9th Grade World History Students Were "Puzzled" About Maps

While studying the Age of Exploration, Mr. Wieme's 9th grade World History students, were put in groups and each group was given sections of a large map. Each small group discussed what they saw on the map, what they were sure of, and what they didn't know. Then, all the groups came together into one large group and put the pieces of the "puzzle" (which is a world map) together and tried to decide what it was, who may have created it, and why it was created.

At the end they learn that the map is a called the Wallseemuller map, and is the first map to ever use the word "America". Then, we discussed how this critical thinking activity is very similar to what historians do when they find important artifacts, such as a map like this, and reach conclusions about its origins and significance.

Social Studies Standards: Critical Thinking and Interpretation and Chronology