you find that the scale is 1:10,000. Does this mean that the park is really small or that the map is wrong?"

4. Getting Students' Attention:

   • The teacher introduces the topic of Cartographic Scale by telling some curiosities about maps:
     1. "Did you know that the oldest map in the world, known as the Turin Map, was made over 3,500 years ago in ancient Babylon and already used a primitive form of scale?"
     2. "And that the most accurate map ever made is the Klencke Map, which was created in 1660 and shows Europe, Africa and parts of Asia and North America with incredible accuracy, despite being over 3 meters wide?"
   • The teacher then connects these curiosities to the importance of Cartographic Scale, explaining that it is what allows cartographers to accurately represent the size relationship between different areas on Earth.

At the end of this step, students should have a clear understanding of what the Cartographic Scale is, why it is important, and how it is used in practical situations. They should also be motivated to learn more about the topic, thanks to the curiosities and problem situations presented.

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

1. Activity "Traveling Through the Map" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Divide the class into groups of up to five students and give each group a map of a region (city, state, country, etc.).
   • Explain that each group must plan a trip from one point to another on the map, taking into account the scale of the map.
   • Students should calculate the real distance between the two points and list the main cities and points of reference they would find along the way.
   • After completing the planning, each group should present their trip to the class, explaining how they used the map scale to calculate the real distance.

2. Activity "Recognizing the City" (10 - 12 minutes)

   • Still in groups, give each group a map of their own city or a city known to all students.
   • Ask students to choose a location on the map and describe how to get there from school, using the map scale.
   • They should list the main streets and landmarks they would encounter along the way.
   • Once each group has finished, ask a representative from each group to present their directions to the class, explaining how they used the map scale.

3. Activity "Creating a Map" (5 - 6 minutes)

   • Finally, explain that each group must create their own map of an area of their choice, such as the classroom, the schoolyard, or a nearby park.
   • They must include a scale on the map and mark important landmarks.
   • When finished, ask each group to swap their map with another group and try to follow the directions on the map to reach the landmarks.
   • This activity will allow students to apply their knowledge of Cartographic Scale in a practical and fun way.

In all these activities, the teacher should circulate around the room, guiding students, clarifying doubts and ensuring that everyone is involved and understanding what they are doing. The teacher can also use these activities as opportunities to assess students' understanding of the Cartographic Scale and provide immediate feedback. By the end of this step, students should have a solid understanding of how to use the Cartographic Scale to determine real distances and how it is applied in practice.

Return (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes):

   • After the conclusion of the group activities, the teacher gathers all the students and promotes a discussion about the solutions and conclusions found by each group.
   • The teacher can start by asking each group what they learned from the activity and what the challenges were.
   • He can also ask the groups to share their solutions to the problem situations proposed in the Introduction of the class.
   • During the discussion, the teacher should encourage students to explain their answers and think critically about them. He should also correct any errors or misunderstandings that arise.

2. Connection with the Theory (2 - 3 minutes):

   • The teacher then makes the connection between the practical activities carried out and the theory presented at the beginning of the class.
   • He can, for example, explain how the activity "Traveling Through the Map" demonstrates the use of Cartographic Scale to determine real distances, while the activity "Recognizing the City" shows how the scale can be used to navigate a map.
   • The teacher can also highlight how the activity "Creating a Map" allowed students to apply their knowledge of Cartographic Scale in a creative and fun way.

3. Final Reflection (2 - 3 minutes):

   • Finally, the teacher asks students to reflect individually on what they learned in the class. He can ask questions like:
     1. "What was the most important concept you learned today?"
     2. "What questions have not yet been answered?"
   • Students have a minute to think about their answers, and then the teacher asks some volunteers to share their reflections with the class.
   • This final reflection helps students to consolidate their learning and allows the teacher to assess the effectiveness of his lesson.

At the end of this step, students should have a clear understanding of the concept of Cartographic Scale and how to use it to determine real distances. They should also be able to apply this knowledge in practical situations, such as planning a trip or navigating a map. Additionally, they should have had the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills through the group activities.

Note: The time allocated for this step may vary depending on the dynamics of the class and the extent of the discussions. The teacher should adjust the time as necessary to ensure that all Learning Objectives are met.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Content Recap (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher reviews the main points discussed during the class, reminding the definition of Cartographic Scale, its importance and how it is used to determine real distances from map distances and vice versa.
   • He can also briefly mention the main practical situations in which the Cartographic Scale is applied, such as in the planning of trips and in urban planning.

2. Theory-Practice Connection (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher highlights how the class combined the theory about Cartographic Scale with practical activities that allowed students to apply these concepts in a realistic way.
   • He emphasizes how the activities "Traveling Through the Map", "Recognizing the City" and "Creating a Map" demonstrated the use of Cartographic Scale in everyday situations and helped to solidify students' understanding of the subject.

3. Supplementary Materials (1 - 2 minutes):

   • The teacher suggests some additional resources that students can use to deepen their knowledge of Cartographic Scale, such as explanatory videos, educational online games, books and reference websites.
   • He can, for example, indicate a video that demonstrates how maps are made on a very small scale, such as the 1:1,000,000 scale, or an online game that challenges students to navigate a map using only the scale.

4. Importance of the Subject (1 minute):

   • Finally, the teacher emphasizes the relevance of Cartographic Scale to students' everyday lives.
   • He can mention, for example, how the ability to interpret and use maps correctly can be useful in various situations, from planning a trip to understanding news and geographic information.
   • In addition, the teacher can reinforce how understanding the Cartographic Scale contributes to the development of important skills, such as the ability to solve problems, think critically and communicate ideas in a clear and effective way.

At the end of this step, students should have consolidated their understanding of Cartographic Scale and its application, and should feel motivated to continue learning about the subject. Through the recap, the teacher ensures that all key concepts have been understood, and the supplementary materials offer an opportunity for students to deepen their knowledge independently.