Let’s Explore the World Through Maps!

This text set was created with 1st grade geography in mind, with a focus on

maps. By learning about the purpose of maps and how to use key features,

students will not only better understand the world around them, but also how to explore the world around them. This text set will focus on helping young

students to understand maps by relating it to self and by explaining the basics of a map. Before students can

get into learning about specific places and features of the world, they have to

know how to use a map!

Katherine ScottEducation 530

Dr. DunnSummer 2013

Cartwright, S. (1976). What’s in a Map? New York, New York: Coward, McCann &

Geoghegan, Inc.Level: High Genre: How To, Picture Book,

Nonfiction

In this book, the author asks the reader to make maps of the world around them. She

asks them to make “feeling maps” of familiar places, such as their bed, their house, and their schoolyard. The author teaches the reader to draw maps, to build maps, and even to make pretend maps of worlds in

their heads. This text is a great introduction to help student’s start to understand the

feeling of exploration that comes with maps.

Sweeney, J. (1996). Me on the Map. New York: Crown Publishers, Inc.

Level: Low Genre: Nonfiction

Sweeney takes a child’s everyday understanding of the world around them and shows them the big picture through maps. Through this process of taking a

child’s schema to build the concept of a map, students not only learn what a map is, but begin to understand the world in a

broader sense. This book makes for a great introduction, because it takes the child’s schema and places it on a map.

Dr. Rodgers, A. (1998). The Illustrated World Atlas. New York, New York:

Crabtree Publishing CompanyLevel: High Genre: Atlas

Students can explore many different countries through the various maps in

this atlas. The text includes many types of maps, including industry, agriculture, and farming maps. There is also a wealth of data and graphs. Students would enjoy exploring each of these colorful maps.

This atlas would also be a good reference for the teacher during a map unit.

Hartman, G. (1991). As the Crow Flies. New York, New York:

Aladdin PaperbacksLevel: Easy Genre: Fiction,

Picture Book

Students have to think as if they were each of these adventurous animals as they make maps of the places they go. As students follow each of the animals, they

see how their surroundings create a map. This book would

be great for small groups for lower leveled readers.

Ritchie, S. (2009). Follow That Map!: A First Book of Mapping Skills.

Level: Average Genre: Picture Book, Nonfiction

As students follow Sally and her friends on their search for Max and

Ollie, they learn valuable information about map features. Students learn

about such features as the purpose of specific maps, the use of symbols,

and specific terminology. The book is very interactive and practically begs

students to play and explore through maps.

Knowlton, J (1986). Maps and Globes. New York, New York: HarperCollins

Level: High Genre: Nonfiction

This book gives a nice overview of the history of maps. Students learn how

people made maps over the years. Not only are there illustrations of the

different types of maps, but the text also explains why and how maps

evolved over time. This text illustrates the importance of maps and their

overall purpose.

Fanelli, S. (2001). My Map Book. Hong Kong: HarperFestival

Level: Low Genre: Picture Book, Fiction

My Map Book shows the reader a map through the eyes of a child. The illustrations and labels are presented

in a childlike manner. Students will enjoy reading a map made for them and written from their point of view.

Shulevitz, U. (2008.) How I Learned Geography. United States: Farrar, Straus and

GirouxLevel: Medium Genre: Memoir, Picture Book

When a boy and his family flee from war to a strange country, they find themselves living with strangers in poverty. When the father

brings home a map instead of food, the boy is furious. However, overtime the boy starts to realize the map brings adventure into his life as he dreams of distant places. Through this

heartwarming story, students can start to imagine the magic of maps. This would be a good book for small groups of medium level

readers.

A Globe

A globe gives students a tangible way to look at the world as a whole.

Students can spin, touch, and point as a way of interacting with the

globe. The globe gives students a better idea of what the world looks like. The globe should be assessable

to students during stations. The teacher should also used the globe as

a reference during map lessons.

Local and State Maps

Students can find their location by looking at local and state maps. The teacher should show the student

where the school is located on the maps and then leave the

maps out so students can explore on their

own.

Compass

The teacher should show students how a handheld compass works. She should use this compass to explain a compass rose on a map. She should give the students a chance to look at the compass themselves. The class could even label the direction on walls of their classroom using the

compass.