Saturday 3 January 2015

The Great Map

That time of the year, between Christmas and new year,
when you have family over and far too many kids in the house,
weather permitting, you all head out for a walk.


To Greenwich Park,
then too my surprise (and delight) they suggest heading into the National Maritime Museum
at the bottom of the hill just to the left in the picture.

The teenagers go off by themselves,
so I suggest taking my eight year old nephew to see The Great Map.


provides a space to explore the museum's collections from all around the world
using touch screen tablets.


The museum provides them for free, so when there was one available
my nephew named his ship.
Introducing the 'Puffle-Treader',
Club Penguin meets C.S. Lewis.



We went off exploring the world.
I have to say that I didn't quite work out what was happening, he was to fast,
using it was second nature to him.


Without one of the National Maritime Museum's tablets
you can still interact with The Great Map.
On (paper) cards the museum suggests five games you can play,
one being a version of  'Hunt the Thimble',
getting 'warmer' or 'colder' as you hunt for a point on the map
chosen by a member of your party.

I chose the game suggested using your smart phone,
taking photos of places around the world for my nephew to find.


After all that digital exploring,
we took a moment to consider the world and all the possibilities of travel.




Terrestrial and celestial globes, not always accurate.


For more accuracy, these mathematical instruments measure angles, of the sun and stars,
and along with knowing the time,
they help you pinpoint exactly where you are on the earth.
Early GPS, using the sun and stars instead of satellites. 


With a promise of a hot chocolate in the park cafe,
we lure the teenagers back up the hill to where the cars are parked.


In the cafe, courtesy of my phone, I continue The Great Map game.
Identify these places?
With the magic of modern technology, you get to play the game too.





Answers:
Italy & Sicily
Labrador Sea in the North Atlantic between Canada and Greenland.
Egypt, Sinai Peninsula.
Lake Victoria

How did you do?

Entry to the National Maritime Museum and using The Great Map tablets are free.

6 comments:

  1. What an amazing collection of globes. It must have been a fascinating visit. I love the idea of the great map and the borrowing of the tablets to explore and the name of the Puffle Treader - that is fantastic! I can just imagine a boat called that! xx

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    1. It was a fascinating visit, even if I got a little behind with an 8yr old running ahead of me with digital museum interactives. x

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  2. I enlarged the photo and got the magnifying glass out to see if we were on the photo! We lolloped on those seats with our tea and cake whilst my son (aged 19!!) borrowed a screen and entertained himself for ages on the map. He loved it. O love Greenwich - it has so much to see and do and it doesn't break the bank either. Love your blog xxx

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    1. Hi Diane. I saw your post on London & Greenwich, you did so much. Good to hear that those screens are not just used by kids. My nephew (age 8) was so quick with it, I couldn't keep up with him. I'll be following your blog & all your adventures.

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  3. looks like a place my boys would like... I'll keep it in mind!

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  4. Thank you for this one! My 5 year old grandson is obsessed with maps and "map facts" so we will remember to take him.

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