Mapping the World with Art is a creative and educational geography course designed to engage middle school students (grades 6–8) through a unique blend of mapmaking and artistic expression. In this hands-on class, students will explore world geography while developing their drawing and design skills as they create their own maps by hand. 
 
Each lesson introduces a new region, landform, or concept—such as continents, oceans, major rivers, and mountain ranges—paired with a step-by-step art activity that reinforces geographic understanding. Students will also explore cultural elements, landmarks, and global diversity, connecting geography with the arts, history and storytelling.
 
Join us in learning about The very earliest maps to the Spice Wars and Pirates. Who was Captain Cook? Who was Marco Polo? Why were the Dutch in Japan? Play games, make a star chart. Learn how to draw maps from Mesopotamia to Greenland. 
 
What your child will learn:
How to draw maps of the world’s continents and regions
What is a map and why do we need them
Key geographic features like landforms, bodies of water, and borders
Basic map skills including scale, compass rose, and coordinates
How to use a compass and protector
Artistic techniques for visual storytelling and creative mapmaking
A deeper appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our planet
 
This course brings geography to life in a meaningful and memorable way, helping students not only understand the world but also express their knowledge through creativity and art.
 
To guide us through the class we will use Mapping The World With Art by: Ellen Johnston McHenry