Learning just how big the world actually is can be both an exciting and overwhelming feat for children. With this in mind, we’ve sourced 32 adventure-inspiring activities that you can use to teach your students some basic concepts about maps, spatial relationships, and the world (big and small)! With them in your teaching toolkit, you can help your kiddos better understand their place in the world and acknowledge how we’ve all come to survive on the rotating rock we call home. Jump right in to discover more!
1. Map Maker (Online)
National Geographic has an awesome online tool that allows young learners to create and discover different types of maps as well as learn how they should and can be used. Introduce your kiddies to this tool and prompt them to play around on it whilst at home.
Learn More: National Geographic
2. Puzzle Time
Here’s an ever-popular idea to ease your littlest of learners into map discovery. Simply have them piece together a puzzle that depicts a map! As their knowledge of the world around them increases, challenge them to try their hand at more advanced puzzles and discover new regions.
Learn More: Pinterest
3. Compass Adventure
Here’s a fun idea to aid you in introducing your learners to the use of a compass. Find a compass or download a compass application on your smartphone and explain how it works. Then, go to a safe space outdoors and let them use this tool to navigate directions that lead to a pre-placed treasure.
Learn More: What Do We Do All Day
4. A Journey of Imagination
This interactive activity is the perfect way to combine your kid’s favorite toys with spatial thinking concepts. Grab a few small action figures or cut out some cardboard characters and invite your youngsters to take them on a journey by placing them on different areas of a blown-up map.
Learn More: National Geographic
5. Memory Games
Challenge your pupils to think of areas that they’ve visited multiple times- maybe the local park, the supermarket, or their very own neighborhood. Once they’ve had some time to brainstorm, give each learner a piece of paper and ask them to draw a map of the area as accurately as they can remember.
Learn More: What Do We Do All Day
6. Maps on Maps
This fun activity is a great idea to get your kids involved in navigating wherever they need to go! Print out the Google map’s directions for the place and let them try to follow along on the route as you drive using a pencil or marker.
Learn More: Picklebums
7. Mapping Playtime
One way to teach your kids directions is to have them play on an interactive map rug. There are a variety of different options with traffic signals for safety practices, cityscapes, and more!
Learn More: Amazon
8. Maps and Animals
Print out a map of an area and make sure it has a variety of natural environments such as water, forests, mountains, and deserts. Next, ask your littles to gather a few of their favorite animal toys before prompting them to position the animals in their country of origin.
Learn More: Gift of Curiosity
9. Cardinal Directions Craft
Print out the letters N, S, E, and W big enough to allow your kiddos to make a collage on them. Once settled with their letters, group them up to brainstorm places and things associated with each direction. For example, the N cutout can display the Statue of Liberty, Alaska glaciers, and other landmarks from the northern states.
Learn More: Carrots are Orange
10. Map of the Zoo
Why not take your kiddos on an excursion to the local zoo to get them to practice map reading in a new environment? If you’ve ever been to the zoo you would have seen how detailed and engaging their maps are. With lots of pictures and colors, these maps are a great study tool for your kids to practice navigating from one enclosure to another.
Learn More: Twinkl
11. Online Geography Games
There are many websites out there with free internet activities and resources for kids to learn and interact with. Whether they’re keen on engaging in games, quizzes, puzzles, and more, they can take their pick whilst discovering a wealth of knowledge about our world!
Learn More: Childhood 101
12. Route to School
It’s time to test your little navigators’ knowledge of their regular routes by asking them to draw a map with a set of directions that leads them from their home to school. Once the maps are complete, ask their parents to use them to navigate from school to home to put the accuracy of them to the test!
Learn More: Pinterest
13. Map Board Games
There are a few interactive and educational board games out there that your kids will love to play. Some focus on specific countries or a form of transportation whilst others require that your kiddies follow a guide or a map to reach a final destination.
Learn More: What Do We Do All Day
14. Design a Town
Get a big piece of construction paper and help your kids write down a list of common places and things found in town. Then, give them toys and art supplies to design and create their own unique town using the basic concept previously discussed.
Learn More: Toddler Approved
15. Picture Books about Maps
There are so many fun and engaging children’s books out there that involve maps. Pick up a few and read them with your kids to illuminate geography in new and exciting ways!
