This lesson uses five centuries of world maps to show the progression of geographical knowledge in the western world, as well as the alterations in western worldviews. Each student will construct a copy of the 20-sided Dymaxion globe invented by R. Buckminster Fuller.
- Grade Levels: 6-12
- Time Allotment: 45 to 55 minutes for classroom visits; 75 to 90 minutes for field trips
- ME Social Studies Standards
- C1: Economic Knowledge, Concepts, Themes, and Patterns
- C2: Individual, Cultural, Internation, and Global Connections in Economics
- D1: Geographic Knowledge, Concepts, Themes, and Patterns
- E1: Historical Knowledge, Concepts, Themes, and Patterns
- E2: Individual, Cultural, Internation, and Global Connections in History
Preteaching
Intended to be completed in the classroom before the scheduled field trip or class visit, the pre-teaching activity will give students some familiarity with the terms, ideas, and visuals, that they will see during the actual visit.
- PDF: Colonial Worldview Workbook --> Answers
Guided Inquiry Exercise
During this portion of the visit, students will be asked to look closely at twelve to twenty maps that fit within the curriculum theme. Each student will need to find:
- something they recognize from previous class lessons or from the pre-teaching activity
- something they find interesting and want to point out to their classmates
- something they would like to know more about
- Optional Worksheet: World Maps Exploration Activity
Examples of Maps Used:
(sets of maps will vary)
- Ptolemaic World Map, 1482
- 'Clover' Map of the World, 1581
- World Map with Allegories of the Continents, 1657
- World on Mercator's Projection, 1867
- 'Air Age' World Map, c.1940
Interactive
OML visit themes have recommended hands-on activities or group-games that can be done in conjunction with the Guided Inquiry exercise.