The Playground Problem
The Playground Problem by Lauren Scott Griffin, published by ESRI, Incorporated in 2021, is a 40-page book designed for young readers. This engaging story follows Emma and David as they encounter a locked playground entrance and embark on a quest to find a new place to play. With the help of their neighbor Kayla and her dog Blazer, they learn to use basic mapping and spatial analysis skills to identify suitable locations, all while facing various obstacles along the way.
Readers will enjoy a colorful, comic book-style narrative that incorporates fun in-book activities, making learning about maps and spatial thinking enjoyable. The book introduces concepts such as distance, direction, and spatial pattern analysis, aimed at children in grades 1-5. By solving puzzles and engaging with the story, young readers not only enhance their math skills but also gain foundational knowledge that can benefit them in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The edition includes a glossary to support learning and comprehension.
Official synopsis Publisher
Welcome to location games and spatial thinking!
Emma and David find a chain and padlock across the local playground entrance. Where can they play? With help from neighbor Kayla and her dog Blazer, Emma and David set out to find a new place to play. But how will they know where a good location is?
Kayla shows them how they can use basic mapping, distance, direction, spatial pattern analysis, and overlay skills to find the perfection location. And just when they do, they encounter more obstacles–all of them have to work together quickly to solve their playground problem!
Using a colorful, easy-to-follow comic book-style story with fun in-book activities, The Playground Problem takes readers along to see how to find the perfect location for play. Large pages brightly illustrate the adventure as readers learn about maps and use basic spatial thinking.
Written by geographic information systems (GIS) expert Dr. Lauren Scott Griffin and illustrated by artist Fred Folger, this hybrid graphic novel/activity book teaches young readers introductory mapping, zeroing in on distance, direction, basic spatial analysis, and other skills. Solving interesting puzzles and learning to “think spatially” not only helps kids with their math skills for higher grades, but also gives them a head start in exciting careers. Research shows exercising spatial reasoning skills at an early age accelerates children’s competence in the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
Mapping for kids has never been this much fun!
For grades 1-5. Includes a glossary.
Dr. Lauren Scott Griffin has more than 33 years of experience in software development and GIS at Esri. She has been invited to deliver presentations, workshops, and short courses at the National Institute of Justice, Centers for Disease Control, Johns Hopkins, New York City Department of Health, University College London (UCL) Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science, London Health Protection Agency, Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Center, World Vision, and the University of Copenhagen Institute of Geography.
Fred Folger has worked in special effects for the motion picture and television industries. Credits include: Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, and Star Trek the Next Generation. He was also a contributing artist for The Disney Experience and currently works as an illustrator.
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