My class this year has been fascinated with maps. They love to look at the maps we have in the block center, and they often draw maps in the art center. Treasure maps, maps of their town, maps to show their bus route, maps from their house to their friends’ house. One day for a small group activity, we made maps of our classroom as a cooperative group activity.
We used 18×24 inch paper. I drew the window, door, and large group carpet on the map to get them started. I pointed out the door in our room and the door on our map, and did the same with the window and carpet. We talked about things we needed to put on the map. Each group came up with some different ideas, for example, only one group thought about putting the clock on the map. I also thought it was neat that one group put the “Pigeon book” on the map (Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems — a Pre-K favorite). Most of the things they put on the map were drawn on construction paper, cut out, and glued to the map. That helped because if someone put something in the wrong place, we could talk about it as a group, and move it where it needed to be.
Here are our results:
As a follow up activity, I read the book Me on the Map, by Joan Sweeney.
You might also want to check out Teach Preschool’s recent post on maps with preschoolers.
About Karen Cox
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!!! What amazing work!!!!
Querida Karen
Parabens pelo seu trabalho e dedicação as crianças, aqui no Brasil
trabalho com crianças também e pre-adolecentes.
Suas ideias são ótimas em breve vou compartilhar com você algumas
coisas que fazemos no Brasil. Nossa história por exemplo. Se interessar por favor entre no meu site e trocamos ideias.
Beijos
Com carinho
Maricleide – Santos-SP-Brasil
Thanks, Amy!
This is such a great idea! Will keep in mind when working on the letter M for map! Thanks!
I love the idea of mapping our classroom. I shall surely use this in my own school
What a truly genius idea to do a classroom map as a GROUP activity. We have done it with everyone making their own map, which has been fun, and a great exercise for the kids who “get it”. But the group idea raises all boats… On my plans for next year! Thank you.
Thanks, Mary! I’m glad you like it!
What an awesome activity ! Can’t wait to try it with my class ! Thanks !
Thanks!
Karen…this is terrific. I’m sharing a link to your page with others.
Thanks for sharing the link, Cate! I appreciate it!
these are wonderful! my prekinders also love making maps; then they take them to the playground during recess and create elaborate scenarios, from pirates seeking treasure to Jack and Annie’s magic tree house adventure!
I also do a map making unit, and I have used the book “My Map Book” by Sara Fanelli, where a little boy goes through his day making maps of his room, his neighborhood, his dog (he shows where the fleas are located!), and his heart (who all he loves!), etc. Then I have my students choose something to make a map of…and they are SO funny and creative! It’s a great book!
I’ll be sure to look for that book, Ann! Thanks for suggesting it.
my prekinders also love creating maps, then they take them to recess and create elaborate scenarios, from treasure hunting to Jack and Annie’s tree house adventures!
I use Sara Fanelli’s book “My Map Book” for my map making study. The boy in the story creates unusual maps, of his heart, his dog, and even his tummy! Then my students create their own map, and the results are so funny and super creative!
Awesome idea for spring break, which starts next week! Thank you!
Thanks, Heather!
What a great idea-our school has been trying to incorporate geography in our preschool curriculum-this would be perfect for that!
Thanks, I’m trying to do that more also.
What a wounderful idea! And just in time for our mapmaking skills activity.
I will make it a group activity instead of on their own/individual project.
Love it, thank-you so much for sharing such great ideas.
Mercedes Curaca
Thanks, Mercedes! Glad you like it.
These are wonderful! Now I just have to find time to fit them in. I need a few more weeks of school:).
Lyn
I know the feeling, Lyn! Thanks for visiting.
I LOVE this!!! We’ve been doing maps for a while in my class, and next week we are going to read the book Subway and follow the MARTA subway map and decide which route will take us to which location. I plan to incorporate this idea in my small group time!
Thanks, Elsa! I will have to look for that book.
This is awesome. I think I’ll do this as a group activity first.
Thank you
This is an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing…
Thank you! I brought 3 map books including My Map Book and this group activity will fit right into what I was planning. Glad I found your blog!
Thanks Karen! Glad it will work for you!