Students will map the places most familiar to them.
Grade Levels: K - 3
Time Required: 1 - 2 sessions
Subject Areas: geography, visual arts, language arts, life science
Materials:
Procedure:
- Ask students if they think that their school, house or yard would look different to a flying bird than it looks to them. You may wish to have a confident student draw a picture of their desk as it looks to them -- and then how it looks to the flying bird. One is a picture and one is a "map".
- Have students map one or more of the following: their room at home, or the route they take to school. Have them label as many things as they can.
- Have a share time, when students can explain their map.
- Have them take their maps home with them and see if they wish to add anything to the maps or move something. Next day, have them share the changes.
- Ask them to think of their favorite animal, and map the place this animal lives. Include the things they think it will need to stay alive. Remember to make it a map, not a picture.
Variations and Extensions:
Have students make a group map of their schoolyard.
Assessment:
Self-contained in activity.
