Have you ever been lost and had no idea where you were going? Wouldn’t a map have helped? Maps are great tools to have around when you are traveling, giving people directions, or are lost. A good map features various things that make it easier to use, and in this lesson, you will design your own maps with these features.
	Throughout this lesson, you will get a chance to do the following things: Create a map of your school Create a map of the route you take to get home A panoramic map of Houston from 1891. To see it in more detail, follow this link to the Library of Congress Website.
	Online Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map Yahoo Street Maps Aerial Photographs of Houston taken from Microsoft's Terraserver Website Map of Houston's Metro Service

Step A:		Step B:
Review the basics about maps and Cartography with Mapmaker, Mapmaker, Make Me a Map Put your brain to the test and try to draw a map from memory depicting the route between your classroom and the gym. Remember that helpful maps should include: a legend a compass rose a map scale symbols a landmark at every direction change Check your work by retracing the steps in your map on foot. Fix any mistakes you may have made. Now that your map is a masterpiece, write narrative directions to help someone using your map find the: gym cafeteria bathrooms Remember that people using your directions won't have a map with them so you’ll want to mention landmarks, time, distance and sequence to be as clear as possible.		Let’s work your mental muscle again. Try to draw a map from memory of the route you take home from school. Just like before you’ll need to include a: a legend a compass rose a map scale symbols landmarks every 2 or 3 blocks At the end of the day, take your map home with you so you can fix any problems with it or add anything you forgot. Try your skill at writing narrative directions again. Use landmarks, time, distance and sequence to write directions from school to your house. Architectural Floor Plan of Hogg Middle School's First Floor
In this lesson, your grade will be based on your maps and narrative directions, so be sure to include the things mentioned in "The Process."
Map of Texas from the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
Now that you've completed this lesson, you should have a better understanding of how you make and follow a map. Check your knowledge with these questions: What characteristics are important for a good map? What were the first things I included in my school map? In my route home? What types of things did I originally omit from my maps? Visit Quia! to play games about map skills and Fundamental Themes of Geography