Objective:  Pin Maps teach children many aspects of geography.  

Ages:  8 - 12 years

Control of Error:  The control map and eventually the child himself provide the control of error.

Prerequisites:  Preferably the child will have worked with less detailed Pin Maps such as the Continent Pin Map so as to be familiar with their use, rendering a formal presentation unnecessary.

Presentation:  Prepare a work space.  Select the Pin Map, labels and control map from the shelf.  Select a label and find the corresponding label on the control map.  Carefully place the pin (label) in the proper hole on the Pin Map.  When the map is completed return the labels to the label holder and return the work to the shelf.

Extension:  Copy the map onto a piece of paper, color and label.

Specifics:  The blank pin maps were created by Polestar Private School.  The control maps are found at WorldAtlas.com

Creating the Work:
        List of Materials:
                1 copy of Pin Map, trimmed
                1 copy of Control Map, trimmed and laminated (see below for links)
                foam board
                rubber cement or other adhesive
                pins, multi-colored heads
                clear packing tape
                scissors
        Glue the Pin Map to the foam board with rubber cement.  When dry, trim the foam board.  Use a pin to put one hole in each dot or square where the label will be placed.  Place the labels (trimmed) on a piece of clear packing tape, leaving about a 1/2" of tape exposed at the beginning of the label.  Place another piece of tape over all but about 1/4" of the label.  Trim the tape on the sides and end of the label - leave the front part of the label with the exposed tape.  Wrap the exposed portion of the tape around a pin and onto the uncovered portion of the label, leaving a small space between the pin and the label where the two pieces of tape can stick to each other.  Prepare a label holder from an excess piece of foam board.  Pin head colors are as follows:  black - cities, red - country capital, blue - water, green - mountains, surrounding countries - white, and yellow - other (such as the island of Corsica, or the equator).

Links for Control Maps:
                France                              Italy
                United Kingdom               Germany
                India                                 Japan
                China                                United States