3rd graders in Ms. George's class work to complete their limited-edition Art Trading Cards (ATCs)

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3rd Grade Create Imaginary Maps

Last year parents donated dozens of maps to the art room. Since the 3rd graders are studying maps I thought it would be fun to create imaginary maps. Children were shown a typical map legend (map key) and were asked to create their own map keys for an imaginary place.

In class we created a basic map legend. Children were given time to explore real maps.
Students making their imaginary map legend.

Letter to all 3rd Grade Parents

Dear Wonderful 3rd Grade Parent,

In art class we are studying the basic elements of a map to create our own imaginary map of a make believe location next week. This week, each child created their very own Map Legend/Key after carefully studying dozens of real maps that were kindly donated to the art room by last year’s parents. Please support your child by pulling up a paper map you may have at home and looking or finding some or all of the elements listed below:

Map Title
Compass
Map Key/Legend
Distance/Scale key
Smaller side maps and their purpose
Abbreviations that may be used.
Color and names of bodies of water
Separation likes

Some activities you might want to do are:
* Find symbols on the map and look them up on the Map Legend/Map Key
* Discuss why some names of places are written in larger letters than others
* Discuss why there might be some smaller maps on the borders of the main map.
* Try to figure out how far one place is from another by using the distance key.
* Allow plenty of time for your child just to look at the map. There is so much to look at.

Miriam Cutelis
Miriam.Cutelis@yahoo.com


Note: This should all be done in a fun and relaxed environment. This is not homework or mandatory. This flyer is just a way for parents who want to make connections at home with school content have the tools they need to make those connections. If your child looks frustrated or uninterested it’s best to try at a later time when the experience can be seen as a positive activity. If you do not have a map, please ask your child to borrow one from me. I have about 10 I can lend out to kids for a night.

Bookbinding done.......they will be journal/sketchbooks instead

Children in 3rd grade have been learning all about bookbinding. I taught them the same lesson I got while in college finishing off a studio art major. They fold sets of paper and sew them together, then they attach the pages to a cover. The children were going to use these books to show off these fables they created, yet most of them, once they saw the end result preferred to turn them into sketchbook/journals instead.

I introduced them to an artist I LOVE.......who posts her own creative journal pages online, Judy Wise at http://Judywise.blogspot.com . They were very inspired and like Judy Wise, they used mixed media to decorate their covers. Parents, please feel free to watch videos on YouTube under the search 'bookbinding'...they will make wonerful summer projects.

Finished 4-legged animals (George's Class)

Paper Mache Lesson

Children are paper mache-ing their people-in-motion sculptures.