📖

Map Symbols and Pictures

Reading Maps: Getting Started

Day 79of 180
Week 16of 36
20Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand that map symbols represent real things

2

Learn how to identify common map symbols

3

Recognize that symbols help us understand location

📖 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 in life's journey

📦 Materials Needed

  • Map symbols cards
  • Colored paper
  • Crayons
  • Glue sticks
  • Large classroom map
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and show a large map. Ask them to look closely at the small pictures on the map.

💭 Review Question: What do you see that looks like tiny pictures on this map?
2Teaching (7 min)

Explain that map symbols are small pictures that represent real things like trees, houses, roads, and churches.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Symbols help us understand where things are located
  • Each symbol tells us something about that place
  • God helps us understand the world around us
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What symbols do you see on our map?
  • Can you draw a symbol that shows something in our classroom?
3Activity: Symbol Matching Game (6 min)
matching

Students match symbol cards to their real-world representations

📝 Instructions:
  1. Give each student a set of symbol cards
  2. Ask them to match symbols to corresponding pictures
  3. Discuss each symbol as a group
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use fewer symbol cards

Challenge: Have students create their own map symbols

4Closing (2 min)

Review what we learned about map symbols

📝 Review Questions:
  • What are map symbols?
  • Why do maps use symbols?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for helping us learn and understand the world you created.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll play a treasure map game!

💎 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 path while saying the verse

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

First graders are learning basic map reading skills

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use lots of visual examples
  • Encourage creativity
  • Make learning fun and interactive
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find symbol abstraction challenging

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Ability to match and explain simple map symbols

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a simple neighborhood map at home
  • Look for symbols in real maps or atlases
  • Draw a map of their bedroom

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 80 →Back to History & Social Studies