Design Your Own Map

We have been utilizing and discussing maps in recent weeks. It is now your turn to
demonstrate to me that you have grasped the basic skills taught in class. Your task is to
create an aerial map (top-down) of one of the following scenarios:
Scenario 1: Simply design your neighborhood. You will want to include houses,
creeks/rivers, streets, foliage (bushes/trees/etc), elevations (contours),
landmarks, etc for multiple blocks in each direction of your house. Your
house will be the focal point of the map.
Scenario 2: You are the commander of a defense force. Your task is to design a fortress
which is to be defended by any army which should try to attack. Make sure
you include fortifications (defenses), water (moat, stream, river, ocean),
elevations (contours), foliage (bushes/trees/etc.), and any other items which
you would like to create.
Scenario 3: You are the designer of your dream cabin and all of the attached
landscaping. Your task is to design a cabin, and the surrounding area on
which it resides. Have fun with this. If you want your cabin on a lake, make
it that way! Same thing if you would like your cabin to be on hunting land.
As in the previous scenarios, make sure you include buildings
(cabin/sheds/etc) creeks/rivers, streets, foliage (bushes/trees/etc), elevations
(contours), landmarks, etc.
Scenario 4: You are the designer of a new college campus. Where is this campus
located? Is it located in busy downtown area like Boston University? Or is it
in a relaxed suburban setting like UWGB or St. Norbert College? Is it on a
river? What types of buildings will be located there? How about roads,
foliage (bushes/trees/etc), elevations (contours), landmarks, etc?
Regardless of the scenario you choose, you must include all of the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

A map title
Compass rose (8 point)
Structures (buildings)
Contour lines
Foliage (trees, bushes, etc)
Roads/paths
A map key including all of the symbols included on your map
A scale (what is the conversion of distance on the map? 1 inch = 1 mile? 1 inch =
500 feet? Does it make sense?)
Use of color
The date the map was created.

You may use a clean (no lines) sheet of white paper, poster board, OR a sheet of graph
paper for this project. You may NOT use notebook paper.

Design Your Own Map

We have been utilizing and discussing maps in recent weeks. It is now your turn to
demonstrate to me that you have grasped the basic skills taught in class. Your task is to
create an aerial map (top-down) of one of the following scenarios:
Scenario 1: Simply design your neighborhood. You will want to include houses,
creeks/rivers, streets, foliage (bushes/trees/etc), elevations (contours),
landmarks, etc for multiple blocks in each direction of your house. Your
house will be the focal point of the map.
Scenario 2: You are the commander of a defense force. Your task is to design a fortress
which is to be defended by any army which should try to attack. Make sure
you include fortifications (defenses), water (moat, stream, river, ocean),
elevations (contours), foliage (bushes/trees/etc.), and any other items which
you would like to create.
Scenario 3: You are the designer of your dream cabin and all of the attached
landscaping. Your task is to design a cabin, and the surrounding area on
which it resides. Have fun with this. If you want your cabin on a lake, make
it that way! Same thing if you would like your cabin to be on hunting land.
As in the previous scenarios, make sure you include buildings
(cabin/sheds/etc) creeks/rivers, streets, foliage (bushes/trees/etc), elevations
(contours), landmarks, etc.
Scenario 4: You are the designer of a new college campus. Where is this campus
located? Is it located in busy downtown area like Boston University? Or is it
in a relaxed suburban setting like UWGB or St. Norbert College? Is it on a
river? What types of buildings will be located there? How about roads,
foliage (bushes/trees/etc), elevations (contours), landmarks, etc?
Regardless of the scenario you choose, you must include all of the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

A map title
Compass rose (8 point)
Structures (buildings)
Contour lines
Foliage (trees, bushes, etc)
Roads/paths
A map key including all of the symbols included on your map
A scale (what is the conversion of distance on the map? 1 inch = 1 mile? 1 inch =
500 feet? Does it make sense?)
Use of color
The date the map was created.

You may use a clean (no lines) sheet of white paper, poster board, OR a sheet of graph
paper for this project. You may NOT use notebook paper.

Name: ________________________
Date: ___________

Rubric
12 Points*

10 Points

8 Points

All items listed

were included
and used
correctly.

All items were

included, but
some were not
applied
correctly.
-OR
1-2 items
missing.
All items were
included, but
some were not
applied
correctly.
-OR
1-2 items
missing.

Essential map
elements:
(Title,
Compass
Rose, Key,
Scale, Date)

Student used all

5 items
correctly, AND
included
additional
features above
the scope of the
assignment.

Components
of Design
(Structures,
Foliage,
Roads/Paths,
Color, Contour
Lines)

Student used all

5 items
correctly, AND
included
additional
features above
the scope of the
assignment.

All items listed

were included
and used
correctly.

Geographic
Creativity

Student went
above and
beyond in their
efforts on this
project. The
work that was
submitted was
above of what is
expected at this
grade level.

Student
followed the
instructions of
the assignment
to the best of
their ability.
Final submission
is neat, clean,
and organized.

6 Points
Student is
missing 3-4
items
-ORStudent is
missing 1-2
items, but the
remaining items
were not applied
correctly.
Student is
missing 3-4
items
-ORStudent is
missing 1-2
items, but the
remaining items
were not applied
correctly.

Work was submitted, but lacked

clarity or creativity.

0 Points

Student did not

complete the
assignment.

Student did not

complete the
assignment.

Student did not

complete the
assignment.

Teacher Use
Only

Total:

30 points total on this project. If you earn 12 points in any category, that would be 2 points extra credit for each category awarded.

Comments:

Teacher use only

Rubric
12 Points*

10 Points

8 Points

All items listed

were included
and used
correctly.

All items were

included, but
some were not
applied
correctly.
-OR
1-2 items
missing.
All items were
included, but
some were not
applied
correctly.
-OR
1-2 items
missing.

Essential map
elements:
(Title,
Compass
Rose, Key,
Scale, Date)

Student used all

5 items
correctly, AND
included
additional
features above
the scope of the
assignment.

Components
of Design
(Structures,
Foliage,
Roads/Paths,
Color, Contour
Lines)

Student used all

5 items
correctly, AND
included
additional
features above
the scope of the
assignment.

All items listed

were included
and used
correctly.

Geographic
Creativity

Student went
above and
beyond in their
efforts on this
project. The
work that was
submitted was
above of what is
expected at this
grade level.

Student
followed the
instructions of
the assignment
to the best of
their ability.
Final submission
is neat, clean,
and organized.

6 Points
Student is
missing 3-4
items
-ORStudent is
missing 1-2
items, but the
remaining items
were not applied
correctly.
Student is
missing 3-4
items
-ORStudent is
missing 1-2
items, but the
remaining items
were not applied
correctly.

Work was submitted, but lacked

clarity or creativity.

0 Points

Student did not

complete the
assignment.

Student did not

complete the
assignment.

Student did not

complete the
assignment.

Total:

30 points total on this project. If you earn 12 points in any category, that would be 2 points extra credit for each category awarded.

Comments:

Teacher Use
Only

Teacher use only