Interactive Touch Map
Stage: Year 7-9 / KS3 (Ages 11-14) Time: 3-4 hours (across multiple sessions) Subjects: Geography, History, Art, Technology Board: SPOKE (full board) — required for the Video Playback page
Learning Objectives
Combine geographic and historical knowledge with interactive technology
Understand how touch sensors trigger multimedia content
Develop multimedia research, scripting, and presentation skills
Work independently in groups to plan and deliver a shared project
Overview
Pupils design and build a large interactive map where touching different countries, regions, or historical sites plays video content they've researched and produced themselves. The SPOKE board's sensors are read directly by the SPOKE Video Playback page, so once footage is filmed and named correctly there's no coding required to wire it all together.
Materials Needed
SPOKE board
Large printed or hand-drawn map (poster size or larger)
Aluminium foil, copper tape, or conductive paint
Crocodile clips and wire
Computer or tablet with a web browser and camera
SPOKE Video Playback page (spokeboard.com/play)
Instructions
Choose a map theme: world geography, a historical period, an ecosystem, migration routes, or a local area study
Print or draw a large map and mount it on sturdy backing
As a class or in groups, choose 10-20 regions to make interactive
Each group researches and scripts a short video (30-90 seconds) for their assigned region(s)
Film and edit the videos, keeping them concise and well-paced
Apply conductive material to each region on the map (foil on the back or copper tape on the front)
Connect each region to a SPOKE sensor pad using crocodile clips
Name each video file to match its sensor pad and load them into the SPOKE Video Playback page
Test every region as a class, checking the correct video plays each time
Present the finished map, with each group introducing their region
Video Content Ideas
Historical events: key turning points relevant to the region or period
Cultural highlights: traditions, festivals, art, or language
Geography & environment: landscape, climate, and natural resources
Current affairs: a contemporary issue affecting the region
Student analysis: pupils presenting their own research conclusions to camera
Teacher Tips
Give each group a clear script/storyboard template before filming to keep videos focused
A shared spreadsheet mapping "region → pad number → video filename" prevents wiring mix-ups
Test the full map at least a day before any public display, in case connections need re-securing
Extension Ideas
Add a quiz mode where visitors guess the region before the video plays
Cross-reference with a history or geography assessment to embed the research formally
Compare with the simpler "Our Local Area Touch Map" project used at Year 5-6
This lesson uses the SPOKE Video Playback page at spokeboard.com/play, which reads the SPOKE board's default sensor mapping directly.
