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Cultural Lit. 4: Learning to Read a Map

Main Core Tie

Social Studies - 1st Grade
Standard 3 Objective 2

Time Frame

2 class periods of 60 minutes each

Authors

Utah LessonPlans

Summary

Students will be able to identify the map and globe symbols: Cardinal Directions; Compass Rose; Mountains; Rivers; Lakes; Towns; Roads, after receiving direct instruction and carrying out activities in cooperative group settings, in 1-2 class periods.


Materials

1. Large wall map with a compass rose.
2. Large size map of Dine' Bikeyah.
3. Class set of 5 desk size maps of Dine' Bikeyah.
4. Teacher generated handout of an enlarged map key with compass rose and symbols for mountains, rivers, lakes, towns, roads 1 inch = 15 miles on large Dine' Bikeyah map. 1 inch = 30 miles on small Dine' Bikeyah map.
5. Paper, pencil, crayons.


Background for Teachers

Guarded Vocabulary:
Cardinal direction, compass rose, north, east, south, west, left, right


Intended Learning Outcomes

To be able to identify the map and globe symbols: Cardinal Directions; Compass Rose; Mountains; Rivers; Lakes; Towns; Roads. 1 inch = 15 miles on large Dine' Bikeyah map. 1 inch = 30 miles on small Dine' Bikeyah map.


Instructional Procedures

Introduce lesson to capture student's attention:

[This lesson entails student's having a working knowledge of left-hand and right-hand directionality. Teacher may need to teach or review "left" and "right" before proceeding with this lesson.]

Teacher tells the class that they are going outside to learn about maps. Teacher takes the class outside and asks if anyone knows the cardinal directions, and discusses the student's answers. Teacher says the directions: "north, east, south, west," and moves toward the direction as it is said. Teacher repeats saying directions and moving with student's following along. Teacher asks the students to point to where the sun rises and asks the name of the direction, tells the direction-east. Teacher asks the students to point to where the sun sets and asks the name of the direction, tells the direction-west.

Teacher and students all face east. Teacher explains that while facing the direction of the sunrise, ones left hand is toward the north and one's right hand is toward the south. Teacher and student's all face west. Teacher explains that while facing west one's right hand is toward the north and one's left hand is toward the south.

Teacher continues similar explanation facing north and then south, respectively.

Teacher tells students that they are going to learn to read the cardinal direction on a map, and learn other symbols for reading maps.

Problem/Prediction:
How can you get the students really thinking?

With students working in groups of four, teacher will ask students to work together and identify the cardinal directions in their classroom.
Teacher will write on the board, or on a projection device, or on a flipchart, the cardinal directions with correct orientation to the classroom. Teacher will place an 8"x10" paper with the cardinal direction written in bold type, in plain view, at the midpoint of each classroom wall.

Teacher Instruction:
With the big wall map open at front of class, and students working in table groups of four, teacher will disseminate the handout of a map key to each group. Teacher will tell students that most maps have a "key" which shows how to read symbols on that map, and that their handout is a map key they are going to use to read the big wall map.

Teacher then explains that the compass rose on a map shows the reader the cardinal direction in which the map is oriented. Teacher points to the direction north on the compass rose and on the wall map and leads class discussion regarding map key, compass rose and the cardinal directions and reading a map.

Teacher then disseminates desk size copies to each group of the map Dine' Bikeyah and puts the large copy at front of the class. Using map key handout teacher shows students how to read the symbols for Mountains; Rivers; Lakes; Towns; Roads, on the map Dine' Bikeyah, and how to read the map according to the compass rose.

How will you end your lesson?
Group presentation to class of cardinal directions and symbols on map.


Strategies for Diverse Learners

How will you help ELL students?

Guided Practice:
Teacher is working with each group and student's individually in each group and listens to them tell the cardinal directions while pointing to the direction, and pointing to symbols on the map for Mountains; Rivers; Lakes; Towns; Roads.


Extensions

Students will work in table groups of four or in pairs with the maps and find and show the cardinal directions, and find and show the symbols for Mountains; Rivers; Lakes; Towns; Roads. Teacher and assistant will circulate among groups to direct students.


Assessment Plan

Observation of student participation. Group presentation to class of cardinal directions and symbols on map.


Created: 01/18/2005
Updated: 02/03/2018
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