Mapping Mission Teacher Guide Mapping Mission
Teacher Facilitation Guide
Grade Level
1st - 2nd Grade
Learning Objective
Students will be able to create a simple map of their classroom using specific symbols and a map key to represent physical objects.
Materials Needed
Junior Cartographer Slides
Classroom Cartographer Worksheet
Map Master Anchor Chart
Pencils & Colored Pencils
Lesson Procedure
5 MIN
Warm-Up: Direction Detectives
Goal: Activate prior knowledge about navigation and spatial awareness.
Ask students: "How do we get from our classroom to the cafeteria?" Write their step-by-step directions on the board. Highlight words like "turn left," "go straight," or "next to."
5 MIN
Visual Learning: Maps and Their Uses
Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k59BOzZ\_OxY
Key Discussion Stop:
Pause at 1:40: Discuss symbols and colors.
Ask: "What does blue usually mean on a map?" (Water/Oceans)
Ask: "What about green?" (Parks/Forests/Land)
Ask: "Why don't we just draw real pictures of everything?" (Too messy, symbols are easier to read).
20 MIN
Activity: Classroom Cartographers
Students apply their knowledge by mapping a familiar space.
Hand out the Classroom Cartographer Worksheet . Guide students to:
Look around the room and identify 3 main objects (Desks, Rug, Door).
Choose a simple shape to represent each one (Square, Circle, Rectangle).
Draw these symbols in their Map Key first.
Sketch the layout of the room using those symbols.
5 MIN
Closure: Map Swap
Peer review and practical application.
Students swap maps with a partner. Challenge: "Can you find where the teacher's desk is on your partner's map using their key?"
Map
A bird's eye view
Symbol
A simple picture
Key
The map's secret code
Cartographer
A map maker
Junior Cartographers Slides Junior Cartographers
The Art and Science of Map Making
Ready for a Mission?
Warm-Up Mission
How do we get from our classroom to the cafeteria?
Let's brainstorm directions:
Turn Left / Right
Go Straight
Past the...
Next to the...
Watch & Learn
Pause at 1:40
Embedded media
Map Talk
Colors
What does BLUE usually mean?
What does GREEN usually mean?
Symbols
Why do map makers use simple pictures instead of real photos?
The Map Key
A Map Key tells you what the symbols mean. It's like a secret code!
Sample Key
= Desk
= Reading Rug
= Door
Classroom Mission
1
Pick 3 Symbols
Choose simple shapes for desks, doors, and rugs.
2
Make Your Key
Draw your symbols in the key box first!
3
Map the Room
Draw where everything goes from a bird's eye view!
Mission: Map Swap
Trade maps with a partner. Use their Key to find where the Teacher's Desk is!
Find the Symbols
Use the Key
Classroom Cartographer Worksheet Junior Cartographer
Official Classroom Mission
Name:
Date:
My Map Title:
Example: Our Classroom Map
Map Grid
Draw your classroom from a bird's eye view below!
N
W E
S
Map Key
Draw 3 symbols below:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
Cartographer Tip
Keep your symbols simple! A square can be a desk, and a rectangle can be a door. You don't have to draw every tiny detail.
Map Swap Challenge
Trade maps with a partner. Use their key to find the teacher's desk. Circle it on their map!
Explorer Training Division • Module 01: Classroom Cartography
Map Master Anchor Chart Map Master
How to read and make maps!
What is a Map?
A drawing of a place from high above.
What is a Key?
A list that tells you what symbols mean.
Common Map Symbols
Tree
Park or Forest
Water
Lake or Ocean
Building
House or School
Road
Path or Street
N
W
E
S
Every great explorer starts with a great map!