Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to understand and interpret street maps, as well as apply basic math skills to navigate and locate places on a map.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Printed street maps of different locations

No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.

Activities

• Activity 1: Map Exploration

Provide the student with a printed street map of a familiar location. Ask them to identify landmarks, streets, and other important features on the map. Encourage them to trace routes from one place to another using a ruler.

• Activity 2: Create Your Own Map

Ask the student to create their own street map of a fictional neighborhood or city. They can include streets, buildings, parks, and other landmarks. Encourage them to use a scale and compass directions in their map.

• Activity 3: Treasure Hunt

Create a treasure hunt activity using a street map. Hide small objects or clues in different locations on the map and provide the student with a list of instructions to find them. This activity will require the student to use their map-reading skills and follow directions.

Talking Points

• Maps are visual representations of real places. They help us understand and navigate our surroundings.
• Street maps show roads, buildings, landmarks, and other important features of a city or neighborhood.
• Maps use symbols and a key to represent different elements. For example, a dot may represent a building, while a line represents a road.
• Scale on a map helps us understand the relative distance between different locations. It allows us to estimate how far apart places are.
• Compass directions, such as north, south, east, and west, help us understand the orientation of a map and the direction of different streets.
• Tracing routes on a map using a ruler helps us plan and visualize our path from one place to another.
• Creating our own maps allows us to be creative and design our own neighborhoods or cities.
• Treasure hunts using maps can be a fun way to practice map-reading skills and follow directions.