Mapping Our Locality: Past and Present
Comparing historical maps of the local area with modern satellite imagery and street maps.
Key Questions
- Analyze how the physical landscape of our local area has changed over time.
- Compare the types of buildings and land use shown on old maps versus new ones.
- Explain the reasons behind significant changes in our local streets and buildings.
National Curriculum Attainment Targets
About This Topic
This topic introduces students to local history through the study of maps. By comparing old Victorian maps with modern satellite imagery, students can see how their own neighborhood has changed over time. This fulfills the KS1 requirement to study significant historical places in their own locality.
Students develop 'historical detective' skills as they look for clues like old factory names, vanished railways, or the growth of housing estates. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the changes by overlaying old maps onto new ones or using digital tools to 'travel' through time.
Active Learning Ideas
Inquiry Circle: Map Detectives
Groups are given a section of an old map and a modern one of the same area. They must find three things that are the same (like a church or a river) and three things that have changed.
Gallery Walk: Our Changing Streets
Display old photos of local streets alongside photos of how they look today. Students walk around and use sticky notes to identify what has been built or knocked down.
Think-Pair-Share: Why did it change?
Students look at a new housing estate on a map where there used to be a field. They think about why people needed more houses, share with a partner, and then share with the class.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Common MisconceptionThe streets have always had the same names.
What to Teach Instead
Street names often change to reflect new buildings or famous people. Finding an 'old' name on a map helps students see how the identity of a place evolves.
Common MisconceptionOld maps are just 'bad' drawings.
What to Teach Instead
They were very accurate for their time but focused on different things. Comparing a hand-drawn map to a satellite photo helps students appreciate different ways of recording information.
Suggested Methodologies
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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find old maps of my local area?
Why do towns change over time?
What are the best hands-on strategies for teaching local history with maps?
What is a satellite map?
Planning templates for History
5E Model
The 5E Model structures lessons through five phases (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate), guiding students from curiosity to deep understanding through inquiry-based learning.
unit plannerThematic Unit
Organize a multi-week unit around a central theme or essential question that cuts across topics, texts, and disciplines, helping students see connections and build deeper understanding.
rubricSingle-Point Rubric
Build a single-point rubric that defines only the "meets standard" level, leaving space for teachers to document what exceeded and what fell short. Simple to create, easy for students to understand.
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