Electronic Map Project in Arizona
The Arizona Chapter 66 has been involved in the Playground Map project since its inception in the early 1990's. Over the years, Arizona Pioneers have painted more than 100 United States maps on playgrounds in Arizona from Concho to Yuma and from Lake Havasu City to Tucson. We even painted a map on a gymnasium floor for one school because of fears of vandalism and we also painted one on a large piece of canvas for the students of a school located on the Navajo Nation because they had no suitable place on their playground. However, we have found that the Arizona sun is not always kind to a map painted on a concrete slab. Also, we found it increasingly difficult to find enough volunteers who were willing and able to get down on their knees for several hours at a time.
So, the Map Co-chairmen, Jim Quinn and Bob Tally looked around for a good substitute for the maps on playgrounds. What they came up with is a variation of the electronic map that was developed by the Idaho Chapter. Jim and Bob decided to build a map that could be used in a classroom environment and would give students a learning tool that would be fun to use. Once these maps are built, there is very little maintenance on the part of school personnel. Pictured below is their product.
The map is mounted on a piece of 1/4" plywood in a frame made of 2' x 4' lumber and mounted on wheels for portability. Each state has an LED light that is wired to a switch that is labeled to identify that state. Also, each state has a switch that is wired to an LED light that identifies the capitol city for that state. Each state is painted with the same color as the original playground maps.
Students and teachers alike have been very receptive to this kind of map. The students are very creative in fun ways to use the maps. For example, one group of students immediately began a game of "Where in the USA am I?" fashioned after the computer game, "Where in the World is Carmen San Diego" as well as games that help the students identify the states and relate them to their capitols.
Shown below are pictures of the steps required in the building of a map. Although this project is somewhat labor intensive, it is all worth it when a map is delivered to a school and we see the smiling faces of the students and appreciative comments from teachers.
For more information about this project, contact Jim Quinn, 623-979-7849, E-mail; jkquinn@worldnet.att.net or Bob Tally, 623-544-8818, E-mail; rdtally@mindspring.com.
How to make an Electronic Map
A map begins with a pile of lumber
The frame is cut to size
After the frame is painted, the map is marked out much the same as was done on the playground maps.
The state boundarys are drawn in.
The next step is to paint the states.
The state borders and oceans are painted in.
The lights and switches are mounted and the wiring begins.
Jim Quinn and Jack Barnett check the wiring.
The map painting crew with a finished map.
A completed map is delivered to Pine Elementary school in Pine, AZ
Students learn how to use the map with help from the Pioneers.
This student is learning how to identify the sates by name.
