Title – Where am I?

By – Janette Palacios

Primary Subject – Social Studies

Grade Level – 1

Texas Essentials Knowledge and Skills Social Studies Standards:

113.3(5)a. Create and use simple maps to identify the location of places in the classroom, school and beyond.

Learning Objectives:

• The student will be able to identify a map grid.
  
• The student will be able to review a map key.
  
• The student will be able to identify places on a map grid.

List of Materials:

• Map Grid poster (self-made)
  
• Markers
  
• Worksheets on subject matter

Pre-Activity Preparation:

• Make a fun and colorfully creative map grid with recognizable places (pictures) and questions for first-graders.

Transition:

• Move students to carpeted area for teaching of the lesson
  
• After lesson is taught, move children back to desks to work on worksheet

Establishing/Set Motivation/Introduction:

The map grid poster should grab student’s attention at glance.

Learning Experiences/Presentation/Procedure:

1. Remind students that they must remain quiet when moving to carpet and must sit down criss-cross on their bottoms. Also, remind students that they should pay close attention so they can participate in activity.
   
2. Give students signal to sit at carpet
   
3. Present the map grid to students and explain its usefulness:
   • I can use this to find out where a certain location is from where I am, etc.
4. Show students the map key that goes with the map grid. Explain how we use the map key to distinguish which picture represents which location.
   
5. With class review map grid, determine which picture/symbol represents which location on map.
   
6. Explain what rows and columns are.
   • Row (1st) – Goes from left to right (with finger show motions of left to right).
     
   • Column (2nd) – Goes up and down (with finger show motions of up and down).
7. Explain that when writing a location on a map grid, the number or letter of the row will go before the number or letter of the column.
   
8. Review questions that are on the map grid.
   • EX: Where is Dover Elementary located?
     • Look at map key and locate Dover. What symbol/picture represents Dover?
       
       School House
       
       
     • Locate the same picture/symbol on map.
     • Put one finger on Dover and go down the column to discover the letter:
       
       A
       
       
     • Place another finger on Dover and move up to find the number of Dover on the column:
       
       3
       
       
     • What is the answer?
       
       A3
       
9. After reviewing problems ask the following:
   • What can we use a map grid for?
     
   • Why is the map key important?
10. After reviewing questions signal children to return to their desks quietly.
    • Ask table leaders to pass out worksheets.
      
    • Allow 15 minutes to complete worksheet.
      
    • Review over each problem.

Closure:

Closure on this lesson would be reviewing and checking for understanding from worksheet.

E-Mail

Janette Palacios

!