> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.chimeedu.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Explore Interactive Map Activities on ChimeEdu

> Navigate ChimeEdu map activities by panning, zooming, and clicking location pins to read your teacher's notes, images, and descriptions.

Map activities let you explore locations related to what you're studying. Open a pin anywhere on the map to read your teacher's notes and see images. Whether your class is studying ancient civilisations, ecosystems, or the settings of a novel, the map gives every topic a real place in the world.

## How to access a map

Maps are published directly to your classroom feed — you don't need a separate link or login. Head to your classroom dashboard and look for the Map activity in your feed. Click or tap it to open.

## Exploring a map

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the map activity from your classroom">
    Click the Map activity card in your classroom feed. The map will load centred on the area your teacher has set as the starting view.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pan around the map">
    Click and drag (or swipe on a touch screen) to move around the map in any direction. You can explore the full geography your teacher has set up.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Zoom in and out">
    Use your **scroll wheel** to zoom in and out on a desktop. On a touch device, use a **pinch gesture** to zoom. Zoom right in for street-level detail or pull back to see the bigger picture.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click a pin to open its card">
    You'll see coloured pins placed at key locations. Click or tap any pin to open its content card.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Read the pin card">
    Each card contains a **title**, a **description**, and often one or more **images** added by your teacher. Take your time reading — this is where the learning lives.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Close the card and keep exploring">
    When you're done with a pin, close the card and move on to discover more. You can open as many pins as you like, in any order.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  You don't need to visit pins in a specific order — map activities are designed for free exploration, so go wherever looks interesting first.
</Note>

<Tip>
  Look out for pins that show an image thumbnail — they often contain the most detailed notes and visual content your teacher has added.
</Tip>

## Keyboard and accessibility navigation

You don't have to use a mouse to explore the map. ChimeEdu supports full keyboard navigation and offers a list-view alternative for easier reading:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Keyboard navigation" icon="keyboard">
    Press **Tab** to move focus between pins on the map. Press **Enter** to open a pin card. Press **Escape** to close the card and return to the map.
  </Card>

  <Card title="List view" icon="list">
    Can't navigate the map easily? Switch to **list view** to browse all pins as a simple, scrollable list — the same content, just in a different format.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

If you use assistive technology or find the map view difficult to navigate, the list-view alternative gives you access to all the same information your teacher has provided.


## Related topics

- [Create Interactive Map Activities for Any Geography](/teachers/activities/maps.md)
- [ChimeEdu for Teachers: Your Interactive Classroom Hub](/teachers/introduction.md)
- [Build Interactive Timeline Activities for Your Class](/teachers/activities/timelines.md)
- [How to Use ChimeEdu Timelines and Flash Card Decks](/students/timelines-and-flash-cards.md)
- [ChimeEdu Plans and Pricing: Free, Plus, and Premium](/teachers/plans-and-pricing.md)