Human Map: Where Are We From?
A large map is drawn on the ground with chalk, and students run to stand where they were born, where they spend vacations, or where they would like to travel, then play a relay between places. It shows the diversity of the group and practices getting oriented on a map.
How to play
- Before class, draw a large, simple chalk map (about 65 x 50 ft): your town in the center, your state, the rest of the country, and the continents around it, marked with cones (prep ahead of time).
- Jog around the map together, naming each area (2 min).
- First question: "Where were you born?" Everyone runs to their place; students who match greet each other and share names (3 min).
- Next questions: where your grandparents live, where you spent the summer, where you would like to travel. Each time, two or three students share something about the place (6 min).
- Relay game: form 4 teams; the teacher calls a place and the first student in each line runs to touch it and back. First one back scores a point (6 min).
- Finish in the center of the map, all together in the school's town: "This is where we found each other" (1 min).
Rules
- Every place in the world counts; nobody makes negative comments about where someone is from.
- Run looking ahead, especially when arriving at crowded places.
- Anyone who prefers not to share can go to the "mystery" square.
Variations
Easier
Use a map with only neighborhood, town, city, and "far away," plus simple questions.
Standard
Use a map with town, country, and continents, four questions, and the relay.
Harder
In the relay, the teacher gives a clue ("the Eiffel Tower is there") instead of naming the place.
Adaptations
- Students with limited mobility can mark their place by tossing or rolling a ball there, or move with extra time.
- For students with visual impairments, each area has a brightly colored cone and a classmate guide for moving around.
- For students who recently moved from another country, invite them to share about their place if they want, never forcing it.
Learning goals
- Learn about and value the different backgrounds and experiences in the group.
- Get oriented on a large-scale drawn map.
- Travel quickly and with control to a given spot.
Equipment for a class of 25
- chalk: 6
- cones: 12
Teacher tip
This game is especially valuable in diverse classes, but keep the tone positive; a photo of everyone on the map at the end makes a great class keepsake.
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