Lesson Title: Where am I on a map? Grade(s): 2 Time of Lesson: Two Lessons- Day one 45 minutes, Day two- 55 minutes
In day one of the lesson, students will be introduced to maps and why we use them. A map can show continents, countries, states, and cities, or show the roads and landmarks of a town. It can show bus routes or subway lines, different landforms, kinds of natural resources, or show different temperatures in a specific area. Maps can help you navigate an area, or find your way around. The teacher will introduce numerous vocabulary terms that relate to maps and what types of places students can find maps of. For example, , town, state, country, and the globe. Next, the teacher will read a book called, Where am I on a map? by Joan Sweeny, so that students will get an understanding of where they are in the world and the different sizes of communities. The teacher will then show the students where they are on a map in relation to larger and smaller locations by using Google maps. The teacher will begin with the address of the school, then zoom out to see the town, state, country and globe. In day two of the lesson, the students will discuss whether or not they think that maps can be a form of art. The students will look at pictures where maps were created into varies different art works. Then, the students will be given the opportunity to create their own maps using crayons and drawing on computer paper. The students will then mounts their maps on construction paper and the maps will be hung around the classroom.
Essential Question (Provide an open-ended central inquiry to be explored in this lesson) How can students understand where they are on a map in addition to understanding that maps can be a form of art?
Learning Objectives
Students will develop a basic understanding of maps and what their purpose is. Students will understand where they are on a map in regards to their school, town, state, country and the globe. Students will understand that maps are a form of art and create their own maps.
Materials/Resources
Vocabulary
Electronics: Computer/ Projector Power Point* Google Maps Application - or https://www.google.com/maps/@38.998334,- 76.937249,13z Book Where am I on a map? By Joan Sweeny Art supplies- - One white piece of computer paper (8.5 x11) per student - One piece of construction paper per student, any color Town: an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government State: an area that is considered as an organized political community under one government Country: a large area, bigger than a state with its own government Map- Maps help you find your way around. A map can show continents, countries, states, and cities, or show the roads and landmarks of a town. Gallery Walk- when art work is displayed and people walk around and look at it
- Crayons -Glue
Optional: Lesson Variations
The teacher can bring the students to the computer lab to use Google maps rather than showing them on the projector. The students will be able to explore google maps more in depth and discover other locations. The teacher will shift the lesson based on where they are. It will be focused on their school, town, state and country.
Instructional Sequence Approximate Time Procedure DAY 1 Introduction
What are maps?
Vocabulary of Maps
Me on a Map- reading of the book
Where are you on a map?
5 minutes
3 Minute
7 Minutes
15 Minutes
10 Minutes
The teacher will open up a discussion for the students about maps. The teacher will ask- When you want to find your way to get to a certain place, what do you use? Can anyone tell me a time when they used a map to find something? Can someone give me an example of a type of map? The teacher will show the students a picture of a map of the University of Maryland. The teacher will ask students to explain what it is and why this might be useful. (Slide 2) The Teacher will then show students the map of the DC metro and ask students if they have ever used this before, when and did it make it easier to get where they were going? (Slide 3)
The teacher will give a brief description of maps in addition to introducing the objectives for the lesson. (Slides 2-3)
The teacher will go over the different things that students could see a map of. These are the vocabulary words. The words town, state and country. These words have arrows between them so students can see that the areas get larger. (slide 6) Next, the teacher will show the students a picture of the town they live in (College Park) from the street. Then, the teacher will show a map with College Park on it so students will see the difference between a photo and a map. (Slides7-8)
The teacher will ask the students to move to the carpeted area for story time. The teacher will read the book out loud to the class. After the book is finished the teacher will asked the students the following questions. Did anyone learn anything new from this book? If so, can you share this with the class? What did you all enjoy about the book? Is there anything you did not enjoy about this book?
The teacher will ask the students to then return to their seats. The teacher will open the Google maps application on the computer. The teacher will explain to
Wrap up Day 1
DAY 2
Review-
Art Project Introduction
Working time
Clean up/ Gallery Walk
5 Minutes
5 Minutes
5 Minutes
5 Minutes
20 Minutes
10 Minutes
students that Google maps is a virtual map that lets us see basically anywhere on the earth. (If the teacher does not have the application, you can use this link: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.998334,-76.937249,13z_) The teacher will type in University of Maryland, College Park, MD to the search box and the campus will show up on the screen. The teacher will then zoom out to show the town (College Park) the State (Maryland) the country (United States) and then finally the world. While on each area, the teacher will ask the students to raise their hands to repeat the definitions they learned earlier.
The teacher will ask students the following questions- Can someone tell me the order of size of the locations we learned about today: town, state, country, globe? What is the main reason that people have maps? Do you think you will ever need to use a map? When?
The teacher will review the terms that the students learned in the previous lessons- town, city, state and country. The teacher will ask the students to explain where they are in school in relation to a map. The goal is for the student to say they are in the school, in their town, which is in their state, which in in their country which in on the globe.
The teacher will ask the students if they think they think maps can be art? Why or why not? The teacher will gather ideas from the students. Next the teacher will show students pictures of maps that have been created into art. (Slides 11- 13) The teacher will ask for the students feedback about the pictures shown by asking these questions: Do you think these are considered art? Why or why not? Are these still maps even though they are different from what we normally see?
Now we are going to create our own maps as works of art! The teacher will give the following directions to students- Today we are going to draw a picture of a map of our towns. These maps are going to show us how to get from our school, to our home and they are also going to be works of art. Make sure to include as many things on the map as you can. Think of all your favorite places to go between your school and home. The teacher will show the students an example of a map drawn out so they will be able to understand what is expected of them.
The teacher will give the students time to create their maps. The teacher will walk around seeing if students need help. When the students are finished drawing their map, the teacher will instruct them to glue their maps onto construction paper. Put a small amount of glue on all four corners of the computer paper. Next, put the computer paper on top of the construction paper so that the construction paper makes an even boarder around the map
The teacher will instruct the students to return all of the supplies to their proper locations. Once the classroom is cleaned up, the teacher will instruct the students to leave their maps on their desk. Next, the students will be given the opportunity to walk around the room and look at their classmates work. The
Example of artwork
Wrap up
5 Minutes teacher will say, Now we are going to do a gallery walk. This means we are going to walk around the room and look at our classmates work. Please be respectful of everyones maps and do not touch them, this is a time just for looking.
Once the students have gotten a chance to see their classmates work, the teacher will instruct them to go back to their seats. The teacher will say, Now that we have gotten to see all of our classmates beautiful work, we can see that maps can be a form or art. The teacher will ask the following questions: Did everyone enjoy making his or her maps? Why/ why not? Do you think that your map could lead someone to your house? Why do you think your map is considered art? How did making this map allow you to be creative?