Home Activities

Try these experiences at home to help your children begin to understand and read maps:

Everyday Adventures - Make a trip to the grocery store or a friend’s house an adventure by discussing where you are going and how to get there. As you drive or walk, talk about the things you see on the way and use directional words, such as: “I’m going to turn left here;” or “Let’s go east at the corner.” Encourage older children to draw a map showing the route from your house to a favorite place and have them check their accuracy as you travel.

Orienteering at Home - Play an “orienteering” game by hiding objects around the house or outdoors. Give your children clues using words that relate to location or direction. For younger children, say “I’m thinking of an object that is behind the sofa, above the sink or beneath the picnic table. For older children use cardinal and intermediate directions, such as: “I’m thinking of an object that is northeast of the television or west of the pine tree.”

Explorer’s Journal - Start an album or a journal of places your family has visited or wants to visit.  Have your children paste postcards, photos from magazines and maps in the album. Your favorite places might be in your own community, nearby or far away. If possible, help your children locate these places on maps or a globe and encourage older children to use maps to help plan trips. Discuss what it is about these places that make them special. What can you see and do there? What is the natural environment like? Who lives there?