The Presumpscot River
My client wanted an educational map of the Presumpscot. It needed to include some key features, but also be simple enough to not overwhelm elementary students. Below is the basic geography we were working with, from Sebago to Casco Bay.
I drafted up a basic idea. From there we still wanted to simplify it further.
Then we tried a simplified version and added watercolor, testing various tones. We then made the call we needed a bright contrast between land and water, and to widen the river to make it more substantial.
Then we tried a simplified version and added watercolor, testing various tones. We wanted a brighter contrast between land and water, and to widen the river to make it more substantial. A fool proof version that would be as clear as possible to as many students as possible.
This is the final version, and we loved it! It has been copied, printed and laminated both as a poster version and as a 'placemat’ version for each student, which can be written on with dry-erase as they add place names and symbols during the learning process.
Map in use in Laura Graves’s 3rd grade classroom at Reiche Elementary School, Portland, Maine.