Giant Traveling Map of Indiana: Scavenger Hunt
RULES: No shoes allowed on the map. Please have students remove shoes before walking on the map.
Socks Required. No writing utensil on map.
Grade Level: K-4
Purpose: Students will identify geographical aspects of Indiana using the Giant Map of Indiana.
Estimated Time:
Preparation: approximately 10 minutes
Scavenger Hunt: 10-30 minutes (as determined by teacher)
Social Studies Addressed:
K.3.1: Use words related to location, direction and distance, including here/there, left/right, above/below,
forward/backward and between.
1.3.1: Identify the cardinal directions (north, south, east and west) on maps and globes.
1.3.2: Identify and describe continents, oceans, cities and roads on maps and globes.
1.3.9: Give examples of natural resources found locally and describe how people in the school and
community use these resources.
2.3.1: Use a compass rose to identify cardinal and intermediate directions and to locate places on maps and
places in the classroom, school and community.
2.3.2: Locate the equator and the poses on a globe and identify the local community, state and the United
States on maps.
2.3.3: Compare neighborhoods in your community and explain how physical features of the community
affect people living there.
2.3.4: On a map, identify physical features of the local community.
2.3.5: Identify and describe cultural or human features on a map using map symbols.
2.3.7: Identify ways that recreational opportunities influence human activity in the community.
3.3.1: Use labels and symbols to locate and identify physical and political features on maps and globes.
Label a map of the Midwest, identifying states, major rivers, lakes and the Great Lakes.
3.3.2: Locate Indiana and other Midwestern states on maps using simple grid systems.
3.3.3: Identify the northern, southern, eastern and western hemispheres; cardinal and intermediate directions;
and determine the direction and distance from one place to another.
3.3.5: Observe and describe the physical characteristics of Indiana using words and illustrations and compare
them to the characteristics of neighboring states.
3.3.9: Identify factors that make the region unique, including cultural diversity, industry, the arts and
architecture.
4.3.1: Use latitude and longitude to identify physical and human features of Indiana.
4.3.2: Estimate the distances between two places on a map, using a scale of miles, and use cardinal and
intermediate directions when referring to relative location.
4.3.3: Locate Indiana on a map as one of the 50 United States. Identify and describe the location of the state
capital, major cities and rivers in Indiana, and place these on a blank map of the state.
4.3.4: Map and describe the physical regions of Indiana and identify major natural resources and crop
regions.
4.3.8: Identify the challenges in the physical landscape of Indiana to early settlers and modern day economic
development.
4.3.9: Explain the importance of major transportation routes, including rivers, in the exploration, settlement
and growth of Indiana and in the state’s location as a crossroads of America.
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Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson/activity students will be able to:
 Students will identify and locate physical and political features on a map.
 Students will use cardinal and intermediate directions to find locations on a map.
 Students will identify and locate physical regions of Indiana.
 Students will identify and locate Indiana’s transportation routes.
Materials Required: All items can be found in the trunk
 Colored cones
 Colored Chains
 Outline map of Indiana
 Scavenger Hunt Questions
 County Cards (optional)
Procedures:
1. Place the colored cones in the corresponding colored corner.
2. Allow students a few minutes to freely explore the map.
3. Divide the class into four teams: red, blue, yellow, and green.
4. Instruct the class they will going on a scavenger hunt; once they find the answer; they are to place a
colored cone on the map.
5. Read the first clue and allow the teams enough time to find the correct location OR distribute each team
a list of clues.
6. For team play, once the cone has been placed, the next four students will get a cone and prepare for their
question or allow time for the teams to place all of their cones.
7. The team to place all of their cones first will be declared the winner.
Assessment:
Students are able to place cones in the correct locations as described
in the scavenger hunt.
Adaptations/Extensions:
The students can play as teams or can compete individually using pencil and paper at the side of the map.
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Scavenger Hunt Questions
1. What is the Interstate highway running from the northwest corner to the southeast corner of the state?
2. Which state borders Indiana to the north?
3. Which river borders Indiana to the west?
4. What is the state bird?
5. Which lake borders Indiana to northwest?
6. What is the title of the map?
7. What color is used to show county borders?
8. What is used to show historic canals?
9. What is the southwestern-most city shown on the map?
10. Which historical road travels north to south through the entire state?
11. Which state borders Indiana to the west?
12. What color is used to show an increase in elevation?
13. Where is the highest point in Indiana?
14. What is the state tree of Indiana?
15. What animal appears in the state seal?
16. How many stars are on the state flag? Why?
17. Which city would you find in Marion County?
18. Find one of the three National Parks of Indiana.
19. What year did Indiana become a state?
20. Which part of the state is higher in elevation?
21. Which two counties would you find Brookville Lake?
22. Which river forms Lake Freeman and Lake Shafer?
23. The Wabash River is a tributary to which river?
24. Mounds State Park can be found near which city?
25. Potato Creek State Park is located south of which city?
26. In how many counties would you find the Hoosier National Forest?
27. The Battle of Tippecanoe took place in which county?
28. Which longitude line runs just to the east of Indianapolis?
29. Which interstate highway runs through Fort Wayne?
30. What is the southern-most latitude line running through Indiana?
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