Tag Archives: Map

1. INVESTIGATE YOUR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD

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What do you see out your front door?
A road? Fields? Mountains? Another house?
Does your house have a front yard? What is it like?

Take a walk around your neighborhood

Is your neighborhood residential? commercial? a combination of the two?
How would you describe the types of buildings? Apartment buildings, homes, store fronts?
Does any particular building seem to stand out? If so, why?
How far do you have to walk to the market? to church? to the next door neighbor’s house?
Are there trees, flowers along the street? in peoples’ yards?
Do you have to walk on the street? or is there a walkway of some kind?
Are others outside walking? Are there animals around? Are children playing outside?
Note activities which are performed and who is doing them. Note the time when you make these observations.

When you return home:

Make a rudimentary map of your neighborhood and label the buildings and streets as far as you can. You will continue to build on this in the following assignments.

2. DESCRIBE YOUR TOWN/CITY

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General:

How far is the next town or village from yours? How far is it to the nearest large commercial center?

Get to a main crossroads area of your neighborhood

Describe the type of buildings: height, size, type of roofing, building material, windows, decorative features.
Where are main buildings located? post office? government buildings? banks? schools?
Is there a central plaza or green area? Are there green areas throughout the town? If so, what plants or trees are there? How do people seem to use these areas?

What kind of transport seems to be available?

How do people get to your town? Location of train or bus stations, airport, car parking
How do people get around town? bus service, taxis, private car, walking, bicycles? Are there street signs? Other directional signs? In which language(s) are they written?

Note the location of major and minor roadways, of walkways, of possible shortcuts

When you return home:

Add any new information to your map

59. KNOW YOUR NEW COUNTRY: Geography

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What is the general terrain in your immediate area? Possibilities: hilly, mountainous, plateau, level, ravines and gullies, etc. How does this differ from the rest of the country? Draw a topographical map showing elevations. Find out what each feature is called. Are any of them of historical importance?religious importance? economic value? Do any of these delineate borders? Are they considered dangerous? Why or why not?

Are there water sources in your immediate area, like a stream, a river, a lake? What are the local names for these? Look at a map, or draw your own, and name each of the rivers and lakes throughout the country. Are these navigable? If so, for what purpose? Did any of these figure in historical events? How are rivers and streams crossed? Are they considered boundaries between ethnic groups? Is a river the border of another country? Is the “other side” enemy territory? What economic value does the water source have for the community? for the country?

Are there legends or folk tales associated with any of these topographical features? Find out about those that are commonly known in your area. Are these areas regarded with fear or are they considered mysterious? Are there stories of origin associated with them?