Pass out a simple scale map. Explain that the world is too large for maps to show actual sizes. Therefore, a map scale shows the distance each scale unit represents. Locate the map's scale and read the distance. Cut out a paper strip of this length and label the distance. Use the strips to measure the distance between each place following major roads. Extend the lesson with trip time calculations such as, "How many miles is it from Wenatchee to Seattle? If Joe starts in Wenatchee and travels at 30 miles per hour, how many hours will it take him to arrive in Seattle?"
Create scale maps of familiar areas, such as the school or student homes. Record careful measurements of the map area. Provide graph paper to simplify scale translations. Calculate scale unit size and the representative distance needed to fit the area on paper. Cut a scale unit strip to size. Measure how many scale units fit on one side and sketch the outline accordingly. Repeat for each side. Label a starting point on the map and measure distance to another important landmark. Calculate the number of scale units that represents, then measure the distance with your scale strip to mark the new location. Continue measuring and labeling important landmarks in the same manner.
Plan a trip for a student to take with his family. Locate the map scale and measure the distance from his hometown to rest stops, interim cities and final destination. Have him calculate for instance, what time his family should leave if they want to have lunch in their favorite café in The Dalles or what time will they arrive at Grandma's house if they leave home at 9 a.m. and stop one hour for lunch, by figuring out the distance to the destination and how long it will take them to get there at 60 miles per hour.
Read-aloud books boost literacy skills and enhance understanding of content matter in the classroom. Books such as "Roxaboxen" by Alice McLerran, "With Love from Gran" by Dick Grackenback, "Counting on Frank" by Rod Clement or "The Librarian Who Measured the Earth" by Kathryn Lasky, provide examples of map measurements in contexts children can relate to their own experiences. Students can create maps of the story settings and calculate scale distances between important locations in the story. Travel stories provide an opportunity to mark the locations the character visited on a map and calculate how far she traveled. Mr. Clement's book is a jumping off point to get children to practice measuring distance by a variety of different-size, scale objects.