Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Exercises
1.
Comparing Map Representations and Our Observations
Get a map for a well-known area. The map can be at any scale or of any type; it
should show things that people are well familiar with. Start out by comparing what
you remember of that area to how it is represented on the map. What is missing?
What is simplified? What has been added or exaggerated? Compare your map and
answers to these questions to a neighbor's. Are they the same or different lists? How
could that depend on scale or the type of map?
2.
Make Mental Maps and Discuss Them with a
Classmate
Draw maps from memory of an area you and your neighbor are familiar with. When
you are done, identify common elements with your neighbor or in small groups and
write them down on the board in your classroom and discuss how well the mental
maps help communication. Also discuss how the maps could be drawn differently
and what cartographic or geographic choices the different map involves.
3.
Choices and Scales
Examine the figure showing the three types of maps and different scales. What
choices do you think were made to make each map? What is the scale of each
map? How does the differences between map scales affect the way things are
shown? How do the choices differ in relationship to scale and map type?
4.
EXTENDED EXERCISE:
Mental Maps
Objectives:
Communication with maps
Things and events as patterns and processes
Accuracy is related to use
Overview
Mental maps are a way of portraying geographic relationships and features, but can
only communicate in limited ways. In this exercise you will prepare a mental map of
the area you live in. Later, you will find a map of the same area on the Internet and
compare the two maps in terms of what they communicate and their suitability for
navigation.
Instructions
On a piece of plain white paper draw your mental map of the area from memory.
Don't just draw (or copy from) a street map! This should be a mental map, not a car-
tographic map. Take about 20 minutes to draw and annotate (for your instructor's
sake) your map. Show as much detail as you can, and use a different color for the
annotations if you can. Remember to focus on making the map accurate only in
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