Make a Map: What’s Your Oakland Story?
omca at home
Make a Map: What’s Your Oakland Story?
Recommended for ages 5+¹
Estimated time: 20 minutes
Every day, maps help us navigate public transportation, find places to eat, track the weather, and even visualize political opinions. People use them to share information and tell stories about what’s important. An atlas is a collection of maps that gives us a more complete picture of a place.
Today, we challenge you to create your own personal map of Oakland that shows what you care about. Once you’re done, share it with us so we can add it to our growing Atlas of Oakland, part of OMCA’s exhibition You Are Here: California Stories on the Map. Together, these maps share our connections and diversity, and what’s most important about Oakland now and as we look to the future.
¹Got kids under five? Draw a simple map or let them make a map of their house, room or yard. Even for very young children mark-making on their own map offers great writing practice!
Think about...
- What different kinds of information can maps share?
- What places and people are important to you in Oakland?
Materials
|
|
Steps
1. Print the Atlas of Oakland template map. Or, use the template as inspiration and make your own. | ![]() |
2. In the map key, add symbols and a list of important spots on your map.
|
![]() |
3. Add your important spots to the map using points, lines, symbols, and color. Use whatever art supplies you have at home to personalize your map. |
![]() |
Take a photo of your map!
Share it with us, and then pass it along to your friends, family, or anyone currently learning at home.
#OMCA