Location! Location! Location!

 That's right, this week was all about locations. Not just about any location in particular, but about being able to use grids, lines of latitude and longitude, and coordinates to find different countries around the world, or different cities and features on the map of Japan.

We began using simple grids, like those found in an atlas which has a grid with quadrants with letters on one axis and numbers on the other. Our focus was on building practical mapping skills, and the students quickly improved as they played a game of Battleship against a partner,

From there, we went on to learn about the different types of lines that divide up the Earth on a globe or map; the lines of latitude and longitude. We labeled the main lines of latitude such as the Equator, polar circles, Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and the prime meridian. Then we learned how to find coordinates by using the different lines of latitude and longitude. Together with a partner, the students were given maps and sets of different location coordinates to find. As the maps were all in Japanese, the students were paired up so that at least one of them would be able to read the names on the map. It was a good challenge that not only involved social, and mapping skills, but Japanese language skills as well.

In math, we learnt different methods to multiply.