YSU hosts open house for giant maps coming to campus
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Large National Geographic floor maps of the state of Ohio began making their rounds at schools throughout the Mahoning Valley on Monday, Sept. 27.
These maps were the focus of an open house and workshop event hosted by Rebecca Theobald, assistant research professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in the McKay Auditorium in Youngstown State University's Beeghly Hall from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
Educators and future educators across the Mahoning Valley were invited to explore interactive, adaptive lesson ideas and resources using these maps.
The Giant Traveling Map Project is part of National Geographic's support for geographic education. The maps range in size from 14 by 21 feet to 32 by 37 feet and include all 50 states, each continent, the Pacific Ocean and the solar system.
According to YSU geography professor, Dawna Cerney, there are endless possibilities for how students can learn from these maps and what activities educators can come up with for their students.
"Lessons using these maps are only limited to the teacher's imagination, and subject matter spans all disciplines as 'Everything Happens Somewhere,'" Cerney said.