Types of maps

4th Grade – Geography-Description

winter

Materials for the class

Images of different types of geographic maps, map of the neighborhood, folder, A4 sheets, pencils.

Layout of the classroom

The activity will be performed in the classroom and outside (in the streets of the neighborhood).

Phase 1

The teacher explains what a geographic map is and that there are different types of it (political, topographic,…). She/he also explains how to  represent something in scale. She/he shows the children different types of maps and speaks with them about the topic.

Phase 2

The teacher hangs a map of the neighborhood and asks the children to find out the most important places of the area (school, post office, police station, pharmacy, church, playground,…) and the street where they live. The teacher asks them to show their path to reach the school and shows them the way they will follow in the third phase of the activity.

Phase 3

This phase of the activity will be performed outside in the streets of the neighborhood. The children follow the way shown by the teacher in the previous phase and try to report it on a A4 sheet, paying attention on landmarks (traffic lights, park places, shops,…).

Phase 4

The teacher and the children compare the drawings, trying to point out the main differences/similarities. The teacher asks the children which part of the path they liked most.