Steven Holliday
ED 411 – 01
Social Studies Lesson
Unit: Social Studies
Grade Level: 1st
Lesson: What is a Map?
Objectives
• Physically re-create a story and its setting
using pictures.
• Learn how to use symbols to create a
map.
• Practice reading a map in pairs.
• Learn about map symbols, keys, and
directions.
• Create their own unique maps.
Materials Needed
•Social Studies Alive!
•Transparency 6.3
Big Book and Student
editions
•Student Handout 6.5
(1 per child)
•Interactive Student
Notebooks
•Placards 6.1 A – H
My School and Family
•Interactive Desk Maps
•Chapter Opener
Transparency 6
•Scissors
•Crayons
Activity 1 – Pre-view: Hearing the Story “Yikes! A Mouse!”
Steps:
1. Read “Yikes! A Mouse!”
2. Ask children to recall the objects Ms.
Hutchinson passed as she looked for the
mouse.
3. Prepare to re-create the story.
4. Re-read the story as children re-create it.
5. After placard holders are in place, have one
child play the teacher and one play the mouse
as the class re-creates the story once more.
Activity Materials – Chapter Opener Transparency 6, Interactive Desk Map,
and Placards 6.1A-H
Activity 2 – Discovering What a Map Looks Like
Steps
1. Ask Children to gather in their reading
circle and reread “Yikes! A Mouse!”
2. Distribute Placards 6.1A-H, and have
children stand in their locations from the
day before.
3. With Children’s help, draw a map on the
board.
Activity Materials – Chapter Opener Transparency 6, Interactive
Desk Map, and Placards 6.1A-H
Activity 3 – Reading a Classroom Map
Steps
1. Introduce the new ideas (map, symbol,
map key, and direction) by reading
aloud pp. 33 – 37 in the Big Book.
2. Place children in mixed-ability pairs, and
give each child an Interactive Desk Map.
3. Instruct children to follow a series of
directions using their Interactive Desk
Maps.
Activity Materials – Social Studies Alive! My School and Family Big
Book, Interactive Desk Map, and Transparency 6.3
Activity 5 – Creating a New Map of Ms. Hutchinson’s Classroom
Steps
1. Have children
create their own
maps.
2. Have children
share their maps.
Activity Materials – Interactive Student Notebooks, Student Handout
6.5 (1 per child), Scissors, and Crayons
Activity 4 – Reading About Features of a Map
Steps
1. Review the term map.
2. Read about symbols.
3. Read about map keys.
4. Read about directions.
5. Assign Reading Notes 6.
Activity Materials – Social Studies Alive! My School and Family
Student Edition, Interactive Student Notebooks, and Crayons
Literature Connection
Mapping Penny’s World, by Loreen Leedy
Me on the Map, by Joan Sweeney
Mouse Views: What the Class Pet Saw, by
Bruce McMillan
Making Our Own Map
This is the hall way that leads to our class.
Making Our Own Map
Here is the play area in front of our classroom.
Making Our Own Map
This is the sink in our classroom neighborhood.
Making Our Own Map
Here is one view of our classroom. What do you see?
Making Our Own Map
Here is our dramatic play area.
Making Our Own Map
Here is our circle area.
Making Our Own Map
Here is our art area.
Making Our Own Map
Here is our writer’s and reader’s workshop area.
Making Our Own Map
Here is our music area.
Making Our Own Map
Here is our science area.
Making Our Own Map
This is where the students and teacher work.
Resources on the Web
Social Studies School Service
www.socialstudies.com
Atlapedia Online
http://www.atlapedia.com/
National Geographic.com for Kids
http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/
Discovery Kids
http://www.discoverykids.com/
Ohio Historical Society
http://www.ohiohistory.org/