Cartographer’s Challenge
PART ONE
Follow the directions below to create a map of your own imaginary country. You can
even be the ruler of this country.
1. On a scrap piece of paper, draw the outline of your imaginary nation. It can have
land and/or water surrounding it.
2. Choose 20 physical geographic terms (e.g., mountain, canyon, volcano) and draw
them on your map. Add labels to identify those terms. When you are choosing the
terms and placing them on your map, remember to group them in a logical
sequence (e.g., Keep the mountain terms together, keep the deserts together).
3. Choose a theme for your map (cars, food, sports, famous people, music, cartoon
characters, games, etc). Use this theme to help create the shape of your nation.
4. Use your theme to name all of your map’s special features. For example, if you
included a desert on your map and chose a games theme, you might call the desert,
“Dominoes Desert” or “Dice Delta” or “Monopoly High School”. Be creative.
5. Add the following items to your map.
 title (the name of your country)
 compass rose (north, south, east, west)
 physical features map key (all your geographic terms need to be in the
legend)
 three regions (physical, human, and functional - flip through your text book
for more ideas)
 human interaction zones legend (at least 6 zones)
 a frame around your map
 staple the written portion to your map
 a legend to explain the colours and symbols you used
6. Ask a partner to check your rough draft to make sure you have labeled your map
correctly and have included all required items.
7. Once your rough draft is completed, use it to complete your final project. Your map
should be coloured and be neat. Use a ruler when labeling.
8. You will hand in both your rough copy and good copy.
PART TWO
For the written part of your report, you are going apply the elements of PRIME to your country.
On separate pieces of paper, answer the following questions in sentence form. Provide details
and be creative. Attach them to your Bristol board, along with the good copy of your map.
PLACE
1. What is the absolute location of your nation? Using a world map, choose an absolute
location for your nation. Remember to consider your nation’s climate, soil, and land forms.
Is it realistic – explain? Write down the coordinates of your absolute location and explain
why you chose that particular location.
2. What is the relative location of your nation? Using the world map, describe your nation
using a relative location (3 points of directional reference).
REGION
1. Divide your country into regions (physical, human, and functional). Name each region and
include it in the legend by colouring it a certain colour or using a symbol to identify it. Briefly
describe each region and what you could do if you visited that region?
INTERACTION
1. For each human interaction zone, explain why you placed it in a specific area? Explain why
you positioned it in relation to another human interaction zone and certain physical features.
(For instance, is your paper factory near a forest? Is your nation self-sufficient? What else
would your nation have to build if they wanted to be totally independent?
MOVEMENT
1.
2.
3.
4.
Review your movement notes to help you answer the questions.
What are three factors that would cause people to immigrate to your country?
What are the three barriers people might face when moving to your country?
Explain how people, ideas and products travel in your country? Are all areas of your
country accessible?
ENVIRONMENT
1.
How has building your nation affected the physical environment? What environmental
challenges does your country face? What environmental initiatives does your country
take to protect the environment?