80 maps that explain the world

Maps are a powerful tool for teaching about the world. The Washington Post has published eighty maps (in two posts) that might change our perspective and understanding of the world. Some carefully selected maps from this selection would make an interesting first geography lesson of the year. The maps could stimulate some interesting conversations on what is geography. Pupils could also rank the maps according to various categories, such as most interesting, most surprising, most useful etc. You could also give pupils some of the maps without titles and or keys to see if they can work out what the map shows. This lesson could also lead nicely onto a homework task where pupils find interesting maps of the UK or their local area.A selection of the maps would also make a high impact and thought provoking display to fill some bare classroom walls at the start of the year and in preparation for the open evening season.