📖

Maps vs. Pictures

Reading Maps: Getting Started

Day 77of 180
Week 16of 36
20Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Distinguish between pictures and maps

2

Understand that maps show locations from above

3

Learn how maps help us see where things are located

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

— Proverbs 3:5-6 (WEB)

Just as maps help us find our way, God guides us on our life journey

📦 Materials Needed

  • Different types of pictures
  • Simple maps
  • Large paper
  • Crayons
  • Scissors
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather children and show various pictures and maps. Ask them what they see and notice differences.

💭 Review Question: What helps you know where things are?
2Teaching (7 min)

Explain how maps show places from high above, like a bird's eye view, while pictures show things from the side.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Maps show entire areas at once
  • Maps use special symbols
  • Maps help us understand locations
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What do you see differently in a map?
  • How is a map like looking down from the sky?
3Activity: Map vs. Picture Sorting (5 min)
hands-on

Children sort and categorize pictures and maps, explaining their choices.

📝 Instructions:
  1. Provide mixed collection of images
  2. Sort into 'map' and 'picture' groups
  3. Explain why each item belongs
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher helps sort images

Challenge: Children create their own map symbols

4Closing (3 min)

Review what we learned about maps

📝 Review Questions:
  • What makes a map different from a picture?
  • How do maps help us?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for helping us learn about maps and showing us how to find our way.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll make a map of our classroom!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 3:6

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

— Proverbs 3:6 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Path Tracing: Children trace a simple map path while saying the verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

First-grade students are learning spatial awareness and map concepts

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use simple, clear examples
  • Encourage curiosity about maps
  • Connect map reading to everyday life
🤔 Common Struggles:

Understanding perspective and symbolic representation

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to differentiate maps from pictures

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a treasure map at home
  • Use Google Earth to explore maps together
  • Draw a map of child's bedroom

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 78 →Back to History & Social Studies