All About Maps

By: Laila White

First grade/social studies

Common Core Standards:

Spatial thinking and skills

-Maps can be used to locate and identify places.
Places and regions
-Places are distinctive because of their physical characteristics (land forms and bodies of water) and human
characteristics (structures built by people

Lesson Summary:
In This lesson students will be able to identify the compass rose, symbols, and the map key as three
different characteristics of maps. Teachers will ask students to identify what a map is used for when
shown an image of a map. Reiterating what a map is used for through out the lesson will improve
students’ memory and help them retain and learn what exactly is a map and how it can be used in
today’s world. Throughout the lesson students will share their thoughts on maps and map symbols.
They will be able to voice their opinions on how maps are used and will show many examples on
how maps are used on an everyday basis. Students will wrap up what they learn with a quick mini
quiz on the compass rose, map symbols, and map keys.

Estimated Duration:
7 35minute social block class times

Commentary:
Teacher will Show students a map and ask them to identify what it is and what it is used for. Teachers will
repeat this repeat this while holding up the handouts of the compass rose, mini poster symbols, and map key,
making sure titles are covered each time, these will be revealed in a later date. After students share their
thoughts, take off the sticky notes to reveal each map tool’s name. Display each picture for the students to refer
to. Share with students what the weeks lesson will look like. Learning the purpose of all three map tools, and
how they are used on a map. Explicit Instruction/teacher modeling will last approximately 15 minutes after
instructions are read follow up for the rest of Day 1 class with the book Follow That Map! By: Scot Richie.
During the story make sure you focus on key terms previously presented in the introduction. Ask students to
point out examples of each throughout the story. As students identify key terms, explain that a map is a picture
or chart that shows rivers, mountains, streets, etc. in a certain area, a compass rose is a circle printed on a chart
to show direction (N, S, E, and W), symbols are pictures used to represent a word or group of words, and a
map key is a list that explains the symbols on a map. Display each definition under each visual to create instant
mini posters for students to view

Instructional Procedures:

Day 1: day one instructions- start lesson of show students’ picture of a blank map on the blackboard and ask
the students to identify what is on the black board. Ask them what a map is and explain to them the meaning.
Follow that with Explicit Instruction/teacher modeling and ending day with a read aloud of Follow That Map
by: Scot Richie.
Day 2:
Guided Practice- Pass out to each student the Town Map worksheet. Inform students that maps usually have
titles, as you point to the top of the map. Ask students to say aloud the title of this map. Tell students that they
will look at the Town Map to gain practice in identifying symbols and reading a compass rose and map key.
Ask students to point to the compass rose on the worksheet. Once identified, have students label it with North,
South, West, and East using the first letter only. Remind students to use the mini poster for help. Next, ask
students to identify the map key. Ask students to explain the use of the map key and its symbols. Model the
first two problems for students and ask them to complete the third problem on their own. Walk around the
class to monitor students as they are working. When students have finished, ask for a student volunteer to share
their answer, while others check their own work.
Day3:
Independent working time-Ask students to complete the Town Map worksheet. For early finishers, pass out the
Reading a Map worksheet. Monitor students while they are working and assist students who need extra
support.
Day 4:
Independent working time -Ask students to complete the reading a map worksheet. For early finishers, pass out
the map key cut and paste worksheet. Monitor students while they are working and assist students who need
extra support.
Day5:
Independent working time - Ask students to complete the make key cut and paste worksheet. Also pass out the
build a city worksheet and after students completed the cut and paste activities have them get in pairs and work
on build a city worksheet for early finishers. Monitor students while they are working and assist students who
need extra support.
Day6:
Independent working time + start the movie Road To El Dorado. Have students finish up the weeks worksheets
while watching the movie and have them answer how the map was used in the movie.
Day7:
Assessment To check for understanding, monitor the classroom as students are completing their map
worksheets. Check the correctness of student worksheets. Continue the road to El dorado.
Day8:
Finish the road to El dorado then Review and closing At the end of the lesson, check and review the class
assignment. Review any missed problems and show how to solve them for better understanding. Ask students
to share what they have learned in today’s lesson.

Pre-Assessment:
Assessment To check for understanding, monitor the classroom as students are completing them. Prior to the
first read-aloud, and the teacher instructions students will take a pre-quiz on key map concepts covered in the
lesson to check to see how much the class know about maps teacher and students will have a conversation as a
group.

Scoring Guidelines:
90-100% understands maps and maps symbols with a clear understanding. Can point out different areas of a
map correctly defining the meaning in the process
80-90% understands map and maps symbols efficiently
0-70% does not understand map and map symbols can not identify maps symbols or define them correctly

Post-Assessment:
Same Quiz as the pre-assessment on map symbols and there meanings, To see how individual students grew
on their knowledge of maps
Scoring Guidelines:
90-100% understands maps and maps symbols with a clear understanding. Can point out different areas of a
map correctly defining the meaning in the process
80-90% understands map and maps symbols efficiently
0-70% does not understand map and map symbols can not identify maps symbols or define them correctly

Differentiated Instructional Support

Enrichment: For students who need an extra challenge, provide the Build a City worksheet. Using this
worksheet, ask students to determine, in writing, the direction of locations relative to another on the grid map.
Support: For students needing support, complete the Town Map worksheet as a small group. To provide
support in reading symbols, complete the Reading a Map worksheet in a small group. Discuss additional
activities you could do to meet the needs of students who might be struggling with the material:

Extension
https://wosu.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/c4626527-3dbf-46b1-8248-3af1448ac569/clubhouse-theme-what-
are-maps-young-explorers/
This video will be used if students have any additional concerns on what maps are and what they are used for

Homework Options and Home Connections

No homework

Interdisciplinary Connections
Can be integrated with English (spelling test, defining words) can be integrated in science ( show a bank of
water on a map and figure out the different ecosystems in and around that specific mass of water

Materials and Resources:

For teachers Follow That Map! by Scot Ritchie Map of your choosing Compass Rose worksheet
Mini Poster handouts Town Map worksheet Reading a Map worksheet Using a Map
Key worksheet Pencils Sticky notes Key terms map compass rose symbols map key
Attachments Compass Rose (PDF) Mini Poster (PDF) Town Map (PDF) Reading a
Map (PDF) Using a Map Key (PDF) Build a City (PDF)

For students Compass Rose worksheet Mini Poster handouts Town Map worksheet Reading a Map
worksheet Using a Map Key worksheet Pencils Sticky notes white board, scissors glue
stick, colored pencils

Key Vocabulary
Map- a picture or chart that shows rivers, mountains, streets, etc. in a certain area
compass rose- a circle printed on a chart to show direction (N, S, E, and W)
symbols- pictures used to represent a word or group of words
map key- a list that explains the symbols on a map.