Maps Lesson Plans

Learners are able to list the essential elements of a thematic map, understand and use scale effectively to represent a geographic area, use research skills to develop a body of information, plan and draw an accurate thematic map based on her or his research, and make a set of predictions about what kind of problems or issues their map might be used to answer.

Students are introduced to map and globe skills. They use grids and are able to construct their own simple maps of familiar places. Students are able to define a map, globe, and symbol and use the direction words north, south, east, and west to describe movements. They are able to use a grid to construct a map of their own.

Students create maps of their own state using information from the National Geographic "MapMachine" website. They draw and label features on a blank map of their state, discuss the geographic features of their state, and create a state map from memory.

Second graders solve a map mystery. In this technology lesson plan, 2nd graders develop an awareness of maps and the symbols associated with maps as they the "Neighborhood Map Machine."

Students explore different types of weather maps. In this meteorology lesson, students define weather terms. Students form groups to research six different kinds of weather maps.

Students explore South America. In this geography skills instructional activity, students research South America by using political, physical, and population maps.  

How well do your students know themselves? Using Visual Thesaurus, a computer, and some paper, they create "identity maps" with adjectives to describe themselves. A gallery walk of the finished maps completes the activity, though there are opportunities for extension. Though the lesson plan is designed for ELD learners, it could work as a back-to-school activity for any skill level.

Students participate in a back-to-school icebreaker activity. In this icebreaker lesson, students create identity maps to introduce themselves to their peers. Students use the Visual Thesaurus to aide in their project.

Second graders will discover how to read a map and use the map key and its symbols.  In this map skills lesson, 2nd graders will follow a map of the classroom to find hidden clues.  Students will follow-up this activity by creating a map of their bedroom.

Students learn and identify parts of a map.  In this geography lesson, students learn about the parts of a map including the compass rose, the map key, scales, titles and labels.  Students practice using a compass, following cardinal directions and drawing a simple map of the classroom.  Students also use whiteboard websites to review each part of a map.