📖

Creating Our Own Symbols

Map Keys and Legends

Day 83of 180
Week 17of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand how symbols can represent different things on a map

2

Create a simple map key with original symbols

3

Practice communication through visual representation

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 22:29

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he won't stand before obscure men.”

— Proverbs 22:29 (WEB)

Creating map symbols requires creativity and skill, just like God gives us special talents

📦 Materials Needed

  • White paper
  • Colored pencils or markers
  • Stickers
  • Blank map template
  • Scissors
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students and show examples of map symbols. Ask them what different shapes and colors might represent on a map.

💭 Review Question: What did we learn about map keys yesterday?
2Teaching (7 min)

Today we'll create our own special map symbols that tell a story about a place!

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Symbols are pictures that mean something
  • A good symbol is easy to understand
  • Symbols help us communicate without words
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What symbols could show a park?
  • How might we show a river or a house?
  • Can you think of a symbol that means 'safe place'?
3Activity: Create Your Map Symbol Key (10 min)
hands-on

Students will design 5-6 unique symbols representing different locations or features

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw a blank map template
  2. Create 5-6 original symbols
  3. Write what each symbol means
  4. Color your symbols
  5. Create a 'key' explaining your symbols
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use pre-cut stickers to make symbols

Challenge: Create a story map with symbols representing plot points

4Closing (3 min)

Share your map symbols with a friend and explain what they mean

📝 Review Questions:
  • What makes a good map symbol?
  • Why do maps need keys?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank You for giving us creative minds to understand and communicate in fun ways!

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore a neighborhood map with lots of exciting symbols!

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 22:29

“Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; he won't stand before obscure men.”

— Proverbs 22:29 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Symbol Matching Game

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Children are learning how symbols communicate information visually

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Encourage creativity
  • Help child think about clear, simple symbols
  • Praise effort over perfection
🤔 Common Struggles:

Some children might get frustrated if symbols aren't 'perfect'

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Clear connection between symbol and its meaning

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Create a treasure map with symbols
  • Play a symbol guessing game
  • Make a family symbol key

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 84 →Back to History & Social Studies