The focus of this particular workshop was on discussing the process for creating new content for PuzzleMap aligned with teachers’ curriculum and the standards they need to teach.  Although we had a smaller group than usual, due to teachers’ schedules, the discussion was still lively.  Those able to attend enthusiastically expressed their thoughts and brainstormed ideas around the topic of creating maps that would teach different U.S. historical periods.  In addition, the teachers brought textbooks as resources and proposed as possibilities the following topics: Western expansion, parts of the U.S. that once belonged to Mexico, Reconstruction, the Civil War, natural resources, economics, industries, ecosystem, temperature, natural parks, religions, global civilization, local museums, the timeline of American history, railroads and transportation.

Sarah presented three new puzzles “in-progress” created by SpherAware, based upon the work the teachers did in December (i.e., these are new puzzles based upon a particular region and concept as requested by the teachers, but awaiting content).  These included new maps on Washington’s Ecoregions, the USA in 1776, and Native People 1776 (a map of the 13 colonies in 1776 with a base map underneath showing Native homelands during this time period).  This led to a discussion of how map-designing could involve various overlays of information on a base map of the United States with multiple topics.

After sharing these new developments, the group discussed what the process of creating content to serve their curricular needs might look like.  Sarah gave suggestions for a sequence of steps for creating Clue Windows.  Everyone talked about the potential of Point Clue Teasers to entice student interest and used the Civil War as a topic with which to practice.  For example, the clue window icons could be battle flags, while the categories of information could be alliance, labor, and status of slavery in the various states.