Social studies is one of my favorite subjects to teach in the primary classroom. In first grade especially, we've got some great topics of study to cover! One that my students and I particularly love is map skills. We cover this topic a few different times throughout the year, using a different theme each time. This allows us to revisit the topic in a way that feels new. If you'd like to try teaching map skills with a twist, take a look at how we use a fun school theme to do so!
Make Teaching Map Skills Fun
Year after year, teaching map skills is one of my favorite activities in the primary classroom. It's a lot of fun to watch those little faces light up with wonder once they understand the purpose and power of a map. In my room, we teach map skills using a more generalized teaching unit, as well as some themed ones. I love having multiple options for this because it means we can review these skills at different times of the year to align with the theme.
To get started with map skills, we use a more general map unit that provides an overview of maps and how to use them. Next, a pirate map unit is great for Halloween or if you like to have dress-up days in your class. Finally, a camping version of this unit is great for the end of the year as students look forward to summer vacation.
While I love all of these units, I want to take a deep dive into how you can use a school theme to teach this topic. The school theme is great for the beginning of the year when students are becoming familiar with a new school or classroom. I have found that this theme in particular is very relatable to my primary students and it's a lot of fun to work on together!
Getting Started Teaching Map Skills
Whenever I begin a new map unit, I like to use books to help set the stage. I choose a few to read aloud and then facilitate a discussion with my students on what we read. I actually have a whole post all about the books and activities I typically use with my students to introduce map skills.
Another great book to use when teaching map skills with a school theme is Map My School by Harriet Brundle. In this book, students will get a closer look at what it looks like to create a map of a school. I love this book because it uses simple explanations and easy-to-understand images to illustrate this topic. The overhead view of schools and homes also helps students understand the types of information that can be held on a map. There are even some tips at the end to help students draw their own maps too!
After reading, we typically also create an anchor chart for more visual support. I also like to provide definitions at this point for terms such as compass rose, map key, and cardinal directions. I have posters with images and definitions for this that can be displayed or used on the anchor chart. I also like to copy them 4 to a page in a mini version for the kids. Then, I have them glue their mini copies into a notebook for quick and easy reference as we work through the unit.
Follow-Up with Practice Activities
After our introduction to maps and our new vocabulary words, it's time to start practicing! I use a variety of worksheet activities to facilitate practice on this topic. Our school-themed map skills worksheets cover things like using the compass rose, using directional words, counting items on a map, using a map key, and more!
Each of the pages has an engaging task for students to complete, making this much more fun than your average worksheet! My students love completing the tasks one by one. The school theme on each page helps students grasp this concept since they can look out the window at the playground, or simply around the classroom to visualize what mapping a school might consist of.
When we do these activities, I like to circulate in the classroom and offer assistance where needed. I can also quickly see how students are doing and reteach topics as needed. Since this topic is new to students, I like to make sure we work through these pages slowly and ensure everyone gets their questions answered along the way. Because of this, we tend to spread these out over a week or so, reviewing what we've learned.
School-Themed Map Skills Lapbook
After the worksheets, we move on to create a school-themed map lapbook as our final activity! This is everyone's favorite and makes a great keepsake to save for student memory books. Inside the lapbooks, students will create their own map of the school, craft a map key, and use cardinal directions.
As they complete each section, they glue it down into a lapbook that's been cut to look like a little red schoolhouse. I love this activity because it helps to tie everything we've learned into one neat little package. The kids LOVE sharing these with their families and teaching them all about maps.
Get Started Teaching Map Skills in Your Room
Doesn't this look like so much fun?! Now you can use these same activities in your classroom for FREE! It's the perfect way to introduce or review map skills in the primary classroom. To grab all of these activities, simply fill in this form to grab the FREE School-Themed Map Skills Resources.
It's a great way to help your students understand map skills vocabulary and how maps can help us navigate a new place. Not to mention, it will lay the foundation for future lessons on this topic as well. This is a really fun activity to use at the beginning of the school year, but really it can be used anytime in the primary classroom. Enjoy!
Looking for More Resources?
Using a school theme is just one of the ways you can teach map skills. Check out these posts for more information on how to get started!
Pin It!
This post helps make teaching map skills fun and easy in the primary classroom. Pin it on Pinterest to keep track of these ideas!
0 Comments