Maps offer ESL students with an excellent format for learning English. Students can learn and use both concrete and difficult abstract concepts when learning English with maps.

Students can learn basic math terms for scale and distance. Most maps have a legend which lists dimensions, symbols and content. The students can learn how the map is used to represent the world using both the metric and imperial measurement terms and distances. Maps show scale and a physical distance representation using graphs. It is easy for students to see the one centimeter or one inch and how it represents kilometers or miles in the real world. Students can also learn how to convert measurements between the metric and imperial systems.

Students can use maps to learn mathematical ratios. Using the map scales the students can learn what one-to-one or 1:700,000 really means and how ratios are used to draw maps in the correct proportions.

Students can use maps to learn spatial relationships. Adding time and speed components allows students to plan trips and calculate each travel section. My students love to use the free Ontario, Canada Driving maps and use the distance cross-references to calculate driving times. I pass out about 100 of the Ontario travel brochures that promote Niagara Falls, Algonquin Park, Elora Gorge, Museums, festivals, boat cruises, canoe trips, camping adventures and the other wonderful things students can do while visiting Toronto. The students want to see their favorite attractions or activities or events. When you provide the information and maps the students will learn an amazing amount of English motivated by their interests.

Students can plan day trips, pick two or three locations for a weekend adventure tour and use the maps to plan a full week vacation trip. The students can use the maps to plan routes based on the type of road, parking and access points to public transportation. Using the legend of symbols students can organize their trips based on facilities, locations and services. Students can learn all the related logistical terms and expressions.

Maps can indicate many three-dimensional components. Students can learn all terms about height and depth and basic topography. The maps can show hills and valleys with gentle slopes or abrupt vertical changes in height.

Land use maps allows for explanations about parks, preserves, rural and urban land use. Students can use historical maps to compare conversion of forests to rural use then conversion to urban land uses. The maps can motivate students to learn about land priorities, environmental considerations and proper balanced land use planning.

Specialty maps can provide students with a completely different perspective of the world. Resource maps can indicate agriculture, forests and minerals. Weather maps can indicate tropical, temperate and arctic regions. Recreation maps can show bike, hiking, swimming, camping, canoe routes, and sport facilities.

Students have fun learning with maps, sometimes they even like homework.

Students can go to the State or Provincial Tourism Development Offices for free maps. The staff are very helpful and can provide almost everything that you need.

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