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The Great BSS Mapping Challenge
Grade 7 Social Studies students recently put their geographic thinking skills into action. Exploring the campus in teams, students observed, questioned and mapped key locations to guide visitors, deciding what to include or leave out.
As part of their opening unit, “Thinking Like a Historian, Geographer and Discussion Partner,” students created detailed maps to help newcomers navigate the school campus. Working collaboratively, each group had to observe their surroundings carefully, identify essential landmarks, ask probing questions and evaluate spatial relationships. Making critical decisions about which details to highlight and which to omit allowed students to experience firsthand how geographers select, interpret and represent spatial data.
This hands-on project was part of a larger focus on helping students think deeply about people, places and the past. Throughout the year, they will continue to build their ability to ask thoughtful questions, consider different perspectives, recognize patterns and change, make connections and use evidence to support their thinking. By grounding abstract geographic concepts in their immediate environment, Grade 7s are building a strong foundation for critical inquiry and spatial literacy.
