Abstract

Mapematical Thinking to Help Young Kids Know Their Community
Track: Learning and Research Lightning Talk
Authors: Bob Coulter

Learn how students in elementary school have used geospatial analysis to understand their community and develop a vision for how it can be improved. Data-rich projects have included a comparison of the racial and economic characteristics of different neighborhoods and a look at justice issues like access to healthy food. Parallel investigations into weather and climate help young researchers to understand local ecosystems. Throughout, the kids have found GIS to be a valuable investigative tool.