5 kids with technology on grassy lawn
First Grade

Map Making With Cat in the Hat

Innovative Designer

Overview​

Do you think you can make a map of your classroom? It’s easy with The Cat in The Hat This and That map making tool

This activity will take two class periods to complete the tasks. The first class period the teacher will teach the students about maps, read the book and/or show the video. The second class period, the students will create their own map. 

Students will:

  • Be able to create a map of their classroom.
  • Be able to add a symbol on a map.
  • Be able to add a compass rose to a map.

Vocabulary Words:

  1. Map: A map is a picture or chart that shows the rivers, mountains, streets, etc., in a particular area.

  2. Map Key: A map key or legend is included with a map to unlock it. It gives you the information needed for the map to make sense.

  3. Symbol: Maps often use symbols or colors to represent things, and the map key explains what they mean. Symbols in the key might be pictures or icons that represent different things on the map.

  4. Compass rose: A compass rose is a figure on a compass, map, nautical chart, or monument used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions.

  5. Cardinal directions: Cardinal directions are North, East, South, and  West.

To prepare for this lesson:

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

  1. The teacher will say to the class, “ Boys and girls, today you are going to be map makers. Do you know what a map maker is?”

  2. Have some conversation on what a map is.

  3. Play or Read

  4. Explain there are many different kinds of maps.

  5. In another class period, students will create a map of their classroom.

  6. Demonstrate Cat in the Hat Mapmaker. You could use it to map out a room in the school to show students how to use the site.

  7. Brainstorm some ideas that students could include when making a map of the classroom (e.g., tables, chairs, desks, compass rose).

  8. Have students create a map of the classroom.  

  9. Allow them time to create a map of their classroom.

Different options for assessing the students:

MITECS: Michigan adopted the "ISTE Standards for Students" called MITECS (Michigan Integrated Technology Competencies for Students) in 2018.

Innovative Designer
4a. Students know and use a deliberate design process for generating ideas, testing theories, creating innovative artifacts or solving authentic problems.
4b. Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.
4c. Students develop, test and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process.
4d. Students exhibit a tolerance for ambiguity, perseverance and the capacity to work with open-ended problems.

Device: PC, Chromebook, Mac, iPad 

Browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge, ALL

Websites:
Cat in the Hat Map Maker

Cat in the Hat Rubric

Directions on How to Make the Map

There's a Map on My Lap! Book

There's a Map on My Lap! Video

CONTENT AREA RESOURCES

Students can write a story about their map. 

Area/Perimeter- Proportionally fitting things in the map. When creating the maps, use the square tiles for the foundation and talk about measurement and how many squares each piece of furniture should fall on for the area. 

Create a map of a forest or park.

1 – G1 0 1 Construct simple maps of the classroom to demonstrate aerial perspective.

Report a bad link, inappropriate content or out-of-date content. 

CREDITS
This task card was created by Courtney Conley, Utica Community Schools, May 2018. 


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