Mapping The World

I was reading an article about mapping intercultural relationships when I suddenly thought, "Why not use maps as a learning tool?"

So here is what I thought when I looked at a map. There are lots of questions to ask ourselves about maps. Where is this place? How far to get from place to place and most important, what is on the legend.

So here is my idea du jour for an activity.

Have participants draw maps on chart paper of the unchartered territory they are going to. Let's say, for example, that they are going to be starting small businesses. Let them create a map anyway they want that would show some of the land they could explore.

Off the top of my head I would draw a land of customers, an ocean of loss and mountains of overhead. That sounds like fun.

Then have them approach the key or legend in a lively, imaginative way. For example: round circles could be target audiences, arrows could be trends, a large river could be a customer base and the tributaries could be branches yet to explore.

You get the idea. I think it would be fun to grab some felt markers, some chart paper and get drawing.