Curated OER
John Smith’s Map of the Chesapeake Bay
Young geographers travel back through time with primary source and map analysis and envision Captain John Smith's arrival at the Chesapeake Bay.
Curated OER
Scaling it Down: Caves Have Maps, Too
Measurement and map skills are the focus of this lesson plan, where learners crawl through a "cave" made out of boxes, desks and chairs, observing the dimensions. Your young geographers measure various aspects of the cave and practice...
Annenberg Foundation
Reading Maps
Can you read a map? Scholars use an interactive technology tool to analyze maps of various kinds to gather evidence and data to better understand their meanings and usefulness. Using newly obtained knowledge, they form an interpretation...
Worksheet Web
Using Pictographs
If one ice cream cone represents three ice cream scoops, and Bob has four ice cream cones, then how many scoops does Bob have? Learners solve these kind of questions with their new understanding of pictographs.
Compton Unified School District
How Can We Locate Places?
How can we locate places? Maps, of course! Expose second graders to the tools available in maps and discuss how these tools can help people find locations. Students also look at communities, including what makes a community and the...
Curated OER
Those Who Have Come Before Me
Class members are transformed into explorers as they work in groups to locate hidden items and map their journey along the way. They then leave clues for other groups of students to follow, and ultimately discover how past explorations...
National Geographic
Mapping the Americas
Celebrate the geography of the Americas and develop map skills through a series of activities focused on the Western Hemisphere. Learners study everything from earthquakes and volcanoes of the Americas and the relationship between...
Parkwood Hill Intermediate
Map Skills Project
Young pupils develop their mapping skills and knowledge by designing their own islands, using geographic terms and physical features they have learned as features of their work.
T. Smith Publishing
Map Skills
Help younger learners develop their map skills with this simple worksheet, which includes 12 questions utilizing a map legend that involves highway markers, population indicators, and other landmark signs.
Super Teacher Worksheets
Reading a Map
Young geographers improve their map skills by practicing locating the cardinal directions on a map, identifying symbols on a map key, and describing where objects on the map are located relative to other locations.
Education World
Edible Resource Maps!
Young scholars discuss resource maps and examine examples from library resources. Working in groups, they create edible resource maps by drawing examples, such as popcorn on the border of Iowa and Nebraska. Then they use cookies in the...
Education World
The African American Population in US History
How has the African American population changed over the years? Learners use charts, statistical data, and maps to see how populations in African American communities have changed since the 1860s. Activity modifications are included to...
Curated OER
Map Skills
Thirds graders reinforce that a map is a drawing that shows what a place looks like from above. They use a map key and symbols to create a map of the school and its neighborhood.
Curated OER
Mapping It Out: Social Studies Online
A great way to introduce 2nd graders to map skills would be to use this presentation. The visuals are inviting and the layout is easy to understand. This would be a terrific way to cover the basics on how to read a map. There is also a...
Luminations Media Group
Geography: Map Reading Basic Skills
Enhance scholars' map skills using this learning exercise displaying the land of Kahitsa’an from the series, The Realm, by K.L. Glanville. The activity helps readers visualize the make believe-land, examine its attributes, and answer 10...
Curated OER
Countries of the World
Students define the meaning of the word country. In this countries of the world map lesson plan, students identify boundaries, countries, and symbols within countries on the map. Students distinguish the words country and continent.
Curated OER
Mapping My World
First graders make two maps. In this developing and reading maps lesson, 1st graders read Mapping Penny's World, discuss the parts of a map, create a map of their classroom, and create a list of directions of how to get to various...
Curated OER
Mapping the News
Students explore cartography. For this map skills and map making lesson, Students work in groups to create wall size world maps including legends, compass roses, latitude and longitude, and physical features. Students collect current...
Curated OER
Understanding: Geography
Students explore their neighborhoods. In this geography lesson, students make a map of their neighborhood. They must include a key, natural terrain, buildings and streets. They also write a descriptive paragraph about their neighborhood.
Curated OER
Map Making
In this map making worksheet, students draw a map of their home including a map key. In this drawing worksheet, students create one map.
Curated OER
Topographic Mapping Skills
For this geography worksheet, students read an excerpt about topographic maps and why they are useful for various jobs. They also respond to eleven questions that follow related to the excerpt and locating specific map points on the map...
Curated OER
Create a Country
Students work in small groups to list features and elements found on a variety of grade- appropriate maps. They develop a class list of map features and elements to draw from as they create a map of an imaginary country.
Curated OER
Map Keys
Third graders examine maps and map keys. In this locating map features lesson, 3rd graders use crayons, markers and colored pencils to label maps. Students work in partners to read map keys and locate given places and things.
Curated OER
U.S. Political Map
Students explore the symbols found in a map legend. In this map skills lesson, students locate the legend on a political map and explain what each of the symbols mean. Students locate and identify several symbols on the map.