Create a Map with Me
Exploring Development
This activity allows children to foster literacy, mathematics, and cognitive skills while creating a map. Through this activity, children will learn the importance of written language, the purpose of print, several components of mathematics, what maps are, what a map is used for, and how to use a map.
Introducing Geography
Help children create a map. Use blocks, recyclable parts or a paper and pencil. Create a route from a neighbor’s home to your own. Explain that symbols represent real objects (Montessori Mapping Activities, 2012). To better explain a symbol, create a map key (Fig. A).
Notice that a compass rose may be found on a map, labeling North, East, South, and West. To remember North, East, South, and West remember the phrase, Never-Eat-Sour-Worms.
Words to incorporate:
Map Equator
Globe Ocean
Compass Rose Country
Latitude Nation
Longitude Hemisphere
Nourish a child’s interest by watching the short film below.
How Does their Mind Work?
Cognitive development allows children to make sense of the world around them (Dodge, Colker, & Heroman, 2008). Through an exploration of mapping, children will:
- Learn and problem solve
- Think logically
- Represent and think symbolically
Have you heard a child repeatedly ask, What will happen if? Why? Why? Why? That is because children are fascinated by cause and effect; they want to know why things happen (Dodge, Colker, & Heroman, 2008).
Learning and Problem solving
Creating a map will require children to draw on everyday experiences and apply their knowledge to similar situations (Dodge, Colker, & Heroman, 2008). Ask child, how would you get from our house to ___’s house? Allow them to demonstrate.
Logical Thinking
Creating a map is a great opportunity to encourage children to show awareness of position in space. Use phrases like, put this next to, place this blow this, write this above this…
Use numbers and counting. In my map there are five cars and four houses (Fig. B). Encourage children to use one number for each object. Practice counting five objects on your map, then ten objects. This will help children to understand numbers, practice one-to-one correspondence, and to classify objects (Dodge, Colker, & Heroman, 2008).
Representation and Symbolic Thinking
Through this process, children are learning to make and interpret representations. They practice:
- Drawing or constructing and then naming what it is
- Drawing or building a construction that represents something specific
- Planning, then creating increasingly elaborate representations
Are they Listening?
Help children to understand and follow oral directions. Integrate one-step directions and two-step directions. Ask child simple questions. What color is that polka-dot? (Fig C)
Encourage children to add their own writing to the map. Adults can assist language development by writing letters and words on a separate page for children to copy. If there is something a child has to say but is not able to communicate that through written language have them tell you what they would like you to write. This creates an opportunity to follow the text from left to right with your finger when reiterating what you’ve written to help your child gain knowledge of print (Dodge, Colker, & Heroman, 2008).
Comprehension can be fostered by asking open-ended questions and encouraging children to retell stories. Encourage child to retell a story about a time they used a map.
Tip: Pausing at the end of a sentence to let children join in, asking open-ended questions, and helping children make connections to prior experiences are all effective teaching strategies for developing comprehension skills (Dodge, Colker, & Heroman, 2008).
Children may demonstrate comprehension by:
- Asking questions or making comments
- Explaining, “We use a map when we go on a road trip,” after doing Explore the World: Design and Diary your own Path activity
This is Enjoyable
Maps can be used to discover new things! Maps provide direction. They have even helped miners find gold. Who uses maps?Everyone. Maps are a universal tool used by people across the world despite their language or culture.
Audience: Families, Teachers, Center Directors, College faculty, Students, Policymakers, Researchers
Age: Preschool
Topics: Cognitive Development, Language Development, Art, Mathematics By Kaylei Lewis, B.S. Human Development
By Kaylei Lewis, B.S. Human Development and Family Science: Child Development Anticipated graduation: June 2021
Once, I use used a map to plan a camping trip that led me down the Eastern Coast of Australia. I traveled 1,109 miles using my map every step of the way. I found it rewarding to do away with technology, using a printed map to the best of my abilities.
While navigating the waters steering a commercial fishing vessel in Southeast Alaska, I used a map to plot my way.
References
Cunningham, S. (n.d.). Taking Time to Grow Series: Writing Letters to Loved Ones. Retrieved May 8, 2020, from http://pinenutsmusings.com/taking-time-to-grow-series-writing-letters-to-loved-ones/
Dodge, D. T., Colker, L. J., & Heroman, C. (2008). The creative curriculum for preschool (College ed.). Teaching Strategies.
Montessori mapping activities Intro to geography for kids. (2012, September 23). Retrieved May 8, 2020, from https://www.giftofcuriosity.com/montessori-mapping-activities-intro-to-geography-for-kids/
The Geography Song Globe vs Map Song. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pOKoIAnybg
