Garth and I began using Google MyMaps during the 2016-2017 school year as a way for students to “see” what they have learned in one place. During the 2015-2016 school year, I asked Garth how I could help him for the following year and we printed out a map of Europe since most of his content covers this area. So at the end of 6th grade, I taught and quizzed students about important places in Europe; countries, landmarks, bodies of water and the like. Students filled out a map, colored how they wanted to and then I collected them and passed them on to Garth. These 6th graders became 7th graders and when Garth passed the map back to them, they remembered very little.
Welcome, MyMaps!!! Garth knew a little about the program and the more we looked at it and discussed it, the more it became clear: we were going to use MyMaps as a digital portfolio for students to put everything they build in one place. Now they can “see” what they have learned throughout the year. Best of all, the students are building their own portfolio that they can have forever and refer back to whenever they want.
In 6th grade, everything that they build in my class is in there. Sutoris, Google Slides, Google Docs, WeVideos, YouTubes, greenscreen images, Smore’s, or whatever else they choose to build in my class. It goes into their MyMaps. The best part of all of this, the students have built it, designed it, created it and they own it!! Some of them do the bare minimum, others design their MyMaps like intricate pieces of art like the one you see below.
Welcome, MyMaps!!! Garth knew a little about the program and the more we looked at it and discussed it, the more it became clear: we were going to use MyMaps as a digital portfolio for students to put everything they build in one place. Now they can “see” what they have learned throughout the year. Best of all, the students are building their own portfolio that they can have forever and refer back to whenever they want.
In 6th grade, everything that they build in my class is in there. Sutoris, Google Slides, Google Docs, WeVideos, YouTubes, greenscreen images, Smore’s, or whatever else they choose to build in my class. It goes into their MyMaps. The best part of all of this, the students have built it, designed it, created it and they own it!! Some of them do the bare minimum, others design their MyMaps like intricate pieces of art like the one you see below.
Recalling information may be difficult for some students, and that’s OK. When they pull up their MyMaps they can see and/or hear work that they have made in the previous grade, that information is easier for them to remember and it only takes a few minutes for them to review what they previously built.
Yes, we are Social Studies teachers. It may be easiest for us to use this great program, but it can be used in any subject! I teach my Social Studies students how to use the program by doing a LitTrip of Long Walk to Water, their summer reading assignment. Check out this gDoc to see more examples in other content areas.
This is a great example of a student now in 8th grade, you can check out their 6th grade layer to get an idea of how I use Google MyMaps in my class. Let us know what you think... Enjoy the experience - J. C.
Yes, we are Social Studies teachers. It may be easiest for us to use this great program, but it can be used in any subject! I teach my Social Studies students how to use the program by doing a LitTrip of Long Walk to Water, their summer reading assignment. Check out this gDoc to see more examples in other content areas.
This is a great example of a student now in 8th grade, you can check out their 6th grade layer to get an idea of how I use Google MyMaps in my class. Let us know what you think... Enjoy the experience - J. C.
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