One of your major tasks this quarter will be to draw a historical map of the US without using any outside help � a Mental Map of the US. For this practice map will cover the entire sheet of 12� x 18� construction paper, and you may use other sources for help.
- The right edge of the paper is 65�W.
- The left edge is 125�W.
- So, draw the north-south centerline, which is 95�W.
- The top edge is 49�N.
- The bottom edge is 25�N
- So, draw the east-west centerline, which is 37�N
Step 1. � Put tick marks for all the grid lines divisible by 5 (65�W, 70�W, 75�W, etc, and 25�N, 30�N, etc)
- Draw the part of North America within the map area. Label Canada and Mexico
- Draw and label Alaska and Hawaii as insets to the map
- Draw and label the Bahamas and Vancouver Island
Step 2 - Label 15 bodies of water � rivers, seas, lakes, gulfs, bays
- Label 10 land forms � mountain ranges, mountains, deserts, plains
- Label 15 cities
- Label 25 states (you don�t have to draw the outlines of the states)
Step 3. Locate and label with a circle 10 Significant Historical Sites. Inside the circle, number them from 1 to 10. Then, on the back of your map, provide a meaningful and accurate3-4 sentence explanation of the significance of the Historical Sites.
The following are possible Significant Historical Sites.
- Sacramento, CA � California Gold Rush
- San Antonio, TX � Alamo
- Philadelphia � Independence Hall
- Gettysburg, PA � Battle of Gettysburg
- New York City � Twin Towers
- Portland, OR � Oregon Trail
- St. Louis � Lewis & Clark Expedition
- Jamestown, VA � Jamestown colony
- Salt Lake City, UT � Mormon migration
- St Augustine, FL � oldest city in US
- Boston, MA � beginning of American Revolution
- Tampa, FL � Ft. Brooke and Seminole Wars
- Honolulu, HI � Pearl Harbor
You may use any other Significant Site in the US of which you have knowledge. Almost any of the locations we have put on our US map in your Reference Section would be appropriate. The following is a sample description for Pearl Harbor -
1 � Pearl Harbor, HI � On December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the US Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. The US Pacific fleet was heavily damaged. The next day, US President Franklin Roosevelt asked the US to declare war on Japan. This act brought the US into World War II, and by 1945 Japan, Germany and Italy were defeated.
BONUS � Color and Neatness