Session 5: Map skills

To use a key/legend of a map.

To identify the elements of a map.

Objectives
To understand the importance of maps.

To compare different types of maps.

In this session we are going to create a map of the classroom taking into account all the elements we have worked in
Description and
contents the previous session.

 Writing materials: pencil, colours, etc.

Materials
 Worksheet: “Classroom Map”
 Development of the session Timing

We ask children if they remember what we talked about in the previous session. We show the PowerPoint presentation with all the
elements of a map and go over them to make sure all students remember what we worked on. We tell them that today we are going to
create our own map of the classroom. 10min
Teacher’s role: acts as a guide of the discussion.
Social organization of students: all the class together.

Before starting the activity, with the children, we go over the things we must take into account when drawing our own map. These
include: making sure each object has a symbol and it is specified in the map legend/key, to observe the distance between the objects
and make sure these are proportional in the map, to put a title and the compass rose, and finally, to illustrate all the element of the
classroom. These are the four main aspects we will focus on. We write them down in the white board and use the worksheet on the
PowerPoint presentation to guide students by giving them an example of how to start and the different shapes they can use.

We organize the children in pairs and ask a volunteer to give a worksheet to each one of them. We set a “sand clock” using the 40min
computer to control the time.

Once the time is over, we ask children what problems they have had during the creation of the map and discuss the complexity of
creating maps that are accurate.

Teacher’s role: acts as a guide of the discussion.

Social organization of students: in pairs.

For the closure of the session, we ask students what they have learnt with the previous activity and we go over why maps are
important. Also, we assess the lesson by asking children to put their thumbs up if they have enjoyed the class, in the middle if it could
be better and pointing down if they have not liked it. 10min
Teacher’s role: acts as a guide of the discussion.
Social organization of students: all the class together.
 In case a child has no command on English, he or she will be paired with another student (different from the previous
session). He or she will help him to understand and follow the class.

Linguistic support To make sure all students understand the instructions, these will be rephrased several times and we will check for
understanding to make sure everyone knows what they are doing by asking different students to explain what they
have to do.

The main element we will take into account in this session is the map created by students. The elements of this map
Assessment that will be assessed are the ones discussed previously with the children. Before the teacher’s assessment, children
will be able to self-assess their work by checking all the elements with the one written in the white board.