Giant Traveling Map to visit schools across Alaska

October 11, 2012

The Giant Traveling Map of North America will make the rounds to Alaska schools from Nome to Kenny Lake in October and November. Here the map is pictured at Wood River Elementary School in Fairbanks in 2009.

Nancy Tarnai
907-474-5042
10/11/12

Alaska students will soon have a chance to explore North America in a big way: with one of the world’s largest maps of the continent. The map, measuring 35 feet by 26 feet, gives student explorers a fun, interactive experience through rich content and exciting activities that enliven the study of geography.

The map will travel the state Oct. 16 through Nov. 20 as part of National Geographic’s Giant Traveling Maps program, organized by National Geographic Live, the public programming division of the National Geographic Society. The University of Alaska Fairbanks is coordinating the Alaska visit.

The brightly colored vinyl surface of the map accurately illustrates North America’s oceans, seas, rivers, mountains, countries and capitals. The map, designed for grades K-8, comes with a trunk full of accessories, including interactive games, geography adventures, atlases and books that teach students about the physical characteristics of the continent as well as its rich history and varied cultures.

“Experiencing a map of this size can really awaken a student to the power of maps and the limitless depth of geography,” said Dan Beaupré, National Geographic’s director of education partnerships for National Geographic Live. “Whether they are using the map to learn place names or to compare state-to-state CO2 emissions, students are physically involved in a hands- and feet-on way that makes geography into an event.”

National Geographic’s Giant Traveling Maps program was introduced in 2006 with a map of Africa, and has since expanded to maps of North America, Asia, South America and the Pacific Ocean.

Following is a schedule of schools the map will visit:

Oct. 16, Glennallen School

Oct. 18, Kenny Lake School

Oct. 25-26, Nome Elementary School

Oct. 30-31, Goldenview Middle School, Anchorage

Nov. 2, Nenana City School

Nov. 7, Main Elementary, Kodiak

Nov. 8, East Elementary, Kodiak

Nov. 12, Yakutat Elementary

Nov. 15-16, Immaculate Conception School, Fairbanks

Nov. 19-20, Knik Elementary, Wasilla

To learn more about the Giant Traveling Map project, visit www.nationalgeographic.com/giantmaps.

ADDITIONAL CONTACTS: UA Geography Program, 907-474-7188.

NT/10-11-12/096-13