Maps always tell stories – more or less distorted | UCF-3.1.2

Exploring the World Through Historical Maps

The David Rumsey Map Collection is a fantastic resource for exploring historical and thematic maps, and it offers rich opportunities for geography, history, spatial thinking, and critical media literacy in the classroom. Here’s a lesson plan that helps students explore spatial change over time, map interpretation skills, and critical thinking.

Resource:

https://www.davidrumsey.com/

Lesson Plan: “Change Over Time – Interpreting Historical Maps Using the David Rumsey Map Collection”

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Navigate and search the David Rumsey Map Collection online.
• Analyze and compare historical maps to modern ones.
• Identify geographical and political changes over time.
• Reflect on how maps reflect historical contexts, values, and perspectives.

Materials Needed

• Computers or tablets with internet access (1 per pair or small group)
• Access to www.davidrumsey.com
• Printed worksheet (provided below)
• Access to Google Maps or a modern world atlas (digital or print)
• Projector (optional, for demonstration)

Lesson Activities

1. Introduction to Historical Maps (15 minutes)

• Start with a short class discussion:
  • What is a map?
  • Why might a map from 1850 look different than one from today?
• Show an example from the David Rumsey site on a projector.
• Highlight unique features of historical maps (e.g., artistic elements, inaccuracies, political borders, sea monsters!).

2. Exploring the David Rumsey Collection (10 minutes)

• Briefly demonstrate how to:
  • Search by keyword (e.g., “London”, “China”, “railroads”)
  • Filter by date, type, or location
  • Zoom and interact with maps
• Hand out the worksheet and form small groups.

3. Student Exploration & Comparison Task (40 minutes)

• Each group selects one historical map of a known place (e.g., Europe, USA, their city/country) and compares it with a modern map.
• Use the worksheet to guide them in noting:
  • Title and date of the historical map
  • What is shown on the map? What’s missing?
  • How are borders, cities, or names different?
  • Artistic or symbolic elements (borders, compass roses, drawings)
  • What does this map tell us about the world at that time?
• They then compare it with a modern map (Google Maps or an atlas):
  • What has changed?
  • What might explain the differences?

4. Class Discussion & Reflection (15 minutes)

• Groups present a quick summary of their findings.
• Class reflects:
  • How do maps reflect knowledge, politics, and worldviews?
  • Can maps ever be neutral or objective?

5. Extension/Homework (optional)

• Students create a short presentation or poster showing “Then and Now” with screenshots and explanations.

Student Worksheet (short version)

Name of Map: _____________________
Year of Map: _____________________
Cartographer (if known): _____________________
Place Shown: _____________________

1. What features do you see on the map?
2. What’s missing or different from today’s maps?
3. What do you think this map was used for?

• Travel ☐
• Trade ☐
• Education ☐
• Military ☐
• Other: ____________

4. Compare to Google Maps: What has changed?
5. What did this map teach you about the past?

Curriculum Links

• Geography: Map skills, spatial thinking, interpretation of human and physical features.
• History: Historical context of cartography, changing borders, colonialism.
• Citizenship: Critical analysis of perspectives in historical documents.
• Digital Literacy: Navigating online archives and evaluating sources.