Learn More: Imagination Soup
16. DIY Compass
With a few building materials (magnet, needle, compass face) you and your kids can build your own compass! Once this DIY tool has been constructed, have your kiddos use it to navigate an assortment of outdoor adventures!
Learn More: YouTube
17. Watercolor Map Painting
This art project is just the creative approach you need to introduce your littles to the world at large. Using watercolors and sheets of large poster paper, have each pupil paint a picture of the world as they know it- continents, oceans, animals, and more!
Learn More: Adventure in a Box
18. Salt Dough Map
Time to get hands-on with this fun map-learning activity. Salt dough is easy to make and your kids can use it to create a 3D replica of a world map! Have them play with colors and techniques as they press and mold the dough into the shape of various map markings.
Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me
19. LEGO Map
Who said Lego and geography don’t go together? Put this phenomenal building block to the test by having your learners use it to piece together a 3D map!
Learn More: Inspiration Laboratories
20. Noodle Geography
Engage your little ones in this tasty and creative way to explore shapes and geography! Simply cook up some spaghetti and have your learners use the noodles to outline states, countries, or continents. Afterward, help them glue them down to create a slimy masterpiece!
Learn More: Blessed Beyond Crazy
21. Grid Directions
Turn counting and directions into a grid adventure for your students! Grab some yarn, tape, and sticky notes, and guide your little ones through the floor grid using compass points and directions. They can even buddy up in pairs to take turns listening and giving directions.
Learn More: Kids Activities
22. Create A Country
Prompt your kiddos to imagine their very own dream country! First, have them research a real-life country. Then, get them to conceptualize what the perfect country looks like! Encourage them to sketch out maps for both countries and then share their masterpieces with the class!
Learn More: Ticia Messing
23. Map Your Local Ecosystem
Engage your kids in nature exploration by crafting their very own nature guide! Send them on a mission to explore the outdoors and observe everything around them. Once back in the classroom, armed with grid paper, they’ll have an opportunity to turn their outdoor escapades into fantastic sketches of their discoveries!
Learn More: TES
24. Geocaching
Geocaching is the ultimate treasure hunt- an activity where map skills become a thrilling adventure! Equip your students with GPS devices, send them on a quest to discover hidden caches, and witness their map mastery unfold as they progress. This activity will undoubtedly boost your students’ navigation, problem-solving, and teamwork skills!
Learn More: Medium
25. Find Your Favorite Characters
Have your class list their favorite characters from cartoons, movies, and pop culture. Then, they can embark on a quest to discover the locations where these characters live by marking them on a world map. What a fun way to expand your class’ geography knowledge!
Learn More: Nurture Store
26. Play Battleship
Transform your classroom into a sea battle zone with the classic game of Battleship! Split the class into two teams; each hiding their ships on a grid. They can then take turns calling out coordinates to sink their opponent’s ships.
Learn More: The Room Mom
27. Google Maps Scavenger Hunt
Have your children embark on a virtual scavenger hunt using Google Earth! Your kids will have to hunt for a list of predetermined treasures like football stadiums, cacti, or icebergs! Once they find their landmark, they must snap a pic or note down the coordinates. Make this a group race for added fun!
Learn More: TES
28. Bean Bag Toss
Get ready to boost map skills and have a blast with your class! Pin a world or U.S. map on one of your classroom walls. Then, arm your kids with bean bags and let the laughter commence! Have them aim for called-out locations and get bonus points if they hit the mark directly.
Learn More: We Are Teachers
29. Pass The Globe
Here’s an awesome idea to engage kinesthetic learners! Have your class pass around a globe whilst listening to music. When the music stops, the person holding the globe must name the place located under their right thumb.
Learn More: We Are Teachers
30. Historical Maps Versus Maps Today
Fuel lively classroom discussions by comparing historical and current maps. Explore the achievements and challenges of early mapmakers and identify the differences today for a lively classroom discussion!
Learn More: Teach Hub
31. Geography Quiz
Prepare questions on continents, countries, and other geographical wonders before making quiz cards. Once your kiddos have covered all the content laid out in the curriculum, test their understanding by hosting a pop quiz!
Learn More: Mom Junction
32. Map Your Food
Embark on a global journey of flavors with your students by discussing their favorite foods. Have them engage in a bout of research to be able to accurately pinpoint the origins of their favorites on a map. Talk about a tasty way to learn about the world!
Learn More: Education
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