Historical Source Lesson: Maps and Charts
| ALL GRADES
For the Educator: Use this historical source lesson with the sample analysis page (as a handout or overhead) to illustrate where to find and how to use maps and charts. Download full-page sample analysis Image as jpg. |
Relevant Standards: When presented with the interpretive lessons and projects herein, this lesson meets Michigan Content and Benchmark Standards for Social Studies: V: 1 Information Processing
This lesson can also be adapted to with additional projects to fit any and all of the standards in Strand II: Geographic Perspective.
What are maps and charts?
Maps and charts display information visually in a quick and easy format. Maps can be used to show actual geography, or they can show characteristics related to different regions. Charts often make comparisons by illustrating different data sets. Historians use these to quickly reference data or research that has already been completed. Historians may make their own charts and maps, or they may use existing items in their research.
Where can you find them?
While researching the Fruit Belt, we found street maps of cities from the Sanborn Map Co. We also found illustrative maps and charts from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Michigan State University, showing different climate and growing conditions throughout this region. The Regional Archives (WMU) and the archives at FMHS also provided useful maps and charts for our project. Additionally, libraries and schools often have maps and charts on a variety of topics.
How do you interpret them?
Maps and charts can show you a lot of information in a small space. Following these steps can help you to fully interpret the maps and charts you find.
First, identify the map or chart. Who made it and why? What does it represent? Does it have a title? What are the data sets? Find the key, and note the values on the map/chart and what each represents. Does this map/chart make a comparison? Who might use this map/chart? What does it communicate? What can you suggest about the information that is included/excluded?
The answers to the questions above can help you determine the purpose, audience, and composition of maps and charts. Often times, you may not be able to create a story about the past using only maps and charts, but these would help you understand more about the past and the region described.
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