Creating a digital map offers several advantages when connecting geography with history. With a digital map, students can drag and drop elements, making the activity more interactive and engaging. It’s easy to edit or move items without starting over, and students can add images, notes, or audio to give more context than a static map allows. Digital maps also help with organization, using color-coding and neat labels to make patterns and connections clear. They can be saved, shared, and reused, which supports collaboration and review. Overall, digital mapping encourages critical thinking as students actively analyze relationships between place and history. And to top it all off, students can't lose it!
To create your own map, I like to use the Numbers app, because it allows more space to work within. First, delete the table out of a blank template. Then find a map doing a basic web search that fits your needs. In my (Modern) American History, we tie geography into multiple units including: Westward Expansion, American Industrial Revolution, American Imperialism, World War I, World War II, Cold War etc. Depending on your needs, you will want a map specific to your place of study.
- Once you've chosen your map and placed it into Numbers, LOCK IT in place! (Tip: Always send your map to the back so other objects appear on top of it.)
- Decide what you want students to be able to identify/label. These can be specific states/countries or bodies of water that they drag and drop. You can also use shapes or symbols to connect to specific events. Students can also use the mark up tool to identify rivers, trails, fronts, migrations patterns, etc.
- Create a key that students can refer back to and provide them with the label you wish them to drag and drop. I also like to include the directions directly on the sheet so students aren't switching back and forth to follow along.
- Students can add images of specific battles, figures, or events related to the places they are studying. They can also include audio to explain what was happening during that time and provide more context.
Create your own maps or use/edit the templates I've attached!
Attach up to 5 files which will be available for other members to download.