A Community Resource Map

Art Activity

WHAT YOU NEED

• Examples of resource maps
• Photocopies of a neighborhood/community map, enough for each group

WHAT TO DO

1. Share with students the examples of resource maps. Have them use the map legends to explain what resources are available in the areas shown.

2. Explain that service facilities are one kind of resource. As examples, cite transportation and medical facilities. Discuss the types of services each offers to the community.

3. Encourage students to think of other types of community resources. To stimulate ideas, ask students what sports facilities they know. Then have them think of other kinds of service facilities. List student contributions on the chalkboard. Some possible answers: sports and recreation facilities, government facilities, cultural centers, etc.

4. Divide the class into teams so that each team can develop a resource map for one of the resources mentioned. For example Team A might do recreation, Team B food distribution, and so forth. Or, one team might cover outdoor resources, another indoor facilities.

5. Have each group develop, on a separate piece of paper, a list of community resources they want to show on their map, then divide them into sub-categories and design a legend. The groups should locate the sites of their resources on their community maps and carefully draw in the appropriate symbols wherever they belong.

6. Have the groups present their maps to the class. Then exhibit the maps on a poster or bulletin board visible to the entire school.

TEACHING OPTIONS

Have all students work off the same base map, then make a transparency of each map, and use an overhead projector to display them. Overlay the maps so that students get a sense of the numbers and locations of resources in their community.

You might make photocopies of completed maps so that students can share them with their families. As a follow-up, ask students to report back on any resource they used as a result of having their maps.

If your community has a visitor information center, they may enjoy the opportunity of displaying students' maps. If you do not have a color copier, have students hand-color the symbols and map legends on the copies.