Map detectives

Detectives use clues to solve a mystery. As map detectives, we'll use clues to solve the mystery of what place we're looking at!

Do you know what a clue is? It's something that gives us a hint or helps us figure out a problem. On these maps, the clue could be a distinct building, or something in the landscape.

See if you can guess the places (some are famous sites, and other are types of places) on the maps below. Not sure? There are hints and answers available for each map.

Remeber these are interactive, digital maps. You can pan and zoom around them to better see what you are looking at. Lose your place? Click the home button in the lower right corner to return to the mystery location.

I take printed maps for this game when I visit classrooms (usually with children in first through fifth grade, or roughly ages 6 to 11). Since you are exploring this online, parents and teachers get to be the guides and help their kids figure out the locations. If you are working with a younger child, first explore this app to discuss clues: https://esriurl.com/yourSchoolApp

OK let's get started... Once you are done guessing, scroll down and fill out the quiz about how you did.

Tip for parents and teachers: If you are working with younger kids, don't worry about them guessing exact place names. They might not even know all of them. Instead focus on clues and using them to guess. You'll be surprised at the correct answers they come up with.

Thanks for exploring these places with me! How many did you get right?

Wow! See how you did compared to other people who played:

Depending on the age of your kids and their interests, check out these other mapping resources:

•  Mapping favorite color  - add your favorite to the map and see favorites around the world! A fun introduction to participatory, social GIS.
• The  GIS with Kids  collection