Tools

National Geographic Map Comes to the Western Slope

by KREX News Room
by John Dias

Story Created: Apr 26, 2012 at 8:23 AM MDT

Story Updated: Apr 26, 2012 at 9:53 AM MDT

CLIFTON, Colo.- School District 51 has a rare opportunity to explore a new way of teaching its students about geography. The school district is one of the few districts across the country that is fortunate enough to borrow a giant, traveling map from National Geographic.

The hands on, feet on experience turns the average gymnasium into a teaching tool, and it is estimated more than 200,000 students learn from these maps each year.

"It’s just a new, interactive learning experience for kids that kind of brings geography to them in a fun way," said Terri LeFebre, secondary school specialist at School District 51. “With the physical activity and memory that comes from that, it's just something a little bit different."

The maps even come with a big trunk of activities that cater to each specific location so teachers have access to everything they may need with no additional planning.

"It’s an opportunity that just doesn't come around very often,” said Kim Davis, a teacher at School District 51. “There are so many students and so many schools that want to take advantage of this opportunity."

The school district is currently borrowing a map of Asia, but school officials hope that come this fall, they can get their hands on a map of North America.

School officials aim to turn this way of learning into a tradition and they plan on sharing the map with other school districts on the Western Slope.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KREX - News, Weather, Sports for Grand Junction | Montrose | Glenwood Springs - Coverage You Can Count On and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

Most Popular
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
News Channel 5 Weather