Looking ahead to spring: The Walters Art Museum has started sending out press information about an exhibit opening March 16 of more than 100 of the world's most significant maps. They include a marble street plan of Rome from the Roman Empire and maps created by Leonardo da Vinci, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.

I don't know how this exhibit correlates with the voluntary state curriculum or how many teachers out there have any funding for field trips... but this seems like it could be a fun reward for kids after the dreaded MSAs are over.