Introductory Activity :

Duration: 30 minutes

Description: The children will listen to a story about maps, become "compass kids," and complete a short computer activity.

Goals: Children will learn the cardinal directions in this lesson.

Body :

Anticipatory Set:
"Does anyone know what a map is?"
"Why do we use a map?"
"Today we are going to learn where our state is, and we will learn about north, south, east, and west."

Continuation of Lesson:
Read the story, Me on the Map .

Check to see if everyone knows the difference between their left and right. If not, use the mnemonic device. [Have the children put their hands out in front of them with the palms of their hands facing away from them and their thumbs pointing to each other. Have them put all their fingers down except the thumbs and pointer fingers. The hand that makes an "L" is their left hand, and the one that does not is their right hand.]

Explain what a compass is - a device used to show north, south, east, west. Have the children become "compass kids." Ask one child to come up to the front of the room to model the cardinal directions. (Have children stand up with their arms straight out to each side. Everything to their left would be to the west, in front of them would be north, etc.) Label the volunteer with cards that say north, south, east, and west.

Look at the map and explain to students that everything above a certain point on the map is to the north, everything below is to the south, everything to the left is to the west, and everything to the right is to the east.

Ask if anyone knows where our state is on the map. If students don't know, show them the location on the map. Show the children another state and ask them if it is to the north, south, east, or west of Pennsylvania.

Conclusion Activity :

Access the Encarta web site listed below. Under "Atlas," choose a map and then click the "Go" button. Select a country and have students determine which neighboring countries are to the north, south, east, and west of that country. (If Internet access is not available, then an encyclopedia on CD-Rom or a globe could be used instead.)

Evaluation Activity :

The teacher can label the room as follows: the front being north, the back being south, the left of the room being west, and the right of the room being east. Have one child leave the room and while that child is gone, hide a bean bag or other object. When the child comes back in, have the other children give directions so that the child can find the object.

Internet Resources Referenced in this Lesson :

Encarta - Reference Tools