Lesson Plans
What is a map?
Day 1: Computer Lab
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4: Computer Lab
Day 5: Computer Lab
Day 6:
What is a map?
Day 1: Computer Lab
- Class Discussion, "What is a map?". Make a list of student responses.
- Create a K-W-L chart about maps.
- Define: Landmarks and Symbols
- Use Google Earth to look up places on a map that are familiar to the students.
- Give students time to research areas of their interest using Google Earth.
Day 2:
- Play Voki avatar to introduce the lesson.
- Introduce mapping directional words: right, left, up, down, above, below, in front, behind, etc.
- Have students work in groups to create a map of a familiar place in the school.
- When completed, as a class try to use the maps to test their accuracy. Give students time to edit and revise maps after the school exploration.
- Have a few groups share aloud before collecting.
Day 3:
- Play video: Where are you from? Discuss as a class where they are from and use mark them on a map.
- Review directional vocabulary and have students use the vocabulary to discuss where different people are from in the world from our class. (ex: Japan is to the right of China, Ohio is above Florida, etc.)
- Review map symbols and landmarks aloud giving examples of each.
- Have students chose and construct any place they would like to make a map of that they are familiar with. Explain that they must use symbols, landmarks, and use directional words to describe areas on their maps.
Day 4: Computer Lab
- Review and share students drawn maps and have students give "2 stars and a wish" ( 2 things that work well on their map and one area they could improve)
- Have students revise and then draw their map using Pixie.
Day 5: Computer Lab
- Complete and have hanging the KWL chart that was created at the beginning of the unit. Emphasis symbols, landmarks, and directional words.
- Model to the students how to upload their Pixie projects into Voicethread. Have students complete step by step with you.
- Then model how to comment on their own and each others maps. Students are required to communicate about their maps using directional vocabulary.
Day 6:
- Give students time to review others comments of their maps.
- Share maps and comments aloud.
- Post to class website for parents to review and enjoy.