Measurements

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

A bit of history regarding measurement and some examples of the difficulties when you don't have a standard reference make up the introduction to this book about map measurement. The first concept is that of scale, then elevation which is usually represented through color or topographic lines. Beginning with an introduction to map making techniques such as the use of color and symbols, kids learn what a map key is. Activities include the creation of a contour map, determining route length, and learning to understand area, which can be blocks or square miles and kilometers. Kids are asked questions that can be answered from the information in the books, and are offered other activities, some of which require independent research. (The answers are provided in the back of the books along with a glossary and index.) Part of the "Discovering Geography" series from Benchmark, which includes The World, Countries, States, Cities and Towns, Maps, and Measurements.