Latest Contributions by ShannonWhite1

Yes, Kory that was the issue.  Sorry, I was helping the student in person, posted and  then have not received the screenshot.    You are correct.  It doesn't rotate any of the letters only the compass.  The only solution I could provide in the time frame of the work they were doing was apply the compass rose and then cover with graphics of text.  Shannon ... View more

There are a few things I have done with GIS and mapping with kindergartners.   I borrowed this activity from a blog with one class I worked with, it is a great activity to build a map of a classroom.  It took a little pre-prep on my part but using giant grid post-it notes and having kids work in groups with help from parent volunteers worked well.  They will not likely be writing so you will need to guide them in this process.  The teacher may have suggestions of how to make this work best for his/her students. Create a large plotted image of their school and a bit of the neighboring area around it.  The bigger the size the better (they tend to like to wiggle and move around the map).    We close our eyes and think like a bird (kind of as Charlie Fitzpatrick mentioned in his suggestion).  Then we talk about what we see and what we don't see (sometimes there are trailers, new playground equipment etc or because they are so literal...buses and cars).  We predict what season it was when the picture was taken. We talk about how long it would take an animal (cat, horse, earthworm to get from one place to another  on the school grounds or in the building -- in relative terms, a long time vs a short time to help them think about scale.  This is also something you can leave with the teacher as decoration for their classroom. Speaking of animals, if you can get them outside and have some time with them one of my favorite activities is to have them use found objects to create a "hiking" trail for an ant that the ant could do during  a relative time frame (set a relative time frame for them so they don't hyperfocus on a big trail). So they use  sticks, leaves, grass blades, etc.  A) it gets them outside B) it allows them to use their imagination C) it's another way of getting them to think about scale -- how far would an ant have to travel.   As a follow-up you can have clipboards and crayons and have them draw a rough map of their hiking trail.  I love to give them a small piece of paper with an ant clipart on it to help the ones that can't imagine a small scale.  So you can print them small on one sheet of paper and then cut out little versions of an ant.  Also it's something you can have them draw if the weather is poor (always have a backup plan) If you created a geoform/survey 123 and sent it to the teacher, she/he may be able to send it out to the parents.  That way you could have a map that you could show the kids themselves on the map.  Don't ask where they live but maybe where they like where do they dream of going on vacation and why (like Disney world, the ocean to visit a dolphin, etc)    Ask for first names and last initial only (in case there are 2 Kim's).  This keeps the data away from the kids house/home and places they visit for safety reasons.   If you want to give them something -- take a look at Gretchen Peterson's City Maps Coloring Book for adults and create a black and white color-able map of their school, neighborhood, town, county or state for them.  Book Suggestions: I love There is a Map on My Lap, that is a solid read for that age group  My Town is another book for that age group Follow That Map! A first book of mapping skills is a good one.  It's a picture book with some interactivity in it.   Your local library can likely get a copy for you if they don't have a copy As the Crow Flies is a fun book where the animals go places and then there is a map of what they saw.  There are birds and rabbits.  you can preview it on amazon. Henry's Map is a cute story about a pig who wants to map where everything is so things don't get lost. My Map Book is a picture book of a lot of different childrens style drawings of different things.  Good to help give elementary kids the types of things that could be mapped (like mapping my day). Mapping Penny's world is another mapping based book if you end up going to a higher elementary classroom. For future reference -- it's one of my favorites. Kids love the idea of Flat Stanley -- but you could have them create their own character based on themselves and have that character take a trip around a map.  Have characters interact (if you have multiple maps that can be put on the floor then the kids can be split up and tell each other stories of where their character is going). And I know others may read this post so I am including a link to a PDF that we used with Volunteers when I worked with 4-H Youth Development in Missouri as the State Science Specialist -- it gives a brief overview of where youth are at Ages and Stages of Youth Development to give some context of that age group when working with them.   No matter what you do, the kids will enjoy meeting you and learning about what you do!  And they will all have stories and questions to ask at that age. (And be prepared to have the internet not work the day you visit  if you do an online map - if you have a back up plan-- it won't be needed).  Enjoy it! Shannon Shannon H. White, PhD William & Mary ... View more

Thanks Johnathan for the link, we had looked at GeoNet and found some of the character and wording solutions. The research would like to be able to use it in China while doing research in archives and other locations key to his research while simultaneously having Graduate Research Assistants here in the US entering information from resources he will provide/they will find.   I know he will have his phone and his laptop with him.   He has lived there and knows the issues of accessing web-based resources we were trying to figure out if it would be blocked or if others had experiences with collecting data via survy 1-2-3 in Mainland China.  Shannon ... View more

Thanks Dan.  While I have Pro on my computer, the computer lab and computers across our campus are still in Desktop. The student computers are very locked down.  Glad to know there is that feature in Pro, I hadn't come across it yet.  Shannon ... View more

Thanks Dan.  While I have Pro on my computer, the computer lab and computers across our campus are still in Desktop. The student computers are very locked down.  Glad to know there is that feature in Pro, I hadn't come across it yet.  Shannon ... View more

Have you completed a request through Esri?  There is a youth-serving education license for not-for-profit programs that the Esri education team will be able to tell you more about eligibility if you fill out the form at the bottom of this page: Schools Mapping Software Bundle for Grades K-12 | Esri  Shannon White William & Mary ... View more

And I forgot... there is a map of "schools" not people found at:  http://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=c369c6d9bb6d4232bb3ad066cd5b9280    and if you/the teacher looks at #4 on this map there are educators who have participated in the Esri T3G (Teachers Teaching Teachers)  Institute who also may be willing to help.   Shannon White GIS Certificate Coordinator William & Mary ... View more

Esri typically doesn't release customer information but, there are a few things that you can suggest: 1) Have the teacher join this GeoNet forum and ask questions.  Many of us may not be nearby but are willing to assist when asked!  Many people will share syllabi, lessons, tips and tricks.  2) Check the GeoMentor's site for other schools and GIS professionals nearby that might be of assistance: GeoMentors | AAG 3) Check with the state Geographic Alliance -- they typically can make local recommendations of teachers that are using GIS that they know of.   Shannon White ... View more