Google Maps: A Custom Map for an Art Field Trip

I promise I hadn't read this next assignment before I mentioned that with BatchGeo I could plan a field trip. This time I really did plan a field trip, for art of course, using Google Maps to customize the itinerary with "placemarks!" I never knew I could do this! It reminds me of plugging things into map quest to create your own trip with a guide to how to get there. With this you can do more than figure out how to get from A to B.

What I Did

I used Google Docs, they're calling it "Drive" now, to plan a field trip. I didn't use a template or anything, just my own format. Parts of the document would need to be included later, such as the list of rules, the amount of money needed for food, and the waiver for the frequent adult content in art. I included a picture I took with the Snipping Tool of my customized Google Map at the end. This is great in getting parents involved in really what is going on because they will know exactly where and what the student will be doing.

Google Maps allows you to do more than just plot locations on the map you want to see. You can include your own explanation/description or pictures for each location. You can also create paths to show the routes you will be taking. For my purposes I included brief descriptions of what the points are for and no routes since we would be using the D.C. metro, which has a separate map to get from place to place. My map can be viewed below.


View Advanced Art Field Trip in a larger map

What I Learned/Application

This amazing map activity is interesting and potentially fun for students. As mentioned in my last blog post, students could find the location of their favorite pieces of art and write short descriptions about where they are found, such as Leonardo's "The Last Supper" in Milan, which is no longer open to the public for preservation purposes.
Also, if I ever taught a photography unit I would most likely get students to incorporate their own photography when representing the locations they choose on a map exercise.

 

I have used a map before of Nags Head as decorative matting for family photographs that were taken in Nags Head. This kind of activity could be interesting if students made art out of a map that geographically relates to the art produced....I like it! A contemporary kind of collage with the use of a map created in Google as part of the art!